A overview of the essential components of a web site.
Domain name
The domain name is the unique name that identifies a website, a website’s address. On the Web, the domain name is the part of the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that tells a domain name server where to forward a request for a Web page, for example, yahoo.com.
Web Hosting and E-mail
Web hosting is the storage and serving of all the files that make up a web site on a computer called a web server. Web servers maintain a permanent connection to the Internet so your web site is always available. Hosting is generally provided by companies that specialize in this service. Pricing and plans vary widely based on the services offered and the hosting provider. E-mail is generally included in all hosting plans.
Design
Web design is the process of designing of a web page, website or web application. The term generally refers to the graphical side of web development.
Elements of web site design
- Page layout: navigation placement, content placement, fonts, colors
- Graphical elements: graphics, images, buttons, etc.
- HTML/CSS/JavaScript coding – the underlying structure of a web page
- Flash animation
Content
Content is the information presented on a website and can take many forms, such as:
- Text
- Images
- Multimedia: video, audio, Flash
Functionality
Functionality refers to the elements of a website that provide some function beyond static display of information, for instance allowing the user to query a database, or place items in a shopping cart.
Some common examples of web functionality are listed below:
- E-commerce (shopping cart)
- Content Management System
- Bulletin Board/Forum
- Blog
Maintenance
Maintenance is the ongoing process of updating content, graphics and functionality of a website.
Promotion
Promotion is the continuing process of promoting a website to attract more visitors to the website.