Glossary

Common terminology related to the CMS and university templates.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Accessibility: The ability for all individuals, including those with disabilities, to understand and interact with a website. More on accessibility.
• Accordion: A component that allows content to be organized into collapsible sections. Each section has a header or title that, when clicked, expands to reveal hidden content underneath, and can collapse again to save space.
• Action Toolbar: A menu with available actions when an asset is selected in the CMS. More on the Action Toolbar.
• Alt Text (also Image Description): An input field required while adding images to pages. Alt text is needed in the event an image doesn't load. It is also required for accessibility standards, as the visually impaired cannot see images. Alt text provides descriptive text where images would be.
• Analytics: See web analytics.
• Anchor, Anchor Link: Anchors are used to designate specific areas on a page which can be linked to directly. Anchors are defined using the Section or Grid ID fields available in content areas of pages. After an anchor has been designated, an anchor link to it can be created.
• Archive: The act of removing a published page from the site but saving the content as an available asset to use at a later time, if needed. 
• Asset, Asset Tree: Assets are the pages, folders and files (PDFs, Word documents, etc.) that comprise a site in the CMS. The Asset Tree is the left column in the CMS interface that displays the assets. 

B

• Back-end: The CMS software used to build sites, only accessible to authorized website managers.
• Backlink: A hyperlink on a website that points to another website. It signals to search engines that the linked content is valuable or relevant. Backlinks from reputable websites can improve your site's authority, visibility, and rankings in search engine results. 
• Base Folder: The top-most folder in the Asset Tree containing the entire site; the folder with the site's name in the CMS
• Batch Actions: Actions that can be performed on multiple assets at the same time. More on batch actions.
• Breadcrumb Links: Links that provide navigation on pages. They appear as a string of horizontal links above the first content area and are provided to reference a page's location in relation to the home page.
• Blockquote: A component that prominently features and styles an important pull quote. 
• Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who land on a webpage and leave without interacting further—like clicking links, navigating to other pages, or taking any action. A high bounce rate may indicate that the content isn't engaging or relevant, or that the page experience needs improvement.

C

• Call to Action: A set of words, typically used as a link, to drive users to perform a specific task such as "Apply Now" or "Donate Today." A call to action style (CTA) is available when creating links.
• Cascade CMS: The software used for the CMS service.
• Categories, Categories Block: Categories are terms that can be used to tag special page types and allow filter functionality. Custom categories are defined in the Categories Block. Part of the Categories, Filters & Dropdowns functionality.
• Chooser: A tool in the CMS for selecting an asset while performing a task such adding an image or linking to a page. More on the Chooser.
• CMS: Abbreviation for Content Management System, the web application used to build websites.
• Content Audit: A comprehensive review of all the content on a website to assess its quality, relevance, performance, and SEO effectiveness. The goal is to identify areas for improvement like outdated information, gaps, or opportunities to optimize for keywords while ensuring the content aligns with goals and audience needs. 
• Content Freeze: A temporary halt on making any changes, updates or additions to a website's content. It's typically implemented during critical phases like website migrations, redesigns, or major software updates to prevent inconsitencies, data loss, or errors. The freeze ensure stability and accuracy while technical changes are being executed.
• Content Type: An option in which to lay out content on a page; four types are available: Content WYSIWYG, Grid, Slideshow and Wide. More on Content.
• Content WYSIWYG: One of four content types used for page layout consisting of an open content area. More on Content WYSIWYG.
• Context Menu: A menu with available actions when right-clicking on an asset in the CMS. More on the Context Menu.
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): A stylesheet language used to define the visual presentation and layout of a website, including fonts, colors, spacing, and responsiveness. It separates design from content, allowing developers to style multiple pages consistently and make design updates efficiently.

D

• Domain: The unique address or name that identifies a website on the internet, like cmu.edu. It acts as a human-readable shortcut to the site's IP address, allowing users to easily access the website through a web browser. Domains typically consist of a second-level domain (the name) and a top-level domain (TLD) like .com, .org, or .net. 
• Dashboard: The home area in the CMS containing widgets (tools) to help facilitate site management. More on the Dashboard.
• Digital Asset Management System (DAM): Software that helps store, organize, manage and distribute digital assets like images, videos, documents and brand files.
• Dropdown: A menu provided to website visitors used to filter page content on special index page types (e.g., Bio Index, News Index) by categories. Part of the Categories, Filters & Dropdowns functionality.

E

• Expand/Collapse: An add-on feature of the Content WYSIWYG which provides a method to display content in an initially collapsed (hidden) state with a clickable link to expand it. More on expand/collapse.

F

• Filter: A method of featuring pages tagged with specific categories to include on special index page types (e.g., Bio Index, News Index). Part of the Categories, Filters & Dropdowns functionality.
  
• Footer: The section at the bottom of a page or site that typically contains important information and links. Commonly included elements are copyright notices, contact details, social media links, privacy policies and navigation links. 
• Front-end: The public-facing website available to website visitors; the front-end is accessed by visiting a site's official URL.
• Full-width Image: An image that spans the entire width of a web page or screen without any margins or padding on the sides. Full-width images are commonly used in headers, backgrounds or section dividers to enhance aesthetic appeal and emphasize certain elements.

G

• Google Analytics: The service provided for measurement and analysis of website visitor data. More on web analytics.
• Grid: One of four content types used for page layout consisting of boxes of content. More on grids.

H

• Hamburger Menu: A menu represented by three horizontal lines ☰. There is a hamburger menu on the front-end on the templates and the back-end in the CMS.
• Hero: A large visual at the top of a page. It may contain photos, news articles, or a silent video with options to add text and links. More on the Hero.
• Horizontal Rule: A thin line or divider that runs horizontally across a webpage, typically used to separate content sections or elements. It provides a visual break, helping to organize information and improve readability. 
• Hyperlinks: A clickable element like text or an image that directs users from one webpage to another or to a specific section within the same page.

I

• Image Carousel: A slideshow-like component that displays a rotating series of images within a defined area on the webpage. Users can manually scroll or let the images cycle automatically, often using navigation arrows or indicators to control the display.
• Index Page: The landing or main page of a folder; all folders that should be included in the navigation are required to have a page with a system name of index (all lowercase). More on index pages.
• Indexing: The process of including assets in elements that are auto-generated such as the navigation and special index page types (e.g., Bio Index, News Index); when indexing is disabled on an asset, it will no longer be included in the auto-generated elements; breadcrumb links are also turned off on pages.

K

• Kabob Menu: A menu represented by three dots ⋮. There is a kabob menu available in a few places in CMS including during the quick submit process.
• Keywords: Specific words or phrases that describe the content on a webpage and match the terms users enter into search engines. They help engines understand the topic of the page and determine its relevance to user queries, influencing how the page ranks in search results.

L

• Live Server: The web server in which a live website resides and is available to website visitors after site launch. More on the live server.

M

• Meta Description: A short summary (around 150-160 characters) of a webpage's content that appears beneath the page title in search engine results.
• Migration: The process of moving a website's content, structure or platform from one environment to another. This can include shifting from one hosting provider to another, changing content management systems (CMS) or transitioning from HTTP to HTTPS. 

N

• Navigation: The functionality to traverse a site using menus that are available on every page. More on navigation.

O

• Orphan: An asset that exists on a live website but has no corresponding counterpart in the CMS. More on orphans.

P

• Page Element: An element which can be customized on a per-page basis. More on page elements.
• Page Type: A page template which is used for a specific type of content. More on page types.
• Parent Folder: The folder in which an asset resides; assets within a folder are referred to as its children assets.
• Primary Navigation: The main menu or set of links that helps users navigate the core sections of a website. Typically located at the top of a webpage, in the header, or as a sidebar, it provides direct access to key pages like About and Contact. Primary navigation is designed to be intuitive and easy to find.
• Project Lead: The secondary owner of a CMS site and the primary website manager. More on site ownership.
• Project Sponsor: The primary owner of a CMS site. More on site ownership.
• Publish: The act of pushing content from the CMS to a web server. More on publishing.

R

• Responsive (also Mobile-friendly): The ability for a website or web application to adapt to multiple platforms, devices, and display sizes to provide the best possible user experience. The university templates and the CMS are both responsive.
• Revision History: A record in the CMS that tracks all changes made to a piece of content, including who made the edits, when they were made, and what specific changes were implemented.
• RSS Feed: A web feed that allows users to access and subscribe to updated content from websites, like blogs or news sites, in a standardized format. RSS feeds automatically deliver news articles, posts or media to subscribers, enabling them to receive updates without needing to vsit each site individually.

S

• Sample Pages: Page examples available in every CMS site. More on sample pages.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): The process of making a website easier to find via Internet search engines, such as Google or Bing. More on search engine optimization.
• Section Heading: The label in the page edit interface for a section such as Hero, Content, etc. Section headings are collapsible to simplify the interface. More on collapsing section headings.
• Semrush: A digital marketing tool suite that helps users manage all aspects of their online visibility. CMU primarily uses it for keyword research and SEO analysis.
• Setup Block: The asset in which to configure the header and footer regions of a site. More on the Setup Block.
• Sidebar: An add-on feature of the Content WYSIWYG which provides an additional area for content. More on sidebars.
• Side Navigation: A menu positioned along the right side of a webpage. It provides additional links or categories for navigating the site, often complementing the primary navigation. Side navigation is especially useful for websites with extensive content or subcategories, as it offers users quick access to specific sections without cluttering the main navigation.
• Site-wide Element: An element which appears on every page and is identical on every page. More on site-wide elements.
• Slideshow: One of four content types used for page layout consisting of images paired with text. More on slideshows.
• Staging Server: A web server in which to publish content to for previewing and testing purposes; available to all CMS sites. More on the staging server.
• Sticky Nav: A type of navigation menu that remains fixed at the top of the page as the user scrolls down. This ensures that the navigation links are always accessible, no matter how far the user has scrolled.
• Starter Site: The generic "out of the box" site provided for all new CMS sites. More on starter sites.
• System Name: The name of an asset displayed in the asset tree and published URL; set guidelines for system names must be followed. More on system names.

T

• Tag Path: A reference tool at the bottom of a WYSIWYG which displays the HTML elements as you work on them (such as a paragraph or link); it also allows you to select a tag and apply a style. More on tag paths.
• Taxonomy: The systematic organization and classification of content into hierarchical categories and subcategories. This structure helps user navigate the site more easily by grouping related content, enhancing the user experience, and improving search engine optimization (SEO) by clarifying the relationships between different pieces of content.

U

• UI (User Interface): The visual elements and design components of a software application or website that users interact with. It encompasses buttons, menus, icons, layouts and other elements that facilitate user interactions.
• URL: A website's address; most CMS website URLs begin with www.cmu.edu.
• Users: Typically used to reference website managers, i.e., CMS users who manage a site.
• User Menu: A menu in the CMS with system settings, history, notifications, and more. More on the User Menu.
• UX (User Experience): The overall experience and satisfaction a user has when interacting with a product, service or website. It encompasses all aspects of the user's interaction, including usability, accessibility, design and performance. A positive UX is achieved by understanding user needs and preferences, ensuring that the product is easy to use, enjoyable and effective in fulfilling its intended purpose. 

V

• v6 (Version 6): The current version of the CMS service which includes the templates and the CMS web application.
• Video Embed: The integration of a video from an external source (like YouTube, Vimeo or a self-hosted file) directly into a webpage. The video is displayed within a designated area on the page, allowing users to watch it without leaving the site.

W

• Web Analytics: The measurement and analysis of website visitor data for the purpose of understanding and optimizing web usage. More on web analytics.
• Web Search: The university's web search tool incorporated into all CMS sites. More on web search.
• Website Visitors: Your website's audience; visitors who access your site via the official URL.
• Wide: One of four content types used for page layout consisting of a page-wide WYSIWYG. More on wide.
• Widget: A tool provided on the dashboard to facilitate management of sites, content, notifications, and more. More on widgets.
• Wireframe: A visual blueprint or outline of a webpage that illustrates the layout, structure and functionality of its elements without detailed design or content. Wireframes help designers and stakeholders understand how the interface will work, focusing on placement of navigation, buttons, images and text.
• WYSIWYG: Acronym for "what you see is what you get"; an open content area for text, images, media and more. More on the WYSIWYG.