Glossary of Web Development Terms

The following list contains explanations for a number of commonly used terms to do with various aspects of web design, web development and online marketing.  Return to our web development home page to learn more about the services we offer.

• XHTML

  We use Extensible HyperText Markup Language to create the basic structure of all our websites, which we then customise using CSS. XHTML is a complete reformulation of HTML in XML. As such, it has far more stringent error checks, leading to more accurate and well-formed code.

• CSS

  Cascading Style Sheets allow us to control the presentation of our XHTML documents from an external document. Separating the presentation controls from page content in this way gives web designers more flexibility, and allows us to make changes to the look of a site from a single location. For example, simply by altering one value in the style sheet, we could change the colour of all the text on our website to blue.

• ASP.NET

  We use Microsoft's ASP.NET to help us create the dynamic aspects of our web sites. ASP.NET server controls are processed on the server, and the results are converted to plain XHTML before being rendered in the user's web browser. This helps ensure that all our websites are completely cross platform.

• XML

  Extensible Markup Language is so called because it allows users to define their own tags, making it far more flexible than static markup languages such as HTML. At Isle of Man Advertising, we use XML in Web Services, and as an alternative data store to a fully fledged database.

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005

  Pronounced “sequel server”, SQL Server 2005 is a relational database management system that we use to manage the database layer for our interactive web applications. It uses the Structured Query Language to accept requests for data access, and integrates well with ASP.NET server controls.

• Web Services

  A Web Service is a software system designed to be accessed over a network such as the Internet. To ensure platform impartiality, they are built using a limited number of specific technologies, such as XML and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). The front-end of the web service is usually highly customisable, so they are an ideal way of adding an additional specific function to a website.

• Flash

  Allows us to create stunningly animated websites, and complex interactive elements that would not be possible with normal XHTML and CSS. Flash is also used to provide the interface for many mobile phones and PDAs.

• Web Applications

  Many of our clients need advanced interactive web applications such as calculators, converters, etc., that can’t be provided by conventional web technologies. We build these from scratch using a combination of C# and ASP.NET server controls.

• E-commerce

  Almost everyone buys things online these days. Selling your products online can open you up to a potentially limitless marketplace, all for a relatively small outlay. We can build e-commerce solutions to suit any business, with user personalisation, shopping cart and various payment gateways.

• Search Engine Optimisation

  The mysterious art of helping websites appear at the top of search engine results pages! At Isle of Man Advertising, we use legitimate, search-engine-approved techniques that build results over time. There are quicker ways to rush up the rankings, but since these can lead to severe penalties, or even a ban, we think you'll agree that they're best avoided!

• Pay Per Click Marketing

  A popular online advertising model where the advertiser only pays if a user actually clicks on their advert. We can provide eye-catching, compelling web banners to make sure that your product always makes a strong impression.

• Website Analytics

  See who's been visiting your website, and what they've been doing during their stay. Web analytics involves using data about visitors' behaviour to identify which areas of your site are working to achieve your business objectives, and which ones need to be rethought.

• Search Facility

  When you're surfing the web, you want to be able to find the information you need quickly and easily. Give your users a helping hand by letting them search your content, directly from your home page. If you’ve got a large site it can mean the difference between them finding what they need, or finding a different site.

• Content Management System

  Our content management system lets you take control over your own website. Now whenever you want to update your website, you can. There's no need to wait until you've stored up enough minor amends to make a whole job! Just log in to your personal admin system, find the page you want to change, and start typing.

• Website Design

  Design often finds itself an overemphasised area of website creation, but while we know it's not the be all and end all of online marketing, that doesn’t mean we don't think it's important. After all, it's the first thing your users see when they visit your site. We can design a site to your specification, base it on your existing corporate identity, or create you something new and unique from scratch.

• Web Development

  All the complicated stuff that doesn't fall under design, web development includes configuring ASP.NET server controls and crafting the C# code that makes our web applications go round, not to mention the databases that drive all the dynamic elements of our sites.

• Web Hosting

  You can't have a website without a place to put it. Luckily, we offer web hosting as standard with all of our web packages. With a 99% uptime guarantee, you can be sure that your customers will always be able to find you.

• Domain Registration

  When you host your website with us, you get a .co.uk domain name absolutely free for a year. Unlike some companies, when we register a domain name for you we do it in your name; you are the sole owner. If you choose to move to a different host, you can take the domain with you.

• Data Driven Websites

  If you have a lot of information to display, your site might benefit from a database. You'd be surprised at how many websites use them these days, and not just for obvious things like product or client databases. We can create databases, client login systems, data-driven flash content, dynamic navigation systems, and more...

• Web Banners

  Web banners are a great way to attract a bit of extra attention for your website. We've been creating banners for a long time, and we know how to make them stand out. Just tell us what you want to say, and we'll ensure your message makes an impact, in either gif format or Flash.

• Dynamic Sitemaps

  A comprehensive sitemap is more useful than you'd think. It's important that your users have a location where they can easily find everything they need. We can create a dynamically generated sitemap page for you, so that every page you create is automatically added to the list.

• Interactive Menus

  A powerful, intuitive navigation system is a crucial part of a successful website. If your users can't find what they’re looking for, they're liable to give up and look somewhere else, and that's the last thing you want! We can build powerful dynamic menus based on a number of core technologies, including CSS, JavaScript and Flash.

• Email Marketing

  Email marketing campaigns, whether a simple advert for your latest sale, to a full scale newsletter on the progress of your company, are a great way of making your customers feel connected. Our content management system lets you create and manage your own email marketing campaigns, from a simple, intuitive interface.

• Message Boards

  Let your users have their say, from a simple commenting function on your news posts, to a full scale discussion forum. Message boards can be time-consuming and difficult to manage, but with the help of our content management system, at least they can be easy to set up.

• Input Validation

  Anywhere you have input controls on your web pages, you are potentially at risk from hackers. We can help implement the correct validation to protect against most common attacks, as well as setting up logging and error tracking so that you will be warned if your site ever comes under attack in the future.

• Microsoft Certified Professional

  Microsoft Certifications are developed with input from professionals working in the software industry, and reflect the way Microsoft products are actually used in the real world. In order to qualify as a Microsoft Certified Professional, an individual must have hands-on experience of working with the specific product or technology.

• Visual C# (C-Sharp)

  Microsoft Visual C# is the programming language we use to create dynamic web applications, or data-driven content on our sites. As a true object-oriented programming language, it allows us to work in ways which are more powerful, more efficient, and with an unparalleled level of flexibility.

• Object Oriented Programming

  Object oriented programming is a way of creating complicated applications that reduces the likelihood of ending up with complicated and poorly structured “spaghetti code”, which can rapidly get out of hand as the project increases in size.
  
  In an object oriented application, the code is broken down into thousands of small chunks, or “objects ”. Each object generally only performs one specific function, but does it very efficiently. Objects can then be combined or used together in various ways to produce different behaviours. This makes the code far easier to maintain, making it possible for relatively small teams to manage much larger projects, both in scale and complexity.

• Three-tier architecture

  It's important to have a clear structure when programming, so our web team designs all of our websites to take advantage of three-tier architecture. This is a method of developing software to maximise efficiency and make the codebase easier to maintain.
  
  An application created using three tier architecture works in a similar way to a successful workplace. The typists, IT guys and accountants don't all just sit together in one large room. Instead, people who do the same job are grouped together into a section, and each section sits separately. This means that everyone can get on with and discuss things relating to their own jobs, without distracting the other staff. Nobody gets in the way of the others, and as a result everyone works faster.
  
  Exactly the same principle is at work in three tier architecture. Elements of the application that are designed to accomplish similar tasks are grouped together, and kept entirely separate from the other tiers. This allows designers, programmers and database administrators to work on their own areas of the project without interfering with each other's work, and, as each section is completely self-contained, the resulting code is more efficient and easier to manage.