On Accessing the Web

Browser: A browser is a software application that connects to the web through a series of requests and downloads. Browsers include Safari, Firefox, Chromium*, Opera, and many more.

Tor: The Onion Router, a browser process that obfuscates your search history and where your IP address is coming from.

IP Address: A unique ID number that is assigned to every device that connects to the internet.

On Accessing the Web

Server: A specialized computer optimized for receiving and sending request across networks

Network: The large connected system of computers, servers, wires, and tranceivers that make up a network provided by an ISP.

ISP (Internet Service Provider): Typically a commercial organization that sells you access to the internet. Xfinity, Turner Media, etc in the US.

Tools of the Web

Accessibility Tools: screenreaders, magnifiers, color contrast tools, all for helping individuals access the web inclusively.

Services: Typically governmental or freely provided by a commercial entity; you are looking at online payments for utilities, government services, bill pay, etc.

Platforms: Web systems that services millions of users with many platforms; think Amazon, Spotify, Etsy

Tools of the Web

Web Host: An organization that hosts your website files on their server; FlyWheel, GoDaddy, etc.

DNS (Domain Name Server): An organization that hosts your DNS (your website name and URL.) Typically the same companies as your web host.

URL (Unified Resource Locator): The human readable DNS of your files on a webhost. e.g. youtube.com is the URL, the DNS is hosted by Google, and Google is the Webhost

Tools for creating the Web

UI Design Tools: Design applications specifically for desktop and mobile web design; Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, etc.

Low Code/No Code Platforms: Platforms that actually create the website for you with little to no programming experience; WebFlow, Framer, etc.

CMS (Content Management Systems): Web Tools as small or as complex to build small and complex websites; WordPress, Drupal, Ghost.

Tools for creating the Web

Code Editor: A simple (or complex) editor for writing code. E.g. VSCode, Atom Editor, etc.

IDE (Integrated Development Environment): Typically a code editor with a lot of integrations and workflows, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft VisualStudio, etc.

Design Tools for the Web

HTML: Hyper Text Mark Up Language. The literal skeleton of a webpage.

CSS: Cascading Style Sheets. The window dressing of a website.

Javascript: The interactional and logical layers of a website.

Developer Tools: Debugging tools built into the browser to test things out.

Design Tools for the Web

Image Optimization: Applications for image optimization, compression, and clean up. Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, GIMP.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics): Applications that can create SVGs. Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Inkscape

Design Platforms: Platforms for helping to create artifacts for the web, such as Canva, Pixelmator, Pixlr, Icon platform such as Flaticon, FontAwesome, The Noun Project.