Period of time when a program is running (or being executed). It encompasses everything that happens while the program is actively running, including memory allocation, input/output processing, and interactions with the operating system.
GLOSSARY
runtime
runtime cost
Resources (time, memory, processing power, etc.) required to execute a program or operation, often measured in terms of computational complexity. This can include: time and space complexity and execution costs.
runtime system / environment
Software environment that executes a program, managing essential tasks like memory allocation, error handling, and interaction with the operating system. It acts as a crucial intermediary, providing the necessary libraries and services for a program to run correctly and efficiently. Examples include the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for Java programs or the C runtime libraries for C programs.
RWD – Responsive Web Design
Approach to web design that makes websites render well on different devices and windows or screen sizes. In simple terms, RWD is a type of web design that can be adapted to the type of device, such as a laptop, mobile phone, tablet, computer, etc. RWD is designed to provide users with an optimal viewing experience, as the layout can adjust the minimum size, panning, and scrolling.
RWD – Responsive Web Design
Web design technique that makes the layout, size, and appearance of websites automatically adapt to the device on which they are viewed – from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. Key features of RWD include flexible grids, flexible images, and the use of media queries in CSS, which allow the content of a page to be adjusted to the screen resolution and ensure its readability and functionality on any device.
RxJS – Reactive Extensions for JavaScript
Reactive programming library for JavaScript that uses Observables to create asynchronous or callback-based code
Sales funnel
Visual, step-by-step representation of the customer journey, mapping how a person goes from initially discovering a brand (awareness) to becoming a paying customer (action). It acts as a marketing framework that narrows down potential leads, with the goal of nurturing them through various stages to increase conversion rates and, ultimately, sales productivity.
Salesforce
Massive infrastructure of customer relationship management software products that help marketing, sales, commerce, service, and IT teams connect with their customers. Although Salesforce started as a Software as a Service (SaaS) company, it has grown into a Platform as a Service (PaaS) company.
sandbox mode
Running code in an isolated, virtual environment to test it without affecting the main system. This „sandbox” is a secure space where developers can experiment, test new features, and run potentially risky code or analyze malicious programs without causing damage to live systems, applications, or data. It is a crucial tool for ensuring security, stability, and the success of software development.
sanitization
In programming has two main meanings: cleaning user input to prevent security vulnerabilities, and using tools called „sanitizers” to detect code defects at runtime. Input sanitization involves validating and cleaning data before processing it to prevent attacks like SQL injection. Code sanitization uses runtime analysis tools to find bugs such as memory leaks and buffer overflows, which are specific types of defects detected by tools like AddressSanitizer.
SASS – Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets
Preprocessor scripting language that is interpreted or compiled into Cascading Style Sheets. Sass extends CSS with features like variables, nested rules, and mixins. SassScript is the scripting language itself. In contrast to SCSS in Sass you cant use classic CSS and you always have to adjust the syntax.
schema.org
Structured microdata for search engine robots (CTR increased by approx. 30%, same position, but more attractive-looking result)
SCM – Source Code Management
Practice of tracking and managing changes to software code over time. SCM systems help developers coordinate and control the development process, particularly in team environments. Some popular SCM tools include Git, Subversion (SVN), and Mercurial.
SCORM – Sharable Content Object Reference Model
International standard for online learning content. It defines how eLearning content should be packaged and communicated with Learning Management Systems (LMS). SCORM ensures that eLearning content created by one authoring tool can be used with different LMS platforms, promoting interoperability. Think of it like the USB standard for eLearning, allowing different devices (authoring tools and LMSs) to work together seamlessly.
scroll hijacking
Situation when a website overrides the default scrolling behavior of a web page, often to create custom animations or effects. This can manipulate scroll speed, direction, or pause scrolling, and is frequently done with JavaScript. While sometimes used to tell a story or create a unique experience, it is often frustrating and can negatively impact user experience and accessibility.
Scrum
Agile framework for project management, especially in software development, that enables teams to work in short, time-boxed cycles called sprints to deliver valuable increments of a product. It emphasizes collaboration, adaptation to change, and continuous improvement through specific roles, events, and artifacts to manage complex work and solve problems effectively.
SCSS – Sassy Cascading Style Sheets
Preprocessor scripting language that is interpreted or compiled into Cascading Style Sheets. I’s a superset of CSS, which means essentially all valid CSS is valid SCSS as well, which means that it allows use of CSS in its classic form.
SDK – Software Development Kit
Library or group of libraries (often with extra tool applications, data files, and sample code) that aid you in developing code that uses a particular system (e.g., extension code for using features of an operating system (Windows SDK), drawing 3D graphics via a particular system (DirectX SDK), writing add-ins to extend other applications (Office SDK), or writing code to make a device like an Arduino or a mobile phone do what you want). An SDK will still usually have a single focus.
SDLC – Software Development Lifecycle
Structured process used to plan, design, build, test, and maintain high-quality software efficiently and cost-effectively. It provides a framework with distinct phases to manage the complexity of software projects, minimize risks, and ensure the final product meets customer expectations and project requirements.
Search Assistant
Tool that simplifies complex queries, whether it’s an AI-powered chatbot, a feature in a specific application, or a method for building search queries in a database. These assistants use technologies like natural language processing or a visual interface to help users find information more efficiently by turning natural language questions into search queries, retrieving relevant results, and providing answers or summaries.
Selenium
Powerful open-source tool primarily used for automating web applications for testing purposes. It provides a platform-agnostic way of interacting with web browsers, enabling developers to write tests in various programming languages like Java, Python, C#, etc.
SEM – Search Engine Marketing
All promotional activities on the Internet (sponsored link campaigns, website positioning and optimization) aimed at achieving the best possible position for a website in (both natural and paid) search results for selected keywords/ key phrases entered by users in a search engine query.
semantic code
Code written in such a way that individual tags provide a logical and meaningful definition of the content contained within them, which brings benefits to both machines (search engines, browsers) and users.
semrush
Platform used for keyword research, competitive analysis, site audits, backlink tracking, domain authority tracking, and online visibility insights. The keyword research tool provides various data points on each keyword. The platform also collects information about online keywords gathered from Google and Bing search engines.
SEO keyword analysis
Key process of identifying and evaluating phrases that users use in search engines to find products, services, or information, as well as determining which keywords are most profitable for a given website. It includes researching popularity, competitiveness, and related words, as well as analyzing competitors’ activities to increase the visibility of the website in search results and attract valuable users. This process is cyclical and requires regular monitoring, strategy adjustment, and experimentation to maintain optimal positioning.
SERP – Search Engine Results Page
Page displayed by a search engine (like Google) in response to a user’s search query. It presents a list of relevant web pages, along with other information, that the search engine deems most appropriate for the user’s search terms.
service worker
JavaScript file that acts as a proxy between a web browser and the network, enabling a web app to work offline and perform other advanced features. It runs in the background, separate from the main browser thread, and can intercept network requests to serve cached content for faster loading and offline access, deliver push notifications, and perform background data synchronization.
SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol
Secure network protocol for transferring and managing files over a reliable data stream, built as an extension of the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol.
shell / command interpreter
Command-line interface (CLI) that allows users to interact with the operating system by typing commands. It acts as an intermediary between the user and the operating system’s kernel, enabling the execution of commands, running programs, and managing files.
shell script
Text file with a list of commands that instruct an operating system to perform certain tasks. A shell is an interface that interprets, processes, and executes these commands from the shell script. It can be particularly helpful to automate repetitive tasks, helping to save time and reduce human error.
shortcode
Small piece of text, typically enclosed in square brackets, used to add specific features or content to a website, especially in platforms like WordPress. It acts as a shortcut, allowing users to easily include complex elements like forms, videos, or galleries without needing to write extensive code. Shortcodes are interpreted by the platform and replaced with the corresponding functionality or content.
SKU – Stock Keeping Unit code
Unique alphanumeric code assigned to each product in a warehouse or sales system. It is used to identify and manage products, facilitating inventory tracking, assortment organization, and order processing.
SKU – Stock Keeping Unit
Unique, internal product code assigned by a company to identify, locate, and manage its product range in warehouse and sales systems. This code consists of letters and numbers that may contain product information such as brand, color, or size, and allows for accurate inventory tracking and order fulfillment. SKUs are unique to each retailer, unlike standard manufacturer codes (e.g., UPC), which are the same for all retailers of a given product.
SME – Small and Medium Enterprises
Businesses that are smaller in size compared to large corporations. They typically have fewer employees and lower revenue but play a significant role in the economy by providing jobs and innovation. The definition of „small” or „medium” varies by country, usually based on the number of employees or annual revenue.
SME – Subject Matter Expert
Person who has deep knowledge and expertise in a particular area or field. SMEs are often consulted for advice or guidance on specific technical or specialized topics.
SMTP – Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
Standard communication protocol used for sending email messages over the internet. Essentially, it’s the way email clients and servers transfer emails to each other.
SOAP – Simple Object Access Protocol
Messaging protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of web services in computer networks. It uses XML Information Set for its message format, and relies on application layer protocols, most often Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), although some legacy systems communicate over Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), for message negotiation and transmission.
source map
File that helps map the minified or compiled code (like JavaScript, CSS, or TypeScript) back to its original source code. This allows developers to debug more easily by viewing and setting breakpoints in the original source code instead of the minified version, which is difficult to read.
SPF – Sender Policy Framework
DNS record used by subscribers email servers (Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook, self-hosted email, etc.) to verify if your website authorizes the FROM email address you used on your newsletter. This is why you can’t send newsletters with a FROM address using a domain you don’t own.
Spring Boot
Open-source Java framework used for programming standalone, production-grade Spring-based applications with a bundle of libraries that make project startup and management easier.
SPSS – Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
Software package used for statistical analysis. It is widely used by researchers in fields such as social sciences, health, and marketing to analyze data, perform complex calculations, and generate reports.
SQL – Structured Query Language
Structured and declarative query language. It is a domain-specific language used to create, modify relational databases, and to place and retrieve data from these databases. The decision on how to store and retrieve data is left to the database management system (DBMS).
SQLite
Free and open-source relational database engine written in the C programming language. It is not a standalone app; rather, it is a library that software developers embed in their apps. As such, it belongs to the family of embedded databases. According to its developers, SQLite is the most widely deployed database engine, as it is used by several of the top web browsers, operating systems, mobile phones, and other embedded systems.
SSH – Secure Shell
Network protocol and a suite of tools used to establish secure, encrypted connections between computers over potentially untrusted networks. It allows users to remotely access and manage servers, transfer files securely, and execute commands as if they were physically present at the remote machine. SSH uses a client-server model and authenticates users via a password or, more securely, through a public-private key pair.
SSH key
Pair of cryptographic keys used for authenticating secure communications between a client (like your computer) and a server. It replaces the need for passwords in many cases, providing a more secure method of logging into remote systems.
SSL – Secure Sockets Layer
Encryption-based Internet security protocol. It was first developed by Netscape in 1995 for the purpose of ensuring privacy, authentication, and data integrity in Internet communications. SSL is the predecessor to the modern TLS encryption used today.
A website that implements SSL/TLS has „HTTPS” in its URL instead of „HTTP.”Staging
Intermediate environment between the production and development versions of a website or store. It can be described as a „working version” of the site, where new features, changes, and updates are tested without the risk of affecting the live, user-accessible online version. The staging environment runs on a copy of the website, usually on a separate subdomain or in a working directory. It is intended exclusively for administrators, developers, and testers.
Stripe
Online payment processing platform that allows businesses to accept payments from customers via credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and other methods through their website, app, or in-person sales. It provides the necessary software and APIs for developers to integrate payment processing, but it is also used by many online merchants and businesses that don’t have a technical team. Beyond basic payments, Stripe also offers a suite of financial tools, including billing, invoicing, and fraud protection.
Svelte
JavaScript framework that compiles code into highly optimized vanilla JavaScript, resulting in faster and more efficient user interfaces.