Web Glossary

The set of five bold colors in the WSU color palette. The bold color set must be used for materials and messages directed to prospective undergraduate student audiences. Use of this set is also encouraged for other young audiences.

A form of navigation where the current location within the Web site is indicated by a list of pages before this page in the hierarchy. The breadcrumbs do not represent the actual path the user took, but instead the optimal path from the home page to the current page in the hierarchy.

The set of tints made from the four colors in the WSU muted color set and the University gray. These light neutral colors are primarily intended for backgrounds. They must always be used in a subordinate manner to the full-strength color sets. Only these tint variations of the color palette may be used for WSU Web pages.

The file providing the core HTML for the WSU template system. There is a home page and secondary page core HTML file. WSU Web developers download and use this file to create their own customized site template. A design key is added to the code of the core file to provide the specifications for the template components. The Template Designer online tool is used to create this key. Content and graphics can be added to this file and set up as a template in your Web development tool of choice. Then the file can be duplicated to create each site page.

A bar of color appearing behind a primary navigation link to visually identify the page currently displayed.

The design key describes attributes of your WSU Web page design and is automatically created by the Template Designer from your design selections. The key is pasted into the HTML code of your core HTML file or the pages based on the core file. It is used to dynamically generate a CSS stylesheet for the Web page, which in turn, specifies how the components on the page will display.

Links to site content or functions that are given priority over other site links by placing them in the designated featured link area between the WSU logo and the primary navigation links. Featured links are optional. Up to three featured links may be displayed.

The area across the bottom of a WSU Web page containing the local site footer and the global footer content.

The content across the bottom of a WSU Web page containing the WSU copyright notice, a link to the WSU home page, a link o accessibility information, a link to WSU policies information, and a link to WSU copyright policy information.

The bar across the top of WSU Web pages containing the WSU global links.

The text primarily used as heads or subheads for your page content.

The HTML tags (<H1>, <H2>, <H3>, etc.) that specify content as a head or a subhead. The most important header tag is the <H1> tag with the other header tags progressively less important.

A vertical bar of color appearing to the left of a primary navigation link and its second and third level links to visually group the links.

The content across the bottom of a WSU Web page immediately above the global footer containing local site content. Local site footer content includes at least the name and address of the WSU unit responsible for the site or page; the unit’s phone number for visitor inquires; and a “Contact us” link for visitors to contact the unit through email, online form, or a contact page.

The set of four muted colors in the WSU color palette. The muted color set may be used for all audiences, with the exception of prospective undergraduate students. It is required for leadership/influencer communications.

The vertical area along the left side of WSU Web pages containing the site’s primary navigation and featured links.

The area to the right of the navigation zone containing the primary content of the page. There are five layout options for formatting content in this zone.

The name or title identifying the site or site section.

WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, or WSU Vancouver.

The name or title identifying the WSU parent unit or parent site of the unit or site identified in the primary site identifier.

The area immediately below the WSU global navigation bar containing the primary and secondary site identifiers. This zone may also contain an image.

Functions or links to important elements that help visitors use the site (Help, Site Map, Shopping Cart). WSU site tools appear in the optional toolbar. They are not part of the site content hierarchy and must not be site navigational links.

An optional horizontal bar on WSU Web pages immediately below the site identifier zone to contain site tools or utilities.

Links or functions to important elements of the site that aren’t really part of the content hierarchy. Things that either can help use the site (Help, Site Map, Shopping Cart) or provide information about the publisher (About Us, Contact Us). See a listing of potential tools.

The area across the top of WSU Web pages that includes the WSU signature, tagline, and global navigation links.