Pixel Graphics - Design Tips

Active X: ActiveX was developed by Microsoft and is a standard for controls--self-contained devices with their own functions--that can be placed on Web pages.
Aliasing: The effect of using a low-resolution graphics display, which results in jagged diagonal lines.
Anchor: A HTML tag used to establish a hyperlink to another page.
Anti-aliasning: The process used to eliminate rugged diagonal or curved edges of a graphic image.
Apache Server: Free public domain software for running World Wide Web servers.
Applet: A small niche application or utility that performs just one useful task and is designed for use within larger applications or programs.
ASCII: A system of computer coding in which all values, including letters and punctuation, are given seven or eight-digit binary values.
ASP: Active Server Page. Are Web pages that contain server-side scripts in addition to a mixture of text and HTML tags.
Audio Streaming: Audio files that are played in a continuous stream over the Internet.
AVI: Audiovisual Interleaving. A way of presenting a motion-picture video in digital form on a computer nscreen.
Bezier Curve: A type of curved line defined by a mathematical formula.
Binary: The name of a number system made up of only two digits, zero and one.
Bit: Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of computer storage. A bit is a single digit in a binary nnumber, either a zero or a one.
Bit Map: A type of graphics file in which one or more bits are used to describe the colour of each tiny square (or pixel) that makes up the image.
Bit-mapped Graphics: Graphics made up of tiny squares known as pixels. Each pixel contains one or more bits describing it's colour.
Bits per second (bps): A measurement of data transmission speeds. The number of bits that pass a certain point in one second.
BMP: The Windows extension for a bit-mapped file.
Body: The HTML tag that houses all the visible content within a Web Page.
Brand: In the literal sense, a mark made by burning with a hot iron to attest manufacture or quality. As it pertains to Web design, a Web site identified by name as the product of a single firm or manufacturer. This name is supported or enhanced by a number of tools such as a logo, a slogan, and custom graphics or colours. All of this is combined into one cohesive brand to form the identity of a Web site.
Branding: Activities that are intended to enhance the public’s perception of a brand of merchandise.
Browser: An application that allows a user to view World Wide Web pages.
Byte: A byte is equal to eight bits. A byte is sufficient for storing a single character of information such as the letter A or the number 1.
Cashe: A bank of high-speed memory used for frequently accessed data.
CGI: Common Gateway Interface. A standard that determines how a Web server will start a program and how it will provide information to that program.
Client: In a network, a computer that retrieves information from or uses resources provided by a server computer.
Client-side Scripts: Are special commands embedded in a Web page that are run on the users computer at the moment the Web page is loaded or a user event is initiated.
Clip Art: Pre-designed art for use in Web pages or other documents.
Clipping: In computer graphics, cropping the part of an image that lies outside of a boundary set by the user.
CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black or otherwise known as processed colour is a standard colour model used in the print industry.
Code: The contents of a program of which there are two basic kinds. Source code (written by humans) and machine code (written by computers).
Colour Depth: The number of different colours a piece of software or hardware can display.
Colour Model: Any system used to represent colour. The three primary models used in computer graphics are CMYK, RGB, and HSB
Columns: As it pertains to a database represent the different pieces of information that you want to store. For example, an employee table may have columns like First Name, Last Name, Address, and so on.
Comma-delimited: Strings of data (alpha or numeric) separated by the comma character. Comma-delimited files are often used to transfer data between different types of database programs.
Command: An instruction to a computer program.
Compressed file: A file that has had it's content compressed in order to take up less physical space.
Computer Graphics: The display of pictures or images on a computer screen.
Contrast: The difference between light and dark areas within an image.
Cookie: A piece of computer code that helps CGI programs keep track of sequential requests from the same browser.
CSS: Cascading Style Sheets. Among other things style sheets let you specify the stylistic attributes of the typographic elements on your Web page.
Database: A database is simply a permanent storage area for data. This data is a collection of related information formatted in a tabular way.
DBMS: A Database Management System is a piece of software that acts as a liaison. The application (the software the user is using) asks for the data, the DBMS hears the request, goes to the database, gets the data, and returns it to the application.
Domain Name: A unique name identifying a collection of computers connected to a network such as the Internet. On the Internet, a domain is denoted by a two or three letter code such as .ca or .com.
Domain Name Server: As it pertains to the Internet, a central computer to which other computers within it's domain or sub-domain are linked. This server's primary function is to translate domain names into Internet protocol or IP addresses.
DSN: Stands for Data Source Name. DSN is a system name that is given to a database. DSN’s contain connection information that is required to access a database.
Dynamic Pages: A Web page where some type of dynamic interaction occurs. A dynamic page is displayed to the browser and can be altered by some process within the page itself.
Flash: Perhaps the foremost technology for creating scalable, interactive animations for the Web. Designed for creating animated logos, Web site navigation controls,long-form animations, or entire Flash Web sites.
Forms: A standard HTML technique for collecting input from a user. Forms can consist of a variety of input mechanisms such as text boxes, drop-down lists, radio buttons, and check boxes.
FTP: File Transfer Protocol. A standard way of transmitting files between computers.
GIF: Graphics Interface Format. A method used to compress and transfer graphics images into digital information. The GIF format uses a losless compression method in order to maintain image fidelity.
Header: The HTML tag that houses all the invisible content within a Web Page.
Home Page: A home page or sometimes referred to as core or main page, is the introductory page of a Web site that usually provides links to other Web pages.
Host Service or Web Host Provider: A company that maintains the computer on which a Web site is stored.
Hosting, Linux: The Linux platform is widely regarded as highly reliable, and a more popular choice among professional and advanced Web masters. Linux has a proven track record of performance, stability and security. It has been in a state of constant refinement since its inception 30 years ago, and is based on open standards, allowing easy access to operating system features and applications.
Hosting, Windows: Windows is the operating system of choice for many new users with a reputation for ease of use and administration. Windows allows those with little or no experience in the fields of web development and hosting to get advanced features working quickly.
HTML: HyperText Markup Language is exactly what it claims to be a mark-up language. HTML is what tells the Web browser how to display the Web pages it receives. A standard group of tags--a piece of code that provides formatting instructions--tell the browser how to interpret the Web page.
HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The standard that governs how Web browsers and Web servers exchange information.
Hyperlink: An icon, graphic or word in a file--usually an HTML file--that when clicked automatically opens another file for viewing.
Interface: A common boundary shared by two devices, or by a person and a device, across which data or information flows.
ISP: Internet Service Provider. A company or organization that lets users connect to its network--usually for a fee--this network in tern is connected to the largest network of them all, the Internet
Java: A compact programming language designed to be used over the Web. These programs are often referred to as a Java Applet. Applets usually are embedded into a Web page in order to enhance the functionality of a Web site.
JavaScript: First developed by Netscape JavaScript is a very popular scripting language designed specifically for the Web. A script is a sequence of commands that is executed at the touch of a button or series of buttons.
JPEG: Joint Photographics Experts Group. A method used to compress and transfer graphic images into digital information. The JPEG format employs a lossy compression method meaning that some data is sacrificed in order to achieve more compression.
Kilobyte: Equal to 1,024 bytes or enough space to store 1,000 characters of information.
LAN: Local Area Network. A group of inter connected computers located in a relatively small geographical space.
Layering: With regards to computer graphics, graphics layering involves working with several layers of a document at a time. Layers can be combined to achieve a finished product.
Layout: The pattern in which the user places text and graphics on a page when assembling a document such as a Web page. Understanding the principles of good layout is important for producing visually appealing pages.
Line Art: A graphic composed entirely of distinct lines or solid blocks of colour, with no shading.
Login: The process a user must complete in order to gain access to a network, computer or Web site. Also referred to as logon or sign on.
Lossless Compression: A method of file compression that loses no data during compression.
Lossy Compression: A method of compression that sacrifices some information in order to achieve greater compression.
Markup: Characters or symbols used to change the format of text in a Web page or word-processing document.
Matrix: A two dimensional display of rows and columns used to organize and compare data.
Megabyte: Approximately equal to 1.05 million bytes or enough space to store one million characters of information.
Meta: An HTML tag located in the header section of a Web page. Meta tags are used to supply search engines with attribute information for a Web site.
MP3: MPEG Audio Layer 3. A file format that uses a sound layer or the MPEG video format to compress audio.
MPEG: Motion Picture Experts Group. A widely used video compression standard used in digital video.
Nesting: The placement of one object within another. In HTML and other computing languages, this refers to the proper nesting of tags within one in other.
Object: A term used in programming to denote a reusable section of code.
Object-oriented Graphics: Graphical elements such as lines, circles, rectangles and polygons that are created using a mathematical set of instructions. Also referred to as vector graphics.
ODBC: Stands for Open Database Connectivity. It is a piece of software that allows programs to access different kinds of databases in almost exactly the same way. In order for a database to work with ODBC, that database must have an ODBC driver. Most modern day databases have ODBC drivers.
Paint program: A graphics program that can alter or create bit-mapped images.
Palette: A set of available colours in a graphics file or program.
Parent/child: In a file system, how two files or directories are related. Generally the parent contains general information while the child contains more specific information.
Path: A series of commands (or instructions) that represents the route needed to find store, and retrieve a data file.
PDF: Portable Document Format. A file format developed by Adobe Systems Inc. that facilitates the exchange of electronic documents.
Pixel: The smallest part of an image that a computer screen or a printer can control.
Pop-up Menu: A menu that appears when a user moves the pointer over a button on the screen and clicks the mouse.
Query: To request information from a database.
QuickTime: A type of video and sound playback format developed by Apple Computers.
Raster Graphics: Graphics made up of tiny squares known as pixels. Each pixel contains one or more bits describing its colour.
Rasterization: The process of converting object-oriented (or vector) graphics to raster or bit-mapped) graphics.
Record: As it pertains to a database, a collection of related pieces of information. Each record within the database contains fields of related information.
Relational Database: A database that can share information across multiple tables or files. These table can be linked or related by a common field.
Relational Database Management System (RDBMS): A program that lets a user create relational databases and interface with them.
Resolution: The amount of definition and clarity in an image.
Row: A row—as it pertains to a database—represents one item (or record) in the table. A row will have a value for each column.
Sans Serif: Without serifs, the small lines that adorn the tops and bottoms of letter in some fonts. One example of a serif font is the Arial.
Scan: To digitize an image through the use of a scanning device.
Schema: A term applied to the actual structure of a database, usually used to describe the graphical interface such as tables, columns, or flicker.
Script: A sequence of commands that is executed at the touch of a button or series of buttons.
Search Engine: Software that searches through a database listing of Web sites in order to find information.
Serif: With serifs, the small lines that adorn the tops and bottoms of letter in some fonts. One example of a serif font is the Times Roman.
Server: A computer containing and offering certain resources at the request of client computers. In the case of Web servers, Web pages and other related technologies.
Server-side Scripts: Server-side scripts are special commands that are placed in Web pages. These commands are processed on the server before the pages are sent to the client's web-browser.
SQL: Structured Query Language is a sub-language within a database that is used to request information from that database.
Static Pages: A static page is one delivered to the browser straight from a text file. Unless the page is edited in some way by the author what you see will not see a change when the Reload/Refresh button is pressed.
Style Sheet: A template used in Web design that sets the default text style and page layout.
T1: A type of data connection able to transmit a digital signal at fast speeds.
T3: A type of data connection able to transmit a digital signal at very fast speeds (over 40 times faster than a T1 line.
Table: An arrangement of information in rows and columns that makes comparing related information easier. Also can be referred to as a matrix.
Target: The destination of a file or device where source data is moved, copied, or stored.
TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol is the language that governs communication among all computers on the Internet.
Template: Something that serves as a master or pattern from which other similar things can be made.
Three Dimensional: A visual classification indicating that an object has or appears to have depth of field.
TIFF: Tagged Image File Format is a common way to store bit-mapped graphic images.
Top-level Domain: The last part of an Internet address. For example; .com .ca .org are all top-level domains. Top-level domains usually signify what type of organization a network belongs to.
True Colour: The use of at least 24 bits to represent a pixel in a graphic. This means that a graphic that is represented in true colour can store up 16 million possible colour (or pixel) combinations.
True-Type: A scalable font that can be printed or displayed on-screen at any size.
Tweening: Is an animation process by which the stages of an object are transformed. Short for in-betweening, the process is capable of showing every step in-between the beginning and end shapes of a given object.
Type Size: How the dimensions of a character appear. Usually measured in points.
Type Style: The extent to which a typeface is slanted. When slanted forward, they are italicized. When upright (with no slant) they are normal type.
Typeface: A certain design for a character set.
Unix: A widely used computer operating system, developed in 1969 at AT&T Bell Laboratories, that can support multitasking in a multi-user environment.
Upload: The opposite of download. To transfer data to a remote computer through a network connection or modem.
URL: Uniform Resource Locator. A standardized addressing system used to locate resource on the Web.
Usability: The ease or difficulty of using a product or application for a specific task.
User Friendly: A program, or Web site that can be learned and used with relative ease.
User Interface: The part of the software or Web site that works the user works with.
Variable: A common programming concept in which a storage location contains date that can be altered by a program whenever necessary.
Vector: A line calculated in either two or three dimension and is defined by it’s end points.

Web Design Terms Demystified