Web Design References

Web Design Glossary

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T

Tabular Information
When tables are used to represent logical relationships among data -- text, numbers, images, etc., that information is called "tabular information" and the tables are called "data tables". The relationships expressed by a table may be rendered visually (usually on a two-dimensional grid), aurally (often preceding cells with header information), or in other formats.
Table Summary Attribute
The table tag <table> can include a summary attribute whose value can be a brief text summary of the table contents. It is very helpful for people using non-visual browsers. It is probably most useful with data tables, where the relationships between the table cells can be complex, but it is also useful for layout tables. An example of a summary would be:
<table summary="This table is for layout only. The left-hand column contains the navigation bar and the right hand column contains the main text for the page">
For data tables the summary attribute can be used to provide a text version of the actual content of the table (although for tables with a lot of content this may be impractical), or to indicate that a link to a text version can be found before, or after, the table. For more information summaries for tables.
Tag
A tag is the markup characters that designate the start or end of an element , but not the element content itself.
Tag Soup
Tag soup web pages are like a sleek sports car on the outside, but when you open the hood, all you see is baling wire, duct tape, and hamsters running on wheels. If all you want to do with a sports car is look at it, that's fine, but if you want to drive it, it is nice if it has an engine and suspension that lived up to its appearance. In other words tag soup is improper use of HTML, header tags, blockquotes, overlapping constructs. It is markup that looks like SGML markup but the creator didn't know or respect SGML rules for the HTML vocabulary. In effect a soupy collection of text and markup. Presentational markup like <font> <i> <b> are visual styles and therefore not semantic. They are ingredients in tag soup. The <i> <b> tags disappear in XHTML 2.0. They are deprecated. A more semantic tag and CSS should replace any physical style tag that has no semantic meaning.
Tag Line
A tag line is a slogan, catch phrase or sentence that is closely associated with a site. A tagline may appear near, or next to, a logo.
Task Scenario
A task scenario is a representation of actual work that a user would likely perform using a website. You use task scenarios to tell the participants of a usability test what you want them to do.
Taxonomy
A taxonomy is the study of the general principles of scientific classification. Information architects use this word to refer to labeling systems and nomenclature of things like the sections of a website. A taxonomy is a collection of controlled vocabulary terms organized into a hierarchical structure. The word taxonomy is from Greek 'taxis' means the arrangement or division and 'nomos' meaning law. A good taxonomy takes into account the importance of separating elements of a group (taxon) into subgroups (taxa) that are mutually exclusive, unambiguous, and taken together, include all possibilities. In practice, a good taxonomy should be simple, easy to remember, and easy to use.
Template
A template is a page that serves as a pattern for others like itself. Dreamweaver templates take the concept of the template further, adding a measure of power and ease: The pages from the template can be updated automatically, all at once, just by updating the template itself. Therefore, a Dreamweaver template is an HTML page but a special type of HTML page. Special markup inserted by Dreamweaver makes it possible for the template and its child pages (the HTML pages made from the parent template) to be connected in such a way that an update to the template updates all child pages.
Testing
See Usability Testing.
Text Equivalent
This term is used to describe the technique of providing a text alternative that will be the same in both content and function as a non-text object on a web page, such as an image map.
Text Only Browser
A browser that does not show images. It does not have images turned off; rather it just doesn't display them. A good example of this type of browser is Lynx.
Thinking Aloud Protocol
Thinking aloud is when users speak out their thoughts, feelings, and opinions while they are performing an assigned task. Thinking aloud helps you understand how users use a website and what considerations users keep in mind when using it. Thinking aloud gives insight into cognitive processes. For more information see: Thinking Aloud.
Transcript
A transcript is a text equivalent of audio content that includes spoken words and non-spoken sounds like sound effects. It is akin to the notation used for a play. Transcripts are often not verbatim accounts of the spoken word, but contain additional descriptions, explanations, or comments that may be useful. Transcripts are helpful to the deaf, hard of hearing and many others. They allow anyone that cannot access content from web audio or video to access a text version instead. Also a transcript can serve as the base for captioning.
Typography
Typography is the balance and interplay of letterforms on a web page. It helps the user understand the form and absorb the substance of the page content. It is important in both visual and verbal communication.