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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B2B Customer Personas
B2B customer personas are detailed profiles representing different types of business customers, including their roles, responsibilities, challenges, goals, and decision-making processes within organizations. Why B2B... Read more →
Background MIDI Music
Background MIDI music involved embedding Musical Instrument Digital Interface files into webpages that would automatically play instrumental music when visitors loaded the site. MIDI files... Read more →
Backlinks
Backlinks are links from external websites that point to pages on your website, serving as votes of confidence and authority in Google's ranking algorithm. Why... Read more →
Backup and Recovery
Backup and recovery involves creating regular copies of website files, databases, and configurations, along with established procedures for quickly restoring website functionality in case of... Read more →
Bandwidth and Traffic Limits
Bandwidth and traffic limits were hosting account restrictions that limited the amount of data transfer allowed per month, typically measured in gigabytes and enforced through... Read more →
Basic HTTP Authentication
Basic HTTP Authentication was a simple method for password-protecting web directories using username and password credentials sent with each HTTP request, typically configured through .htaccess... Read more →
Best Viewed In Badges
"Best Viewed In" badges were graphics that website creators displayed to indicate their sites were optimized for specific browsers, screen resolutions, or plugins, often featuring... Read more →
Blink Tag
The HTML blink tag was a non-standard element introduced by Netscape Navigator in 1995 that made text flash on and off repeatedly to attract attention.... Read more →
Blockchain and Web3 SEO
Blockchain and Web3 SEO involves optimizing for decentralized web technologies, cryptocurrency-related content, NFT marketplaces, and blockchain-based platforms that operate differently from traditional web infrastructure. Why... Read more →
Boo.com
Boo.com was a European fashion e-commerce site launched in 1999 that burned through $135 million in 18 months while trying to create a luxury online... Read more →
Bounce Rate
Bounce rate is the percentage of website visitors who leave a site after viewing only one page without taking any action or navigating to other... Read more →
Box Model Hack
The Box Model Hack was a CSS technique used to work around Internet Explorer's incorrect implementation of the CSS box model, where IE included padding... Read more →
Brand Architecture
Brand architecture defines the organizational structure of brands within a company's portfolio, including relationships between parent brands, sub-brands, and product brands. Why Brand Architecture Matters... Read more →
Brand Awareness
Brand awareness measures how familiar target audiences are with a brand and its products or services, including both aided and unaided recognition in the marketplace.... Read more →
Brand Equity
Brand equity represents the commercial value derived from customer perception of a brand name, measured by customer loyalty, awareness, perceived quality, and brand associations. Why... Read more →
Brand Guidelines
Brand guidelines are documented standards that specify how brand elements should be used across all applications, including logo usage, color palettes, typography, tone of voice,... Read more →
Brand Identity
Brand identity encompasses the visual, verbal, and experiential elements that represent a brand, including logos, colors, typography, messaging, and overall aesthetic presentation. Why Brand Identity... Read more →
Brand Mentions
Brand mentions are instances when a brand, company, or individual is referenced online across social media, news articles, blogs, forums, or other digital platforms, either... Read more →
Brand Messaging
Brand messaging includes the key phrases, value propositions, and communication themes that consistently express brand personality, benefits, and positioning across all marketing channels. Why Brand... Read more →
Brand Positioning
Brand positioning establishes a unique place in the market and customer minds by defining how a brand differs from competitors and the specific value it... Read more →
Brand Strategy
Brand strategy is a comprehensive plan that defines how a business will build awareness and favorability with customers in ways that lead to brand preference... Read more →
Brand Voice
Brand voice is the distinct personality, tone, and style of communication that consistently represents a brand's character across all content and marketing touchpoints, reflecting company... Read more →
Broadcast.com
Broadcast.com was one of the first internet streaming services, founded in 1995 by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner to stream live audio and video content... Read more →
Buddy Lists
Buddy lists were contact management systems in instant messaging platforms that showed which friends were online, offline, or away, creating the first widespread experience of... Read more →
Bulletin Board Systems (BBS)
Bulletin Board Systems were early online communities accessible via dial-up modems where users could post messages, download files, and participate in discussions organized by topics... Read more →
Business Intelligence Tools
Business Intelligence tools collect, process, and analyze business data to create reports, dashboards, and insights that support data-driven decision making and strategic planning across marketing,... Read more →