Web glossary
Web terms in plain language, without the technical jargon. For business owners, not developers.
Who this glossary is for and how to use it
When you order a website, quotes and emails fill up with words a developer uses daily but a business owner has no reason to know: hosting, CMS, 301 redirect, Core Web Vitals. It is hard to compare two offers or read an audit report when half the terms are unfamiliar. This glossary explains them so you can ask a supplier precise questions.
Every entry opens with a short definition. After that comes how the thing actually works, an example from the point of view of a small company in Estonia, the usual mistakes and a simple way to check your own site. Each page ends with answers to common questions and links to related terms and services.
Terms in alphabetical order
301 redirect
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from an old URL to a new one. It tells both the visitor and Google that the page has moved permanently to a new address.
CMS
A CMS, or content management system, is software that lets you add and change website content without writing code. Well-known ones include WordPress, Shopify and Webflow.
Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals are three metrics Google uses to measure how good a site's experience is: loading speed (LCP), responsiveness (INP) and layout stability (CLS).
Domain
A domain is your website's address on the internet, such as yourcompany.ee. It is the name a visitor types into a browser to reach your site.
Hosting
Web hosting is the server where your website lives and from which it is available to visitors. If the domain is the address, hosting is the house at that address.
Landing page
A landing page is a single web page with one clear goal: to get the visitor to take a specific action, such as sending an inquiry or buying.
Responsive design
Responsive design means a website that automatically adapts to the screen size: one view on a phone, another on a tablet, a third on a computer.
SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the work that helps your site rank higher in Google search results and thereby bring in more visitors.
SSL
An SSL certificate encrypts the connection between your site and a visitor. Thanks to it the site opens on a secure https address and the browser shows a padlock.
UX
UX, or user experience, means how easy and clear a website or product is to use. Good UX lets a visitor do what they came for quickly and without friction.