The tech industry definitely has its own lingo. That’s not any different than any other sector, but the problem with the tech industry is that the lingo is changing all the time! As soon as you think you’ve figured out what email marketing and the cloud are, new terms come along and you realize you’ve got more to learn.
That’s especially true if you’re new to app building. Just because you understand a few tech terms doesn’t mean you understand app-related terms! Here are a few definitions that will help you get started.
Microtransactions
The instant you start seriously discussing app development, you’re going to hear the term ‘microtransaction’. And it’s no wonder. It’s a great way to increase app revenue!
A microtransaction, sometimes abbreviated as MTX, allows users to purchase things in the app using small payments. That might include:
- Unlocking functions or features in an app that’s free to download
- Unlocking content, like images, emojis, or articles
- Buying items in a game, like coins or tools
User Interface
The user interface isn’t unique to apps, so you may have heard of it before. It includes everything a user can manipulate and interact with on the screen when using the app. Parts of the user interface include:
- Touch screens
- Menus
- Keyboards
- Cursors
- Clickable buttons
There are quite a few other terms that are related to the user interface. For example, the user experience is directly tied to the user interface. It describes the emotions, attitudes, and how easily a person can use the app, which is all dependent on the user interface.
SEO
You would have to be living under a rock to not have heard of SEO, but SEO can be very different in the world of apps than it is in the world of websites. In an app, you have less content, which means less opportunities to use SEO. That means you have to get really clever about how you do it.
You should feature your brand in the app’s name, and it should be used in the download page URL as well.
If you’re new to apps, you may not realize that your app needs a website! It does, and when you build it, you should follow best SEO practices to make sure people can find your app’s website when searching the web.
Frontend and Backend Development
Frontend development is similar to the user interface because it includes every part of the app that a user can see and interact with. However, it also includes the development of creating these features. Web developers can specialize in frontend development, while others specialize in backend development, which consists of the server, application, and database that make the app run.
These terms only scratch the surface, but they’re a great place to get started if you’re new to building apps! By knowing the definitions of these terms, you can feel more confident as the development of your first app unfolds.