development

Back-end

In web design, back-end is the term applied to the software and/or database technology that sits on a server and 'drives' the interactive activity that is displayed to web surfer using a web browser. The later being the front-end. [1]

A "back-end" is an information structure or application, e.g. database.

The companion term "front-end" is the interface that allows a user to access the information or application. [3]

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. [4]

Static And Dynamic Web Pages

Static web pages can only supply information that is written into the HTML and this information will not change unless the change is written into the source code. When a Web browser requests the specific static Web page, a server returns the page to the browser and the user only gets whatever information is contained in the HTML code. In contrast, a dynamic Web page contains content that a user can interact with, such as information that is tied to a database. The user can request that the information, such as ticket availability or airline flight data, be retrieved from a database. [2]

Dynamic web pages are web documents that are generated automatically, usually using information from a database and utilising server or scripting technology, for example PHP, ASP, Cold Fusion, .NET. [1]

Is a type of web page that changes every time you visit it. It lets you enter information that aids it in deciding what to show you next. These page usually end with .php .asp and others. [6]

Web page content that changes or is changed automatically based on database content or user information. You can usually spot dynamic sites when the URL ends with .asp, .cfm, .cgi or .shtml, but it's also possible to serve dynamic content with standard static pages (.htm or .php). Many search engines index dynamic content, but some don't if there's a "?" character in the URL. [6]

E-Commerce

E-Commerce means conducting business on the Internet. It is mostly referred to buying and selling items on line. [7]

E-commerce, or electronic commerce, is a catch all term to describe the many web based or online methods of conducting business. [1]

Shopping Cart, Shopping Basket

A shopping cart (or basket) is an ecommerce application that allows a user to collect items while browsing an online catalogue. When finished searching the user is then able to move to a check-out where the cost of purchases is totaled and payment details taken.

More sophisticated systems establish customer accounts to reduce the amount of information a user has to enter to complete a transaction. [3]

Session Tracking

A session is the time spend by a single user at a web site. The recording of the path taken through the site is referred to as session tracking.

Session tracking can be used to store user generated information (as in the case of shopping cart sites) or help a developer refine site structure by recording behaviour patterns of users. [3]

ASP - Active Server Pages

ASP is a Microsoft server application that allows the dynamic creation of web pages from a host of data sources, such as database packages like Access. [1]

PHP - Hypertext Preprocessor

Self-referentially short for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, an open source, server-side, HTML embedded scripting language used to create dynamic Web pages.

In an HTML document, PHP script (similar syntax to that of Perl or C ) is enclosed within special PHP tags. Because PHP is embedded within tags, the author can jump between HTML and PHP (similar to ASP and Cold Fusion) instead of having to rely on heavy amounts of code to output HTML. And, because PHP is executed on the server, the client cannot view the PHP code.

PHP can perform any task that any CGI program can do, but its strength lies in its compatibility with many types of databases. Also, PHP can talk across networks using IMAP, SNMP, NNTP, POP3, or HTTP.

PHP was created sometime in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. During mid 1997, PHP development entered the hands of other contributors. Two of them, Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans, rewrote the parser from scratch to create PHP version 3 (PHP3). [2]

Similar to Microsoft's ASP, PHP is a server side language and program that is capable of taking data from a number of database sources and creating dynamic web pages. [1]

SQL - Structured Query Language

Abbreviation of structured query language, and pronounced either see-kwell or as separate letters. SQL is a standardized query language for requesting information from a database. The original version called SEQUEL (structured English query language) was designed by an IBM research center in 1974 and 1975. SQL was first introduced as a commercial database system in 1979 by Oracle Corporation.

Historically, SQL has been the favorite query language for database management systems running on minicomputers and mainframes. Increasingly, however, SQL is being supported by PC database systems because it supports distributed databases (databases that are spread out over several computer systems). This enables several users on a local-area network to access the same database simultaneously.

Although there are different dialects of SQL, it is nevertheless the closest thing to a standard query language that currently exists. In 1986, ANSI approved a rudimentary version of SQL as the official standard, but most versions of SQL since then have included many extensions to the ANSI standard. In 1991, ANSI updated the standard. The new standard is known as SAG SQL. [2]

MySQL

MySQL is an open source relational database management system. Information in a MySQL database is stored in the form of related tables. MySQL databases are typically used for web application development (often accessed using PHP).

A MySQL database can be accessed (queried) directly using; C, C++, Eiffel, Java, Perl, PHP and Python computer languages. There is also third party support for connection in a Windows environment.

MySQL databases are queried using a subset of the standard Structured Query Language (SQL) commands. [3]

CGI - Common Gateway Interface

From a web design point of view, a CGI is a program that can take data from a web server and perform an action with it - for example turning a submitted web form into an email.

CGI scripts can be written by web developers to perform a number of interactive actions. These are usually written in languages such as Perl, C or C++, but there are many others. [1]

ColdFusion

A dynamic web page server application from Macromedia, used for serving database generated web pages. [1]

Cold Fusion is an application from Macromedia that creates HTML pages from a database. Once a template is defined, Cold Fusion fills that template with content. Catalogs, for example, are easy to build and maintain in Cold Fusion. If a URL ends in .cfm, it is a page that was created with Cold Fusion [6]

iHTML - Inline HTML

Short for inline HTML, an advanced server-side scripting/programming language that functions as an extension to HTML, allowing the customization of dynamic Web sites that depend on interaction with databases. iHTML eliminates the need for Javascript or CGI programs as it provides the same functionality. [2]

Java

Not to be confused with Java Script, Java is a programming language that allows the development of lightweight applications (Applets) that can be embedded in web pages. Some uses of Java include counters, calendars, scrolling text, slide shows, and simple text and animation effects. [8]

JSP - Java Server Pages

Short for Java Server Page. A server-side technology, Java Server Pages are an extension to the Java servlet technology that was developed by Sun.

JSPs have dynamic scripting capability that works in tandem with HTML code, separating the page logic from the static elements the actual design and display of the page to help make the HTML more functional(i.e. dynamic database queries).

A JSP is translated into Java servlet before being run, and it processes HTTP requests and generates responses like any servlet. However, JSP technology provides a more convenient way to code a servlet. Translation occurs the first time the application is run. A JSP translator is triggered by the .jsp file name extension in a URL. JSPs are fully interoperable with servlets. You can include output from a servlet or forward the output to a servlet, and a servlet can include output from a JSP or forward output to a JSP.

JSPs are not restricted to any specific platform or server. It was orignially created as an alternative to Microsoft's ASPs (Active Server Pages). Recently, however, Microsoft has countered JSP technology with its own ASP.NET, part of the .NET initiative. [2]

Short for Java Server Page. A server-side technology, Java Server Pages are an extension to the Java servlet technology that was developed by Sun. JSPs have dynamic scripting capability that works in tandem with HTML code, separating the page logic from the static elements the actual design and display of the page to help make the HTML more functional(i.e. dynamic database queries). A JSP is translated into Java servlet before being run, and it processes HTTP requests and generates responses like any servlet. However, JSP technology provides a more convenient way to code a servlet. Translation occurs the first time the application is run. A JSP translator is triggered by the .jsp file name extension in a URL. JSPs are fully interoperable with servlets. You can include output from a servlet or forward the output to a servlet, and a servlet can include output from a JSP or forward output to a JSP. JSPs are not restricted to any specific platform or server. It was orignially created as an alternative to Microsoft's ASPs (Active Server Pages). Recently, however, Microsoft has countered JSP technology with its own ASP.NET, part of the .NET initiative. [6]

RoR - Ruby on Rails

Abbreviated as RoR, Ruby on Rails (also referred to as just Rails) is an open source Web application framework, written in Ruby (object-oriented programming language), for developing database-backed Web applications. RoR closely follows the Model-View-Control (MVC) pattern, where models, views and controllers are fully integrated in a seamless fashion. Rails is a pure Ruby development environment that allows for real-world applications to be developed in less code and with a minimum of configuration.

Ruby on Rails was created by David Heinemeier Hansson, a partner at 37signals, then extended and improved upon by a core team and hundreds of open-source contributors. Rails is released under the MIT license. Ruby is available under the Ruby License. [2]

Integration

In the context of web development, integration is the process of connecting an information structure such as a database, or information processing system (back-end) to a visual template or interface (front-end).

If an information processing system, for example a blog publishing tool, has an existing visual template, integration involves changing this template. This process is often referred to as 're-skinning'; or creating a new 'skin'. [3]

Linux

The linux operating system is an open source unix-based computer operating system, developed by a programmer called Linus Torvalds. With the assistance of developers around the World, Linux has quickly become a major player in internet web servers.

There are many different distributions of Linux, running on a variety of computer hardware platforms, including IBM compatible PCs and Apple hardware. Some versions of Linux - known as 'distros' - are sold commercially, whilst others are still very firmly free. Some common distros of Linux include, Red Hat, Mandrake, Yellow Dog, Suze. [1]

Unix

An extremely stable and efficient computer operating system that is used extensively on web servers. Traditionally unix-based operating systems were extremely complex to use and were generally implemented only by experts. The recent implementation of the Macintosh operating system - OS X - has combined the unix-based technology, with a highly usable Guided user interface (GUI).

An open source development of Unix, called Linux, is freely available in a number of different distributions. [1]

Domain And Host

A domain is an internet metaphor for a virtual home or office. These domains have been given identifiable names such as designtalkboard.com. They have been sub-divided into various categories, such as .com (for commercial), .gov, (for governmental), .org, (for non-profit organisations), .edu (for educational establishments) and so on. These are known as domain names.

Domain names are also available on a country specific basis, such as .co.uk (for the United Kingdom) and .com.au (for Australia). Some of these have become very sought after (and expensive) as they have very memorable or useful extensions - for example .tv and .cc. There are a whole range of other domain name categories and many more are being added every year. [1]

A web-host is a company that hosts web sites. They may offer a number of services, including shared hosting - where a number of web sites sit on one web server, or dedicated web hosting - where a computer (or many computers) serve just one web site. [1]

ISP - Internet Service Provider

ISPs are companies that provide a bridge between the user and the internet. They can provide these connections via a dial-up modem connection or ADSL, Cable or other broadband connections.

Some ISPs also provide other services such as Email, web hosting and domain name purchasing. [1]

Server

A computer which has been set up specifically to store and 'serve' files to other computer users. In a design studio or prepress environment, this is essential to prevent the duplication of files and so that an effective backup policy can be implemented. [1]

FTP - File Transfer Protocol

Stands for . Allows you to send files to one computer from another over the internet. FTP Is a common method of moving files from one or more Internet websites. FTP is basically uploading (sending) and downloading (receiving) from a remote computer. Some people use a FTP client. (FTP Program) to upload or download the programs. Most browsers can accomplish this by just typing in( ex. ftp://web_design_ftp_files). For most FTP sites you need a user name and password to acces the files but others allow you to download and not upload using an Anonymous login ID. [6]

References: [1]www.designtalkboard.com [2]www.webopedia.com [3]www.motive.co.nz [4]www.joedolson.com [5]www.wikipedia.org [6]www.beseenwebdesign.com [7]www.launchmark.com [8]www.101webbuilders.com [9]www.answers.com [10]www.usabilityfirst.com [11]www.designer-info.com

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