Design
Psychology in Design: Gestalt Principles
07 December 2023
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Website
Five terms explaining a website like a house
28 September 2023
3 Mins Read
01. Address (Domain)
Imagine the domain as the address through which users access your website. It’s like the postal address to the server that houses your website’s data. Just like an address helps people locate a physical house, a domain helps users locate your digital presence. However, it’s important to note that the domain only points to the server; it’s not the server itself. Much like an address points to a specific piece of land, a domain points to a specific server.
02. Land (Hosting Server)
Think of the hosting server as the land on which you plan to build your digital house, i.e., your website. Just as a physical house requires a plot of land, your website needs a hosting server to reside on. The size and performance of the hosting server resemble the size and quality of land needed to accommodate your house’s structure. A larger, higher-performing hosting server is essential for more complex websites, much like a spacious plot of land is needed for a larger house.
03. Foundations (CMS)
For your digital house (website) to stand firmly on its land (hosting server), you need a solid foundation. This foundation in the web world is often represented by a Content Management System (CMS). A CMS is akin to the framework on which you construct your house. It provides the tools and structure needed to create, manage, and organise your digital content effectively.
04. Rooms (Pages & Functions)
The web pages and functions on the front end of your website are comparable to rooms within a house. Just as a house contains various rooms with distinct purposes, your website has pages and functions that serve different roles. These digital “rooms” can vary in size, purpose, and complexity. Similar to how houses can have numerous rooms, a website can feature an array of pages and functions.
05. Decor (Styling & Content)
Once the digital house (website) has been constructed with its rooms (pages), it’s time to add personality and appeal. This is where styling and content come into play. Styling, often implemented using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), is akin to the decor of a physical house. It makes the website visually appealing and cohesive. Just as furniture and decorations add character to a room, content—both textual and visual—brings life to your web pages.
The complexity of web terminology often poses a challenge when communicating with non-technical individuals. However, with the house analogy in mind, these concepts become approachable and relatable. Just as a house requires an address, land, foundations, rooms, and decor, a website demands a domain, hosting server, CMS, pages/functions, and styling/content. By envisioning web development through the lens of constructing a house, you’ll find it easier to explain these intricacies to both clients and team members, fostering a deeper understanding of the digital landscape.
