The plain-English web glossary
A reference library of web terms, tools, acronyms, and roles — all explained in plain English for non-technical business owners.
You don't need to become a web expert — but having a quick reference for the words your team and ours use every day makes everything smoother. This section is your cheat sheet.
Quick summary
This section contains alphabetical term lists for the web's most common topics — WordPress, SEO, security, e-commerce, design, and more. Use the search bar at the top or pick the area you need below. For broader reference reading (how the web works, tools we recommend, useful links), see the Reference section.
If you only read three things
- Web basics terms — the building blocks every other glossary builds on.
- The topic glossary that matches what you're working with — WordPress, SEO, security, etc.
- Reference: how the web works — a 5-minute mental model that makes every term click.
Foundational references
Start here if you're new to the web or want to understand the big picture.
How the web works, in 5 minutes
A friendly story from your browser to the server and back.
Web basics: terms A–Z
The core vocabulary everyone building or managing a website needs.
Who does what: web roles explained
Designers, developers, SEOs, project managers — what they each actually do.
The web acronyms cheat sheet
CMS, SSL, CDN, DNS, GA4 — every abbreviation decoded.
By topic
Reference pages for specific areas of the web.
Domains & DNS: terms A–Z
Everything from A record to zone file, explained simply.
Hosting: terms A–Z
Servers, staging, SSL, CDN, uptime — hosting vocabulary decoded.
WordPress: terms A–Z
Blocks, plugins, themes, roles — the WordPress dictionary.
E-commerce: terms A–Z
Cart, checkout, SKU, gateway, chargeback — online selling explained.
Email: terms A–Z
SMTP, IMAP, SPF, DKIM, DMARC — business email vocabulary.
SEO: terms A–Z
Keywords, backlinks, crawling, indexing — SEO jargon decoded.
Analytics: terms A–Z
Sessions, bounce rate, conversions, UTM — analytics explained.
Security: terms A–Z
SSL, 2FA, malware, phishing, firewall — security terms demystified.
Design & UX: terms A–Z
Wireframe, mockup, responsive, accessibility — design vocabulary.
Reference guides
Quick-lookup tables and practical overviews you'll return to often.
File formats reference
JPG, PNG, WebP, SVG, PDF, MP4 — when to use which format.
Pixels, ems & web measurements
px, em, rem, vh, vw — the units behind every web design.
Browsers & devices reference
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge — what your visitors actually use.
The tools we use & why
The software Chykalophia uses day-to-day and what each one does.
Tools we recommend for clients
The tools we suggest you keep in your toolkit.
Useful official links & resources
A curated list of official docs, dashboards, and tools grouped by topic.
Related guides
- How to use this help center
- Domains & DNS, explained simply
- WordPress: the complete client guide
- Website hosting, explained
Need a hand?