Web design glossary

Plain-English definitions of the design terms that come up when I plan how a website looks and is laid out, from margins and padding to what sits below the fold.

B

Baseline

A reference point or standard used to measure and align elements consistently in web development and design.
Below the fold

The portion of a webpage that is not immediately visible without scrolling.
Borders

Visual lines or edges that outline elements on a webpage or within a digital design.
Bottom bar

A fixed navigation or action bar located at the bottom of a webpage or app interface.
Bottom margin

The space added beneath an element on a webpage or in a digital layout to create separation from the elements below it.
Bottom padding

The internal space added to the bottom edge of an element within a webpage or digital layout, creating distance between the content of the element and its boundary.
Bounding box

An invisible rectangular frame that encloses an element or object within a digital layout or graphic.
Breadcrumb

A navigation aid displayed as a horizontal trail of links that shows users their current location within a website’s hierarchy.
Button

An interactive element on a webpage or application interface that users can click or tap to perform an action, such as submitting a form, navigating to another page, or triggering a specific function.

U

UX Design

The process of creating products or services that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users.

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