Sidebar: A repeating section on the side of certain or all web pages within a website.Body/Content Area: The main area of each page on a website.These menus evolved from the need to save valuable space on a mobile screen. It is called a “hamburger” because it is usually displayed with three horizontal lines that look like a hamburger. Hamburger Menu: A “toggle” navigation menu that is mainly used for mobile versions of website navigation, as it compresses the navigation and opens/toggles when clicked.When hovered or clicked on, the sub-menus “drop down” and are then visible to the user. Drop-down Menu: A drop-down menu is a navigational menu that has sub-menus or categories below it.On large websites, “Utility” Menus/Navigation may include Account Logins, Shopping Cart links, etc. While it primarily refers to the “menu bar” located at the top of a website or along either side, it can also include textual links at the bottom of the page, as breadcrumbs at the top of page content, or in a sidebar. Main Navigation/Menu (please don’t call them ‘Tabs’) : The navigational elements that appear on a website.It is useful for its accessibility from anywhere on your website without having to scroll back up to the top of the page. Sticky Header (also called a fixed header) is a website navigation bar that’s locked into place so that it doesn’t disappear when the user scrolls down the page.The header usually displays your navigation bar and may incorporate items such as your logo/name, social media icons, your phone number, and a search bar. Header: The top part of your website that doesn’t change as you venture to different pages.Top-level outline of the basic elements of a website:
So, we have put together a guide to “Website Speak” to help ensure we are on the same page when it comes to website terminology. We realize that when we speak in our language, sometimes it may not make sense, and a key to a successful website project is clear communication. As website professionals, we have our own “lingo,” or website terminology, which can sometimes be confusing for our clients and people who don’t make websites for a living.