Technical Glossary for Project Managers

Term	What is it?	What is it used for?	Example
IP	An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network.	IP addresses are used to identify and locate devices on the internet or a local network, allowing them to communicate and exchange data with each other.	A common IP address format is “192.168.0.1”, which might be assigned to your home router for accessing its configuration settings.
Webhook	A webhook is a way for one application to automatically send real-time data to another application over the internet.	Webhooks are used to enable automated communication and data transfer between different systems or services. They allow applications to receive updates or notifications when specific events occur in another application.	When a new order is placed on an e-commerce website, a webhook could be triggered to send the order details to a separate inventory management system, allowing it to automatically update stock levels.
Cronjob	A cronjob (or cron job) is a scheduled task or script that runs automatically at specified intervals or times on a computer system.	Cronjobs are commonly used to automate repetitive tasks, such as backups, log file maintenance, sending reports, or updating data feeds. They allow these tasks to run without manual intervention.	A cronjob could be set up to automatically generate and send a weekly sales report every Monday morning at 8 AM.
Token / API Key	A token or API key is a unique string of characters that acts as a digital access credential or authentication mechanism.	Tokens and API keys are used to grant applications or users secure access to specific resources or services, such as APIs, databases, or cloud services. They help control and restrict access to authorized entities only.	When integrating with a third-party API, you might need to obtain an API key from the service provider and include it with each request to authenticate and authorize your application’s access.
Environment Variable	An environment variable is a dynamic value that can affect the way a program or process runs on a computer.	Environment variables are used to store configuration settings, sensitive data (like API keys or database credentials), or other values that may need to be accessed or modified during runtime.	A common use case is storing a database connection string as an environment variable, allowing it to be easily changed without modifying the application code directly.
Breakpoint (CSS)	In CSS, a breakpoint is a specific screen size or resolution at which the website’s layout and styling will change or adapt.	Breakpoints are used in responsive web design to define the points where the website’s layout should adjust to provide an optimal viewing experience across different devices and screen sizes.	A common breakpoint might be set at 768px, where the website’s layout switches from a single-column view to a multi-column view for larger screens.
LocalStorage / SessionStorage	LocalStorage and SessionStorage are web browser APIs that allow websites to store and retrieve data on the client-side (in the user’s web browser).	These storage mechanisms are used to persist data across page reloads or browser sessions, enabling features like user preferences, shopping carts, or temporary data caching.	LocalStorage stores data with no expiration date, while SessionStorage data is cleared when the browser session ends.
CORS	CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) is a security mechanism implemented in web browsers that controls how web pages can access resources from different origins (domains, protocols, or ports).	CORS is used to prevent unauthorized cross-origin requests and protect against certain types of web security vulnerabilities, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.	When a website tries to fetch data from an API hosted on a different domain, the browser’s CORS policy will check if the server allows cross-origin requests from that website’s origin.
HTTP Status Codes	HTTP status codes are three-digit codes that indicate the status of a request made to a web server.	HTTP status codes are used to communicate the outcome of a web request, providing information about whether the request was successful, encountered an error, or requires further action.	Common status codes include 200 (OK), 404 (Not Found), 301 (Moved Permanently), and 500 (Internal Server Error).
SSL	SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that encrypts data transmitted between a web server and a web browser.	SSL is used to secure online transactions and protect sensitive information, such as login credentials and credit card numbers, from being intercepted by third parties.	When you visit a website with “https://” in the URL, it means the connection is secured with SSL.
Environments (dev, staging, production)	Environments refer to different stages or versions of a website or application during its development and deployment process. The three main environments are: 1) Development (dev): Used by developers to build and test new features. 2) Staging: A replica of the production environment used for final testing before deployment. 3) Production: The live, publicly accessible version of the website or application.	Environments allow for separating different stages of development, testing, and deployment, ensuring changes are thoroughly tested before being made live on the production site.	A developer might work on a new feature in the development environment, then move it to the staging environment for testing, and finally deploy it to the production environment once it’s approved.
Redirect	A redirect is a way to automatically forward visitors from one URL to another.	Redirects are used to handle situations where a website’s URL structure changes, or to send visitors to a different page based on certain conditions.	If a website changes its domain from “example.com” to “newdomain.com”, a redirect can be set up to automatically send visitors from the old domain to the new one.
Domain	A domain is the unique address or name that identifies a website on the internet.	Domains are used to access websites and web applications. They provide a human-readable way to navigate to a specific website instead of using the server’s IP address.	”google.com” and “wikipedia.org” are examples of domains.
Hosting	Web hosting is a service that provides the technology and infrastructure required to make a website or application accessible on the internet.	Hosting companies provide the servers, storage, and other resources needed to host and serve websites and applications to visitors.	Popular hosting providers like GoDaddy, Bluehost, and HostGator offer various hosting plans for different types of websites and applications.
DNS	DNS (Domain Name System) is a system that translates human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses.	DNS is used to map domain names to the corresponding IP addresses of the servers hosting the website or application. This allows users to access websites using easy-to-remember domain names instead of complex IP addresses.	When you type “www.example.com” in your browser, DNS is used to find the IP address of the server hosting the “example.com” website.
Tracking Tag	A tracking tag is a snippet of code that is added to a website or application to collect data and track user behavior.	Tracking tags are used for various purposes, such as website analytics, advertising, and user experience optimization. They help gather data on how users interact with the website or application.	Google Analytics uses a tracking tag to collect data on website visitors, such as page views, traffic sources, and user behavior.
API	API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate and share data with each other.	APIs are used to integrate different systems, applications, or services. They provide a standardized way for applications to request and exchange data, enabling them to work together seamlessly.	Many popular services, such as Google Maps, Twitter, and Facebook, offer APIs that allow developers to integrate their functionality into other applications.
Wireframe	A wireframe is a low-fidelity, visual representation of a website or application’s layout and structure.	Wireframes are used in the early stages of design to plan and communicate the overall structure, layout, and flow of a website or application before investing time and resources into visual design and development.	A wireframe might show the placement of navigation menus, content areas, and other key elements on a webpage, without specifying colors, fonts, or other visual details.
QA	QA (Quality Assurance) is the process of testing and evaluating a product or service to ensure it meets defined quality standards and requirements.	In web development and software projects, QA is used to identify and fix bugs, ensure functionality works as expected, and verify that the product meets the specified requirements before it is released or deployed.	A QA team might perform various types of testing, such as functional testing, usability testing, and performance testing, to ensure the website or application is of high quality and meets the client’s expectations.
Deploy	To deploy is the process of making a website, application, or software update available for use in a live or production environment.	Deployment is the final step in the development process, where the tested and approved code or changes are moved from a staging or testing environment to the live, publicly accessible environment.	After thoroughly testing a new feature or update in a staging environment, the development team will deploy the changes to the production server, making them available to end-users.
Responsive	Responsive design refers to the practice of creating websites and applications that adapt and provide an optimal viewing and interaction experience across different devices and screen sizes.	Responsive design ensures that a website or application looks and functions properly on various devices, such as desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones, without the need for separate versions for each device.	A responsive website will automatically adjust its layout, font sizes, and other elements to fit the screen size of the device it’s being viewed on, providing a seamless experience for the user.
Technical Review	A technical review is a process where a team of experts evaluates the technical aspects of a project, such as code quality, architecture, and adherence to best practices.	Technical reviews are conducted to identify potential issues, ensure compliance with standards, and provide recommendations for improvement before a project is launched or a major update is deployed.	A technical review might involve code walkthroughs, security audits, performance testing, and other assessments to ensure the technical implementation meets the required quality standards.
SEO On-page	On-page SEO (Search Engine Optimization) refers to the practices and techniques used to optimize individual web pages to rank higher in search engine results and improve visibility.	On-page SEO involves optimizing various elements of a web page, such as the content, HTML structure, meta tags, and images, to make it more relevant and appealing to search engines for specific keywords or phrases.	Examples of on-page SEO techniques include using relevant keywords in page titles and headings, optimizing image alt text, and ensuring the content is high-quality and relevant to the target keywords.
Cookie	A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on a user’s device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) to remember information about their visit and preferences.	Cookies are used for various purposes, such as storing login credentials, tracking user behavior and preferences, and personalizing the website experience for each visitor.	When you visit an e-commerce website and add items to your shopping cart, the website uses cookies to remember the items in your cart, even if you leave the site and come back later.
Cache	In web development, a cache is a temporary storage area where frequently accessed data or resources are stored for faster retrieval.	Caching is used to improve website performance by reducing the need to retrieve the same data or resources from the server repeatedly. Instead, the cached version is served from the local storage, resulting in faster load times.	When you visit a website, your browser may cache (store) certain elements, such as images or CSS files, so that on subsequent visits, it can load those elements from the cache instead of downloading them again from the server.
Endpoint	In the context of APIs, an endpoint is a specific URL or address that represents a specific resource or functionality within the API.	Endpoints are used to access and interact with the different features and data provided by an API. Each endpoint typically corresponds to a specific operation or set of data that can be requested or manipulated.	For example, the GitHub API might have an endpoint like “/users/{username}/repos” that allows you to retrieve a list of repositories for a specific user.