Glossary
An incomprehensive encyclopedia of technology and design.
Every industry has its jargon. Here's what all of it actually means, in plain language, so you can make better decisions about your website.
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A/B Testing
A/B testing involves comparing two versions of a webpage, email, or other marketing asset by showing different variants to different segments of users to determine... Read more →
About.com
About.com was a content network featuring expert guides who created articles and resources on hundreds of topics, originally launched as The Mining Company in 1996.... Read more →
Accessibility Testing
Accessibility testing involves evaluating websites and applications to ensure they work effectively for users with disabilities, using automated tools, manual testing, and user feedback to... Read more →
Account-Based Marketing (ABM)
Account-Based Marketing is a strategic B2B approach that focuses marketing and sales efforts on specific high-value target accounts, creating personalized campaigns and content for individual... Read more →
Active Server Pages (ASP)
Active Server Pages (ASP) was Microsoft's server-side scripting platform launched in 1996 to compete with CGI and early PHP, allowing developers to embed programming code... Read more →
ActiveX Controls
ActiveX Controls were Microsoft's answer to Java Applets, introduced in 1996 as a way to embed interactive Windows applications directly into web pages using Internet... Read more →
AI Impact on SEO
AI Impact on SEO refers to how artificial intelligence technologies, including machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and generative AI, are changing search behavior, ranking... Read more →
AI-Powered Personalization
AI-Powered Personalization uses machine learning to deliver individualized content, product recommendations, and experiences to users based on their behavior, preferences, and predicted interests in real-time.... Read more →
AIM and the Art of the Away Message
# AIM and the Art of the Away Message *How a generation learned to perform their feelings in 160 characters* — The sound was unmistakable.... Read more →
Airtable
# Airtable Spreadsheet-meets-database. Flexible enough for project management, content calendars, CRM, or whatever else your team has jury-rigged together. — ## What It Does –... Read more →
Algorithm Updates
Algorithm updates are changes Google and other search engines make to their ranking systems to improve search result quality, combat spam, and better serve user... Read more →
Algorithmic Marketing
Algorithmic marketing involves using automated algorithms and machine learning to make real-time marketing decisions, optimize ad bidding, personalize content, and adjust strategies based on data... Read more →
Alt Text
Alt text (alternative text) is a written description of an image's content and function that appears when images cannot be displayed and is read aloud... Read more →
Anchor Text
Anchor text is the clickable, visible text in a hyperlink that users see and click on to navigate to another webpage, providing context about the... Read more →
Animated GIF Banners
Animated GIF banners were looping graphics that combined multiple frames to create motion effects, often used for advertisements, decorative elements, or attention-grabbing headers on websites.... Read more →
Anonymization and Pseudonymization
Anonymization removes personally identifiable information from data sets so individuals cannot be re-identified, while pseudonymization replaces identifying fields with artificial identifiers, allowing data utility while... Read more →
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
AOL Instant Messenger was a free instant messaging service launched in 1997 that became the dominant chat platform for millions of users, particularly teenagers and... Read more →
Apache HTTP Server
Apache HTTP Server is an open-source web server software developed by the Apache Software Foundation, first released in 1995 as a continuation of the NCSA... Read more →
API Integration
API (Application Programming Interface) integration connects different software systems, enabling them to share data, trigger actions, and work together seamlessly to create unified workflows and... Read more →
Apple Newton MessagePad
The Apple Newton MessagePad was an early personal digital assistant (PDA) released in 1993 that featured handwriting recognition, note-taking capabilities, and wireless communication features. The... Read more →
ARIA Labels
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels are HTML attributes that provide additional context and descriptions for web elements, helping assistive technologies understand and communicate interactive... Read more →
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Marketing
Artificial Intelligence in marketing refers to the use of machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and automated decision-making systems to enhance marketing strategies, personalize experiences,... Read more →
Asana
# Asana Project and task management. Where marketing teams track campaigns, creative workflows, and the endless list of things that need doing. — ## What... Read more →
Ask Jeeves
Ask Jeeves was a search engine launched in 1997 that featured a butler mascot based on P.G. Wodehouse's fictional character Reginald Jeeves, allowing users to... Read more →
Attribution Modeling
Attribution Modeling uses AI and statistical analysis to determine how different marketing touchpoints contribute to conversions, providing insights into customer journey paths and channel effectiveness... Read more →
Attribution Models
Attribution models are rules that determine how conversion credit is assigned to different marketing touchpoints in a customer's journey, helping marketers understand which channels and... Read more →
Attribution Tracking
Attribution tracking identifies which marketing touchpoints contribute to conversions throughout the customer journey, assigning credit to different channels, campaigns, and interactions that influence purchase decisions.... Read more →
Audience Segmentation
Audience segmentation in analytics involves dividing users into distinct groups based on demographics, behavior, acquisition source, or other characteristics to understand different user types and... Read more →
Augmented Reality (AR) Marketing
Augmented Reality marketing uses technology to overlay digital information onto real-world environments, creating interactive experiences that can enhance product visualization and customer engagement. Why Augmented... Read more →
Away Message Culture
Away messages were custom status updates that AIM and other instant messaging users displayed when not actively available to chat, evolving into elaborate forms of... Read more →