Following is the start of a list of vocabulary terms you may hear or read while working with Web content. We’ll be adding to and refining this list.
- Absolute (Universal Resource Locator) URL – an entire url address including the http:// or https:// and root of the address. For example http://www.utexas.edu/news. (See Relative URL below)
- Content Owner/Editor/Writer – Used interchangeably to represent a person responsible for editing, writing or managing content on our websites. Content Owner is the preferred term because it signifies that the person has an ongoing responsibility for the content.
- Drupal – Content Management System used for complex large scale websites managed by the COFA Web team. An instruction site for Drupal content editors is available.
- Information Architecture/Navigation/Menu/Site Organization – Simple sites will have a high profile group of links that are the main menu items of the site. More complex sites may have several menus or other systems for organizing the site content. Information Architecture is the profession specializing in website organization and the term sometimes used in reference to website organizational systems. We have some tips to help you get started organizing your website navigation and menu items.
- Social Network / Social Media – Web based services that allow people who share similar interests or activities to connect. Examples are: Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Instagram, Reddit, Pinterest, Vine, Tumblr, and Twitter.
- Style Guide – There are both writing and visual style guides produced by the college, departments and university. It’s best practice to follow these guides whenever possible.
- Relative (Universal Resource Locator) URL – When you’re creating links on a webpage to another page on the same website you should not include the root part of the address. That way if you ever move your site or if you have a test version of your site with a different root, your links will still work. For example: /news. (See Absolute URL above)
- RSS, Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication – It’s a protocol designed to allow viewers of frequently updated websites to know when those sites have been updated without having to visit the site and check manually
- Semantics – The practice of adhering to the standards of best practices in coding techniques that accurately represent the content being displayed. A website that is semantic will be search engine friendly, more meaningful, and more future-proof because the code tells the display accurate information about the meaning of the content.
- WordPress – Content Management System provided by the university Information Technology Services that the COFA Web team leverages for more basic and smaller websites. It’s what we’re using for this instruction site. An instruction site for WordPress content editors is available.
