PNG: This is another graphic related 3 letter acronym. PNG is a bitmapped image format that employs lossless data compression. PNG was created to improve upon and replace GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) as an image-file format not requiring a patent license. It is pronounced "ping" or spelled out as P-N-G. PNG images can either use palette-indexed color or be made up of one or more channels (numerical values directly representing quantities about the pixels).
SITEMAP: This is sometimes confused with a flowchart of a website. A sitemap is a representation of the architecture of a web site. It can be either a document in any form used as a planning tool for web design, or a web page that lists the pages on a web site, typically organized in hierarchical fashion. This helps visitors and search engine bots find pages on the site. Current SEO thinking is that all websites should have a sitemap - let us know if you need one added to your website!
SWF: Not to be confused with single white female - SWF is a type of file. It is currently the dominant format for displaying animated vector graphics on the web (think Flash files). Based on an independent study conducted by Millward Brown, over 99% of web users now have an SWF plugin installed, with around 90% having the latest version of the Flash Player. It is pronounced "swiff".
If this list of terms just isn't enough, check out some of our favorite web dev spots:
alistapart.com
csszengarden.com
google.com
htmlplayground.com
webworkerdaily.com
There is so much information out there that we would like to share with you to help your web project succeed, that we decided it would be best if we blogged it. This blog is our 2008-2012 archive. You can keep up to date on web news, resources, SEO and marketing trends, new technology, print and color trends and sometimes something just for fun at our NEW blog at yourplanb.com/thebuzz !
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Internet Glossary (part 3 of 4)
JPG: In computing, JPEG (pronounced JAY-peg; IPA: /?d?e?p??/) is a commonly used method of compression for photographic images. The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10 to 1 compression with little perceivable loss in image quality. We use JPGs for photos (think images with shading and gradients).
META TAG: Meta elements are HTML or XHTML elements used to provide structured metadata about a web page. Such elements must be placed as tags in the head section of an HTML or XHTML document. Meta elements can be used to specify page description, keywords and any other metadata not provided through the other head elements and attributes. These elements are part of your SEO and online marketing arsenal.
PLATFORM: In computing, a platform describes some sort of hardware architecture or software framework (including application frameworks), that allows software to run. Typical platforms include a computer's architecture, operating system, programming languages and related runtime libraries or graphical user interface. The big two that we test on are Mac and Win!
Last set of terms coming next week - let us know if there are any others you have questions about!
META TAG: Meta elements are HTML or XHTML elements used to provide structured metadata about a web page. Such elements must be placed as tags in the head section of an HTML or XHTML document. Meta elements can be used to specify page description, keywords and any other metadata not provided through the other head elements and attributes. These elements are part of your SEO and online marketing arsenal.
PLATFORM: In computing, a platform describes some sort of hardware architecture or software framework (including application frameworks), that allows software to run. Typical platforms include a computer's architecture, operating system, programming languages and related runtime libraries or graphical user interface. The big two that we test on are Mac and Win!
Last set of terms coming next week - let us know if there are any others you have questions about!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Internet Glossary (part 2 of 4)
FLOWCHART: A flowchart is a schematic representation of an algorithm or a process.
We use flow charts to help organize your website content. And when the site is live, use the flow chart as a guide for maintenance. If you are remodeling your site, make sure you have a flowchart as part of your RFP. It can save time!
GIF: The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is an 8-bit-per-pixel bitmap image format that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987 and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability. We use .gif for resizable vector and line art online. There is a "you say gif, I say jif" debate - we fall into the gif category :)
HTML: An initialism of HyperText Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for web pages. It provides a means to describe the structure of text-based information in a document — by denoting certain text as links, headings, paragraphs, lists, and so on — and to supplement that text with interactive forms, embedded images, and other objects. HTML is written in the form of tags, surrounded by angle brackets. HTML can also describe, to some degree, the appearance and semantics of a document, and can include embedded scripting language code (such as JavaScript) which can affect the behavior of Web browsers and other HTML processors. By convention, HTML format data files use a file extension .html or .htm.
Stay tuned for more terms next week!
We use flow charts to help organize your website content. And when the site is live, use the flow chart as a guide for maintenance. If you are remodeling your site, make sure you have a flowchart as part of your RFP. It can save time!
GIF: The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is an 8-bit-per-pixel bitmap image format that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987 and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability. We use .gif for resizable vector and line art online. There is a "you say gif, I say jif" debate - we fall into the gif category :)
HTML: An initialism of HyperText Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for web pages. It provides a means to describe the structure of text-based information in a document — by denoting certain text as links, headings, paragraphs, lists, and so on — and to supplement that text with interactive forms, embedded images, and other objects. HTML is written in the form of tags, surrounded by angle brackets. HTML can also describe, to some degree, the appearance and semantics of a document, and can include embedded scripting language code (such as JavaScript) which can affect the behavior of Web browsers and other HTML processors. By convention, HTML format data files use a file extension .html or .htm.
Stay tuned for more terms next week!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Internet Glossary (part 1 of 4)
From time to time we stop and listen to ourselves talk about creating websites in the office and just laugh! CSS, broswers, platforms, png, jpg, gif, flash, swf, sitemaps etc. Our language can sound pretty crazy to a non-web person. So we thought it would be nice to share what some of these things are and help you understand our language more. This in turn will help you manage your online presence with more confidence and be able to tell the difference between buzzwords and web design terms! (a GIANT thank you to Wikipedia for help making the definitions even easier)
BROWSER: This is your window to the internet. These applications let you see the images, text and layout of web pages. Popular browsers include: Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Opera. We test your website on the popular versions of browsers to make sure your site looks good from the users end.
CSS (Casecading Style Sheets): Used to define colors, fonts, layout, and other aspects of website pages. CSS improves content accessibility, provides more flexibility and control in the presentation characteristics, and reduce complexity and repetition. We highly recommend if your site is not using CSS to convert over. Many new browsers rely on this code to show your website in the best possible way to your visitors.
FLASH: Flash technology (sometimes called Adobe Flash) is a popular method for adding animation and interactivity to web pages; Flash is commonly used to create animation, advertisements, various web page components, to integrate video into web pages, and more recently, to develop rich Internet applications. Flash can be very entertaining, but keep in mind Search Engines are as thrilled with all Flash websites. Ask us how to keep things moving AND keep you listed.
More terms coming next week! Stay tuned!
BROWSER: This is your window to the internet. These applications let you see the images, text and layout of web pages. Popular browsers include: Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Opera. We test your website on the popular versions of browsers to make sure your site looks good from the users end.
CSS (Casecading Style Sheets): Used to define colors, fonts, layout, and other aspects of website pages. CSS improves content accessibility, provides more flexibility and control in the presentation characteristics, and reduce complexity and repetition. We highly recommend if your site is not using CSS to convert over. Many new browsers rely on this code to show your website in the best possible way to your visitors.
FLASH: Flash technology (sometimes called Adobe Flash) is a popular method for adding animation and interactivity to web pages; Flash is commonly used to create animation, advertisements, various web page components, to integrate video into web pages, and more recently, to develop rich Internet applications. Flash can be very entertaining, but keep in mind Search Engines are as thrilled with all Flash websites. Ask us how to keep things moving AND keep you listed.
More terms coming next week! Stay tuned!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)