The index of
web design terminology.
An editorial glossary of UX, UI, accessibility, performance, and front-end development vocabulary used across the Web Design Awards archive. Each entry defines the concept, names common patterns, and links back to the award-winning digital work where the language shows up in practice — search by keyword, jump by letter, and study how studios put each term to use.
Browse by letter.
Editor's picks.
- What is Experience Design
Explore Experience Design: The practice of designing products, processes, services, events, and environments with a focus placed on the…
- What is Usability
Explore Usability: A concept from ergonomics stating that the time required to move to a target area is a function of the distance and the…
- What is Design Sprint
Explore Design Sprint: A time-constrained process where a team collaborates to answer critical business questions through design,…
- What is Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Explore Natural Language Processing (NLP): A branch of artificial intelligence that enables computers to understand, interpret, and…
- What is User Research
Explore User Research: Adapting Maslow's hierarchy to prioritize user needs from basic functional to higher-level psychological and…
- What is Ethnography
Explore Ethnography: The study of people in their natural environment through observation and interviews to understand their experiences…
The vocabulary in practice.
- Award winners→
See how leading studios apply this vocabulary across award-winning launches.
- Top agencies of 2026→
The annual ranking of studios producing the most decorated digital work.
- Judging rubric→
The criteria the editorial jury uses to evaluate craft, usability, and innovation.
- Editorial insights→
Long-form analysis on craft, technology, and the language behind digital design.
Frequently asked.
What is the Web Design Awards glossary?
An editorial dictionary of UX, UI, accessibility, performance, and front-end development terminology used across Web Design Awards reviews. Each entry defines the concept and links it back to award-winning examples in the archive.
How are terms chosen for the glossary?
Entries are added by the editorial team when a term recurs in jury notes, nominee reviews, or rubric evaluations. Priority goes to vocabulary that affects how digital craft is judged: interaction patterns, performance metrics, accessibility standards, and visual design language.
Is the glossary updated regularly?
Yes. New definitions are published as the editorial team encounters emerging vocabulary in nominations and reviews, and existing entries are revised when standards or best practices shift.
How do I suggest a new term?
Use the Suggest a term link to send the editorial team a definition request. Suggestions are reviewed and added when the term is broadly relevant to the way the award evaluates web design work.
Can I link to or cite a definition?
Every entry has a stable canonical URL under /terminologies/[slug]. Definitions can be cited or linked from external articles, agency case studies, or design documentation.
Missing a definition?
Suggest a term for the archive and help expand the language map behind the Web Design Awards ecosystem.