Browser
The app you use to visit websites, such as Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox.
Website words, explained like a normal conversation.
You should not need a technology background to understand your website. Search for a term and get a short, plain-English explanation.
33 terms available
Website Basics
Domain
Your website address, such as yourbusiness.com. Think of it as the address customers type in to find you online.
Hosting
The service that keeps your website files online so people can visit your website at any time.
Website
The collection of pages customers see when they visit your business online.
Web Page
One individual page of a website, such as Home, About, Services, FAQ, or Contact.
Mobile Responsive
A website that automatically adjusts to fit phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop screens.
URL
The complete web address for a page. For example, yourbusiness.com/contact is the URL for a contact page.
Domains & Connections
DNS
The directions that connect your domain name to your website, email, and other online services. You usually do not need to manage this yourself if Print Train is handling the connection.
Nameservers
Settings that tell the internet which DNS provider is responsible for your domain.
Domain Registrar
The company where your domain is registered and renewed, such as Porkbun, GoDaddy, or another registrar.
DNS Record
A small setting in your domain configuration that tells internet services where website or email traffic should go.
A Record
A DNS record that points a domain name to the server where a website is hosted.
CNAME Record
A DNS record that points one web address to another address. It is commonly used for www and other subdomains.
MX Record
A DNS record that tells the internet where email for a domain should be delivered.
Subdomain
An address that comes before your main domain, such as shop.yourbusiness.com or support.yourbusiness.com.
Security & Reliability
SSL
Security technology that encrypts information between a visitor and your website. It is what helps produce the padlock shown by browsers for secure sites.
HTTPS
The secure version of a website connection. HTTPS indicates that SSL security is being used.
Uptime
The amount of time a website is available and working online.
Website Maintenance
Ongoing care that helps keep a website working properly, including checks, updates, monitoring, and content changes depending on your plan.
Backup
A saved copy of website information that may be used to recover from a problem or accidental loss.
Business Email
An email address that uses your business domain, such as name@yourbusiness.com.
Email Delivery
The process of making sure messages from your website, such as contact-form inquiries, actually reach the intended inbox.
Contact Form
A form on your website that lets visitors send you a message without displaying their own email app.
Spam
Unwanted email. Website forms and email services use different tools to reduce spam and suspicious messages.
Search & Marketing
SEO
Search Engine Optimization. It means improving your website so search engines can better understand its pages and potentially show them in relevant search results.
Page Title
The title search engines and browsers use to identify a web page. A clear page title can help visitors and search engines understand the page.
Meta Description
A short description of a web page that search engines may use when displaying the page in search results.
Google Maps Integration
Displaying or linking your business location through Google Maps so customers can find or navigate to you more easily.
Website Features
E-commerce
Selling products or services through a website, usually with a shopping cart and online payment system.
CMS
Content Management System. A tool that can let website owners manage certain pages, text, images, or posts without editing website code.
Integration
A connection between your website and another service, such as Google Maps, scheduling, payments, email, or social media.
Website Migration
Moving an existing website from one hosting setup or platform to another.
Website Redesign
Updating an existing website’s appearance, organization, content, or functionality rather than starting with the old design as-is.
STILL NOT SURE?
You only need to understand enough to make a comfortable decision.
Print Train handles the technical work you choose. This guide is here so you can look up common terms on your own without feeling like you need to become a website expert.