Glossary of Web, Mobile & Software Development Terms
A simple glossary explaining common terms used in bespoke web app development, Android development, databases, APIs, hosting, cloud services and modern AI tooling. Written for SMEs in London, Hertfordshire and Essex who want clarity without the jargon.
Bespoke Web App
A custom-built web application designed around your business workflows rather than a generic template.
Read more »API (Application Programming Interface)
A structured way for two systems or apps to talk to each other and exchange data securely.
Read more »REST API
A common style of API that uses clean URLs and JSON to exchange data between systems.
Read more »SQL Server
Microsoft’s enterprise-grade database engine, widely used to store and report on SME business data.
Read more »Android App
A mobile app that runs on Android phones or tablets, often used by engineers and field teams.
Read more »WebForms
An older Microsoft web framework often replaced by modern .NET using a WebForms migration.
Read more »Offline-First
A mobile design approach where the app works fully without signal and syncs when back online.
Read more »Database Index
A structure that makes data lookups much faster, similar to the index in a book.
Read more »Business Logic
The rules and calculations that define how your system behaves, such as how quotes are calculated.
Read more »Middleware
Software that runs between a request and response, handling security, logging and routing.
Read more »JSON
A lightweight data format used by web apps and APIs to send and receive structured information.
Read more »Frontend Development
The work involved in building what users see and interact with in a web app.
Read more »Backend Development
The server-side code that handles data, business logic, security and integrations.
Read more »Responsive Design
Designing web pages that automatically adapt to different screen sizes and devices.
Read more »Technical Debt
The build-up of quick fixes or old code that makes a system harder to maintain.
Read more »Native App
An app built using the platform’s native tools, offering the best speed and offline support.
Read more »Bootstrap
A popular CSS framework used to build modern, responsive interfaces for web applications.
DevOps
Practices that combine software development and operations, including CI/CD and automation.
HTML
The markup language used to structure content on the web.