Website design terms, explained plainly

2 min read · Updated

The short answer

These website design terms come up in every quote and project: domain, hosting, SSL, CMS, responsive design, UX, SEO, schema, alt text and redirects. Knowing them makes it easier to compare proposals and to ask the right questions, like who owns the domain and who handles updates.

The basics

  • Domain: your address, like yourbusiness.com. Register it in your own name.
  • Hosting: the computer that serves your site.
  • SSL: the certificate behind the padlock and https.
  • CMS: the system you edit the site in, like WordPress or Squarespace.

Design and build

  • Responsive design: the layout adjusts to phones, tablets and computers.
  • UX: how easy the site is to use.
  • Template or theme: a ready-made design you customize.
  • Custom design: a design made for your business.

Search and upkeep

  • SEO: making pages easy for search engines to find and understand.
  • Schema: code that states your business details for search engines.
  • Alt text: a description of an image, read by screen readers and search engines.
  • 301 redirect: a permanent forward from an old address to a new one.
  • Sitemap: a list of your pages for search engines.

Questions

What's the difference between a domain and hosting?

The domain is the address. Hosting is where the site lives.

What does "mobile-friendly" mean?

The site is easy to read and use on a phone without zooming.

Who should own my domain?

You, in an account you control.

Want to discuss Websites?

Book a time with Lehvel and we’ll go through what your business actually needs.