Search the Lexicon - Multimedia & Creative Technology

Astro

Astro is a modern JavaScript framework focused on building fast, content-driven websites. It uses a component-based approach with .astro files and follows the 'islands' or 'partial hydration' pattern: by default little to no JavaScript is shipped to the browser unless you explicitly hydrate interactive components. Astro is framework-agnostic—allowing you to use React, Vue, Svelte and other components inside an Astro project—and it supports both static site generation (SSG) and server-side rendering (SSR).

Web frontend

CORS

CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) is a security mechanism that controls which web applications can make requests to domains different from their own. Browsers enforce the same-origin policy by default, blocking cross-origin requests to protect users. CORS headers from the server specify which origins, HTTP methods, and headers are permitted, enabling controlled cross-origin communication.

Web frontend

CSS

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a stylesheet language used to describe the presentation of HTML documents. It controls how elements are displayed on a web page, including colors, fonts, spacing, positioning, and responsive behavior. CSS lets you separate content (HTML) from presentation.

Web programming frontend

DELETE

DELETE is an HTTP method used to remove a resource from the server. Like GET and PUT, DELETE is idempotent, meaning deleting the same resource multiple times has the same effect: the resource is gone. After successful deletion, servers typically respond with 200 OK including a confirmation message, 204 No Content with an empty body, or 202 Accepted if deletion is queued for later.

Web frontend backend

Environment Variables

Environment variables are dynamic configuration values stored outside your application code that control how the application behaves in different environments. They are essential for storing sensitive data like API keys, database passwords, and third-party service credentials, as well as environment-specific settings that differ between development, staging, and production without changing code.

Web frontend backend

GET

GET is an HTTP method used to retrieve data from a server without causing any side effects. GET requests should only fetch data and never modify server state. They are idempotent, meaning the same request always produces the same result, and cacheable by browsers. Data is sent via URL query parameters, making GET requests bookmarkable and visible in browser history.

Web frontend backend

HTTP

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol and is the protocol used for communication between a web browser and a web server. It defines how requests and responses are structured and exchanged. Without HTTP, the modern web would not exist.

Web frontend

HTTP Methods

HTTP methods (also called verbs) indicate the desired action to be performed on a resource. The main methods are GET for retrieving data, POST for creating new resources, PUT for replacing resources entirely, PATCH for partial updates, and DELETE for removing resources. Using the correct method is essential for RESTful API design and clearly communicates intent to servers and developers.

Web frontend backend

JSON

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. Despite its name, JSON is language-independent and is used across virtually all programming languages for data exchange between servers and web applications, APIs, and configuration files.

Web frontend backend

JWT

JWT (JSON Web Token) is a compact, URL-safe token format used for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object. It consists of three base64-encoded parts separated by dots: a header specifying the algorithm, a payload containing claims like user ID and expiration time, and a cryptographic signature for verification. JWTs enable stateless authentication.

Web frontend backend

JavaScript

JavaScript is a dynamic programming language originally developed for web browsers. It enables interactive web pages and is now also used server-side (Node.js). JavaScript is essential for modern web development and supports both functional and object-oriented programming.

Web programming frontend

OG Image

An OG (Open Graph) image is the preview image that appears when a webpage is shared on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Slack. Defined in the HTML head using meta tags, this image significantly impacts click-through rates as it creates the first visual impression of your shared content in crowded social feeds.

Web frontend marketing