*By Keisha Mitchell

So you want to build the next best web app or the hottest new website yet but not quite sure where to start? The “back end” is where you’ll wanna begin. Here is where your data and basic functionality will live to make your application or page(s) come to life. But before you can walk the walk, it’s important to know how to talk the talk. let me help you learn the names of the tools you’ll use and the terms you’ll need to understand so you can get better acquainted with the world on the other side of the screen.

This glossary is divided by the elements of the back end that they pertain to, terms are listed in alphabetical order within each category.

go to the entire glossary now at rootdir.blog *

Languages

A list of languages that you may want to learn so that your bottom line doesn’t get lost in translation.

HTML:

Stands for “Hypertext Markup Language”; provides the foundation of a website and dictates a sites’ basic layout.

Java:

Programming Language created for the construction of web applications, etc. Not synonymous with Javascript.

Javascript:

Programming language used to develop dynamic animations and interactive features for websites. Popular because of it’s infinite uses.

PHP:

Stands for “Hypertext Preprocessor”; typically has general use as a scripting language within web development.

Python:

Programming Language known for it’s popularity in data and information management projects, and increasing use in software development. Also acclaimed for it’s ease of use.

Ruby:

Programming Language distinguished by it’s simple syntax and diverse use.

SQL:

Stands for “Structured Query Language”; Language that’s used to probe or access information from relational databases or their types. Frameworks:

Though these frameworks are put in place to deliver the finished project on the frontend, you may need to know how the two are tethered together and what technologies are being used to construct the other side of things. By no means is this an exhaustive list, rather a collection of popular technologies you may encounter.

Angular :

Created by, google this is a framework used to create single page applications consisting of Typescript and HTML.

React:

Open source framework created by Facebook that features a component based,elemental syntax. Popular because of it’s versatility and dynamism.

Ruby on the Rails:

Ruby centric framework used for web development. Applications/Systems and Programs:

When doing development work or collaborating with Engineers, there are a host of programs, applications, and systems that are in your toolkit for building something special. These are common acronyms, terms, and programs you may become acquainted with.