Glossary
A glossary of the technology terms we use across software development. From APIs and frameworks to design methodologies, these are the concepts that shape how we build, scale, and support digital products.
Agile Software Development
Agile software development refers to a group of software development methodologies based on iterative development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing cross-functional teams.
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API
API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a specific method prescribed by a computer operating system or by an application program by which a programmer writing an application program can make requests of the operating system or another application.
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CMS
CMS means Content Management System. A Content Management System allow users to authenticate to a website so they can create, edit, or delete content.
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CSS
CSS stands for “Cascading Style Sheet.” Cascading style sheets are used to format the layout of Web pages. They can be used to define text styles, table sizes, and other aspects of Web pages that previously could only be defined in a page’s HTML.
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DevOps
DevOps combines the words “development” and “operations.” It encompasses developers and IT operations personnel within an organization. The goal of DevOps integration is to improve collaboration between development and operations teams.
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Django
A collection of libraries written in Python that provide a framework for building dynamic websites.
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Drupal
Drupal is free, open-source software that can be used by individuals or groups of users to easily create and manage many types of Web sites. The application includes a content management platform and a development framework.
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HTML
HTML stands for “Hypertext Markup Language.” HTML is the language used to create webpages. “Hypertext” refers to the hyperlinks that an HTML page may contain. “Markup language” refers to the way tags are used to define the page layout and elements within the page.
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Mobile Development
Mobile application development is the set of processes and procedures involved in writing software for small, wireless computing devices.
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MySQL
MySQL is an open-source relational database management system. It is based on the structured query language (SQL), which is used for adding, removing, and modifying information in the database. Standard SQL commands, such as ADD, DROP, INSERT, and UPDATE can be used with MySQL.
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PHP
PHP stands for “Hypertext Preprocessor.” PHP is an HTML-embedded Web scripting language. This means PHP code can be inserted into the HTML of a Web page. When a PHP page is accessed, the PHP code is read by the server the page resides on. The output from the PHP functions on the page are typically returned as HTML code, which can be read by the browser.
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Python
Python is a high-level programming language designed to be easy to read and simple to implement. It is considered a scripting language, like Ruby or Perl and is often used for creating Web applications and dynamic Web content.
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Responsive Design
Responsive Design is a type of web design that provides a customized viewing experience for different browser platforms. A website created with RD will display a different interface depending on what device is used to access the site. For example, a responsive website may appear one way on a laptop, another way on a tablet, and still another way on a smartphone.
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Salesforce
Salesforce is a customer relationship management solution that brings companies and customers together. It’s one integrated CRM platform that gives all your departments — including marketing, sales, commerce, and service — a single, shared view of every customer.
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User-centered Design
User-centered design (UCD) is an iterative design process in which designers focus on the users and their needs in each phase of the design process. In UCD, design teams involve users throughout the design process via a variety of research and design techniques to create highly usable and accessible products for them.
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UX
UX stands for User Experience. It is the experience a person has using a product or service. In the technology world, this often refers to a hardware device or software program. A positive user experience is simple, intuitive, and enjoyable. A negative user experience is complex, confusing, and frustrating.
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WordPress
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) based on PHP and MySQL. To function, WordPress has to be installed on a web server, which would either be part of an Internet hosting service or a network host in its own right. An example of the first scenario may be a service like WordPress.com, and the second case could be a computer running the software package WordPress.org. A local computer may be used for single-user testing and learning purposes.
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