Web Programming Primer
- Glossary -
Web Programming Glossary
Attributes
"A language construct that programmers use to add additional information (i.e., metadata) to code
elements (e.g., assemblies, modules, members, types, return values, and parameters) to extend their
functionality" (Webopedia.com).
Comments
"In computer programming, a comment is a programming language construct used to embed programmer-readable annotations in
the source code of a computer program. Those annotations are potentially significant to programmers but typically ignorable
to compilers and interpreters. Comments are usually added with the purpose of making the source code easier to understand" (wikipedia.org).
CSS
"Short for Cascading Style Sheets, a new feature being added to HTML that gives both Web site developers and users more control
over how pages are displayed. With CSS, designers and users can create style sheets that define how different elements, such as
headers and links, appear. These style sheets can then be applied to any Web page. The term cascading derives from the fact that
multiple style sheets can be applied to the same Web page. CSS was developed by the W3C" (Webopedia.com).
Doctype
A doctype is a document type declaration, which allows the browser know what exact way to interpret it.
Elements
"An HTML element is an individual component of an HTML document or "web page", once this has been parsed into the
Document Object Model. HTML is composed of a tree of HTML elements and other nodes, such as text nodes. Each element
can have HTML attributes specified. Elements can also have content, including other elements and text. HTML elements
represent semantics, or meaning. For example, the title element represents the title of the document" (wikipedia.org).
Functions
"In programming, a named section of a program that performs a specific task. In this sense, a
function is a type of procedure or routine" (webopedia.com).
Hypertext
"A special type of database system, invented by Ted Nelson in the 1960s, in which objects (text, pictures, music, programs, and so on) can be creatively
linked to each other. When you select an object, you can see all the other objects that are linked to it. You can move from one object to another even though
they might have very different forms. For example, while reading a document about Mozart, you might click on the phrase Violin Concerto in A Major, which could
display the written score or perhaps even invoke a recording of the concerto. Clicking on the name Mozart might cause various illustrations of Mozart to appear on
the screen. The icons that you select to view associated objects are called Hypertext links or buttons" (webopedia.com).
JavaScript
"A scripting language developed by Netscape to enable Web authors to design interactive sites.
Although it shares many of the features and structures of the full Java language, it was developed
independently. Javascript can interact with HTML source code, enabling Web authors to spice up their
sites with dynamic content" (webopedia.com).
Pixels
"Short for Picture Element, a pixel is a single point in a graphic image. Graphics monitors
display pictures by dividing the display screen into thousands (or millions) of pixels, arranged
in rows and columns. The pixels are so close together that they appear connected" (webopedia.com).
Switch Statements
"In computer programming languages, a switch statement is a type of selection control mechanism used to
allow the value of a variable or expression to change the control flow of program execution via a multiway branch." (wikipedia.org).
Syntax
"Refers to the spelling and grammar of a programming language. Computers are inflexible machines that understand what you type only if you type it in the exact form that the computer expects. The expected form is called the syntax.
Each program defines its own syntactical rules that control which words the computer understands, which combinations of words are meaningful, and what punctuation is necessary" (webopedia.com).
Tags
"A command inserted in a document that specifies how the document,
or a portion of the document, should be formatted. Tags are used by all format
specifications that store documents as text files. This includes SGML and HTML" (webopedia.com).
Variables
"A symbol or name that stands for a value" (webopedia.com).
Web Browser
"A software application used to locate, retrieve and also display content on the World Wide Web, including Web pages, images, video and
other files. As a client/server model, the browser is the client run on a computer that contacts the Web server and requests information.
The Web server sends the information back to the Web browser which displays the results on the computer or other Internet-enabled device that supports a browser" (webopedia.com).
XHTML
"Short for Extensible Hypertext Markup Language, a hybrid between HTML and
XML specifically designed for Net device displays" (webopedia.com).
This page was constructed by Isaac Duke, a student of Anderson University, for an independent study in web programming.
This is not a fully comprehensive primer, so use in conjunction with other resources (resource page provided). The last
time this site has been updated was on August 20, 2013. If any questions, email misaacduke@gmail.com