Interactive Terms

ActionScript
The scripting language used in Macromedia Flash. It is similar in syntax to JavaScript.

Back-end development
Programming for e-commerce and database information and management.

Browser
The front-end internet application that enables users to view and access information.  For example, Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari.

Bitmap
An image on the computer screen that is visible by pixels directly related to the data bits stored in the memory.

Compression
Reducing visual and audio data for storage and transmission.

Content
The substance of a web page, consisting of the text and graphics that makes up the page. This list of terms is considered to be part of the content.

DHTML (Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language File Management)
An essential system that ensures proper allocation of all graphics files within a web site design.

Domain Name (URL)
Used to refer to specific computers (hosts) on the internet. Domain names consist of an address and a suffix such as .com, .net, .org, etc. These are sometimes referred to as URLs, which stands for Uniform Resource Locator.

Download
Transferring data from one computer to another.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)
Measurement uses for image resolution and display, DPI is the number of dots or pixels that constitute an image.

E-Commerce
A site application that allows visitors to browse and purchase products online. In simple terms, an e-Commerce site consists of the Shopping Cart system which serves as the online product catalog, and the Merchant Account used to process the financial transaction.

EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)
A format for storing object-oriented vector artwork. Can also store bitmaps, but seldom used because of large storage requirements.

Flash
Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash) is a vector graphic animation technology. It has become a popular method for adding animation and interactivity to web pages.

FTP
Stands for File Transfer Protocol. FTP allows you to copy or send files (HTML-documents, graphic images, spreadsheets) from one computer to another via the Internet.

GIF (Graphic Interface Format)
A format for saving solid color images. Not ideal for photographs or illustrations.

GUI (Graphical user interface)
The visible part of a computer program or database program that the user will see visually and interact with.

Hosting
For internet users to access a web site, it must first be placed on a host or server computer. When surfing the web, the visitor's computer downloads the site from the host computer through the internet connection.

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)
The programming code used to create web pages.

Hyperlink
A programmed link between items of information in different segments of a program or physically different locations.

Interactive
Computer based system or program that allows the user to interact directly and maintain control with desired actions.

JavaScript
A scripting language developed by Netscape to translate HTML source code for web authors to enable them to create interactive web sites.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
A compression technique for reducing the amount of data needed to describe a full-color bit map. Ideal for photographs, but not solid color images.

Link
A direct path that connects two websites or pages together.

Metatags
Words and code embedded in the HTML code, or source code, of a webpage. This information is not outwardly displayed on a site, but it provides information about the site's content. The metatag information is used by search engines to categorize the site.

PDF (Portable Document Format)
A file format developed by Adobe that allows a variety of file types to be displayed to various users in a consistent way.

Pixel
The smallest unit of measurement on a computer screen. Screens with more pixels provide a higher resolution image.

Resolution
The number of pixels per inch on a computer monitor.

RGB (Red, Green and Blue)
The colors system used in computer graphics.

Rollover
A technique where when mousing over a button, text or image, it changes to something new.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Also sometimes referred to as search engine placement or search engine marketing, SEO is a process of making a site and its content highly relevant to search engines and to internet users. A high ranking on the search engines is extremely important in establishing a successful web site and requires regular attention.

Splash page
A web page consisting of a large graphic or Flash animation which serves as a site's home page. The site visitor is then prompted to click to enter the site.

Storyboard
A series of sketches in sequence, describing the proposed motion graphics via animation, film or video.

Tags
A sequence of characters in a markup language used to provide information, such as formatting specifications, about a document.

TIFF or TIF (Tagged Image File Format)
A format for storing gray-scale data, not object-oriented images; the standard format for scanned images and for exporting gray-scale and color images to other programs. There are three types: Monochrome TIFF, Gray-scale TIFF, and Color TIFF.

URL (Uniform resource locator File Formats)
Defined structure for storing file information. Various formats are used to transmit between computer programs.