A - B - C - D - F - G - H - I - J - M - O - P - R - S - T - U - W - X
- Access Keys
- An HTML attribute implemented to provide keyboard shortcuts to specific parts of a page or to follow certain links. This method is problematic due to the way it can create conflicts with user agents. It can, however, offer significant advantages to users of certain types of assistive technology
- AJAX
- AJAX is an acronym for Asynchronous Javascript and XML. It's a method to utilize the abilities of Javascript, the Document Object Model, and XML to create interactivity on the web.
- Alt text
- The alt attribute is used to provide text which can be displayed as an alternative to an image or embedded object on a web page. Alt text is read when the image or embedded object is not usable by the user agent.
- Apache
- A web server program which is widely used across the internet. The Apache server is Open Source Software, which has greatly helped to spread the use of the server program.
- Assistive Technology
- Technology meant to provide help in performing a task, whether general or specific. Assistive technology for the web includes braille keyboards, audio browsers which read web pages, or alternative entry devices such as a mouth-stick.
- Bookmarklet
- A bookmarklet is a piece of Javascript which is embedded in a browser bookmark and can be used as a shortcut to perform a wide variety of complex tasks.
- Canonicalization
- The process of establishing a single URL as the location of a web document. Ensuring that although you may be able to arrive to a page via multiple paths or addresses, there is only one final address which will be resolved by the server.
- Client side
- Client side means an action which is performed by the browser on the computer being used to access a web page. Also see Server side.
- CMS
- CMS stands for Content Management System. A CMS is a software application designed to store, manage, and format web information. Common CMS applications include blog software like WordPress, forum software like PhpBB, or site management tools like Drupal.
- A cookie is a small text file sent to a web user's computer by a website. A cookie can be used to identify that user to the website on their next visit. Common uses include remembering login data, user preferences, and providing favorites lists.
- CSS
- CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheet. This is a document format which provides a set of style rules which can then be incorporated in an XHTML or HTML document. It is a means to separate web content from formatting and presentation information.
- Disability
- Any impairment (physical or mental) which can make routine tasks more difficult or impossible.
- Discoverability
- The ability of any feature to be found in the context in which it's needed.
- DOM
- The Document Object Model is a representation of the structure of a web document which provides a means for scripts such as Javascript to manipulate the content and layout of the page.
- Document Type Definition
- A short statement at the beginning of an HTML or XHTML page which informs the user agent what set of rules should be applied on a page.
- Focus
- The state in which a page object receives the attention of the user or user
agent. In most contexts, focus applies only to form fields and anchor elements.
:focusis a pseudo-class in CSS which allows this state to be given a unique appearance.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Usually, FAQ -- this is one of the most common ways of providing help information on websites. This provides a logical way of giving access to additional information about a site which may not be immediately apparent.
- Graphical User Interface
- A graphical user interface is the visible aspect of a website or program which allows a visual user agent to interact with the site.
- HTML
- HyperText Markup Language is a language used to structure content on a website. Although the HTML specification contains the means to significantly impact the appearance of the page, HTML should be used exclusively for structure, with CSS used to format the page.
- Information Architecture
- Covers the navigation structure, organization, and labeling of information.
- Javascript
- Perhaps the most ubiquitous scripting language on the web, Javascript is a client side programming language which can be used with almost all user agents.
- JAWS
- JAWS is one of the most common screen readers available, created by Freedom Scientific. JAWS stands for Job Access With Speech.
- MySQL
- MySQL is an open source database software based on the SQL vocabulary which can be employed in combination with most server-side languages, but which is most commonly employed with PHP.
- Open source
- Open source software is a licensing model for software which gives free access to the source code of the software to allow interested parties to modify or contribute to the software as they see fit. Commonly created as collaborative projects and shared at no cost.
- Perl
- Perl is one of the earliest server side scripting languages. Although relatively few new projects are now created using Perl, it is still one of the most widely supported and applied languages.
- PHP
- PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a popular general-purpose server side scripting language which can be embedded into HTML to create a wide variety of mini-applications, but can also be used to build large-scale complex applications.
- Rich media
- Refers to advanced internet technology involving interactivity, animation, or other special effects.
- RSS
- Variously defined as RDF [Resource Description Framework] Site Summary (a composite acronym), Really Simple Syndication, or Rich Site Summary, RSS is an XML format for sharing web content to other programs or web sites.
- Search Engine Friendly
- A "Search Engine Friendly" web site has taken steps to ensure that no barriers to search engines are blocking access for web crawlers to web content. The website has also taken steps to follow best practices guidelines in preparing web templates and interaction such that appropriately optimized content will be presented to search spiders in the best possible manner. An accessible web site will always be search engine friendly, although optimization is a separate function.
- Search Engine Optimization
- Search engine optimization describes a part of the process to making certain a website appears to its best advantage in search engine results pages. Some search engine optimization processes, described as "Black Hat", involve attempting to deceive search engines into believing a site is more relevant than it is.
- Scent
- A usability term which describes the ability of a document to clearly indicate it's purpose and guide the user towards a mutually desired outcome.
- Server side
- Server side describes scripting which is performed on the server, before a page is delivered to the user agent. Server side scripting has some advantages over client side scripting because it doesn't require the user's user agent to support the scripting language used.
- Screen reader
- A type of assistive technology which users synthetic language to read digital documents to the blind.
- Tabindex
- Tabindex is an HTML attribute which defines the sequence in which anchor links should be followed when using the keyboard "tab" key to navigate a page. Can be problematic unless you have defined a logical order for every focusable item on a page. Without tabindex specified, links will automatically be followed in the order they appear in the page code.
- Text-Aware
- A device which is "text-aware" is able to communicate information expressed in text to the user of the device. A web browser extracts text and displays it visually on a screen. A screen reader extracts text and displays it as speech. Text-aware devices are a significant mode of universal communication, since a single input format can be communicated in a variety of different output formats.
- URI or URL
- Uniform Resource Indicator or Uniform Resource Locator is a web address, such
as
http://www.greyeddesign.co.uk
- Usability
- A correlative to accessibility, usability is the principle that information or applications should not only be possible to access, but should also be easy to understand and use.
- User agent
- User agent is the generic term used to describe any device which might access a web page. User agents include web browsers such as Firefox or Internet Explorer, search engine robots, handheld devices including mobile phones, and accessibility tools such as JAWS.
- User agent accessibility guidelines
- A set of guidelines which describe how user agents (visual browsers, screen readers, etc.) must be developed in order to properly provide for accessibility needs.
- Web Accessibility
- The principle that all web users should have access to information available on the internet.
- Web Accessibility Initiative
- A body from the World Wide Web Consortium dedicated to discussing and setting standards for web accessibility.
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
- The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are a set of guidelines intended to help web content authors prepare their content for use by people with disabilities.
- World Wide Web Consortium
- The World Wide Web Consortium is a non-profit organization founded by Tim Berners-Lee which is responsible for setting the standards for common web creation and access methods. Major documents include the specifications for the HTML and XHTML languages and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
- XHTML
- XHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language) is a combination of XML and HTML which provides developers with a language which uses the HTML specifications within the constraints of the XML format.
- XML
- XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a generic format intended for maximum flexibility to provide information in a wide variety of structural formats. A variety of XML specifications exist for different applications, including RSS amongst others.
- XSL
- XSL, or Extensible Stylesheet Language, is a language which describes the formatting and presentation of XML content.