Communication is most effective when we all know what we’re talking about (obviously, right?). Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, here’s a straightforward glossary of essential terms and acronyms to help you navigate building or testing a mobile or web app product. Feel free to Control-F if you're looking for a specific term, or just scroll through the full glossary for a crash course on tech terminology.
What is 3D Touch?
A touchscreen technology announced by Apple at the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus and used through the XS and XS Max models. The screens of these phones are sensitive to varying degrees of pressure, which means you can activate distinct functions and commands depending on how hard you press. Starting with iPhone 11, Apple replaced 3D Touch with Haptic Touch (see Haptics and Haptic Feedback below to learn more).
What is 5G Integration?
5G integration is the comprehensive process of embedding 5G network capabilities across digital infrastructures and industries, moving far beyond simple mobile app optimization. It's really about strategically leveraging 5G's core strengths (i.e., ultra-high speeds, low latencies, and massive device connectivity) to revolutionize how technology functions. This integration drives advancements like enhanced AR/VR, real-time streaming, and robust Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities for consumers, but it also critically extends to enterprise digital transformation. Private 5G networks combine with edge computing for faster data processing and the dynamic allocation of resources via network slicing.
What is A/B Testing?
Testing two or more variations of app elements to see which one performs better. Examples could be buttons, background colors, icons, screenshots, fonts, and app content.
LEARN MORE: A/B Testing Crossroads: Is Your Organization Ready?
What is Accessibility?
In a technology context, accessibility is a general term for features offered by devices and operating systems to make them easier to use for people with visual or physical impairments.
What is Agile Development?
Agile development, as opposed to waterfall, focuses on building software iteratively, according to the principles of the Agile Manifesto. Example: The project is divided into small modules (the smaller, the better) and delivered in weekly or monthly sprints (more on sprints below).
What is Airplane Mode?
Mobile feature that turns off cellular, wireless and Bluetooth activity on a tablet or handset. You won’t be able to pick up emails or tweets, nor access and browse the internet. It can be switched on via the Settings app or from the control center on your mobile device.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
A machine’s ability to make decisions and perform tasks that simulate human intelligence and behavior. Learn more by exploring our glossary of AI terms.
What is Android?
Android is a mobile phone operating system platform created by Google. Android and iOS (the iPhone and iPad system) are the two largest mobile operating systems in the world.
What is an API?
API stands for "application programming interface." Together with backend databases, APIs provide a set of fixed rules and specifications that define interactions between software components. An API can be created for libraries, operating systems, and applications. A good API makes it easier and faster to develop an app by providing all of the building blocks for it.
What is APK?
APK stands for "Android application package." It is a file format that is used to deliver mobile apps to Android devices.
What is App Provisioning?
Creating a profile provision on iOS platform for particular app provision contains two types of elements: One is the app ID, and the second is the list of devices (the list is only required in the case of development provisioning and not during app store submission).
What is the App Store?
This refers to the digital stores where Apple sells apps for iOS and Mac OS X (the iOS store is usually just called the App Store, whereas the Mac equivalent is called the Mac App Store). It also refers to the Apple programs on each of those platforms that allow you to access the App Store to buy and download apps.
What is App Store Optimization (ASO)?
This is the process of optimizing mobile apps to rank higher in app store search results and top charts to increase visibility and organic downloads. ASO has become increasingly sophisticated and data-driven in recent years. By strategically leveraging elements like app titles, descriptions, compelling visuals, and user reviews, combined with continuous A/B testing and performance analytics, ASO aims to maximize downloads and user engagement in an increasingly competitive market.
What is an Apple ID?
An account used to make purchases from the Apple Store, also used to access other apple services like iCloud and Find My iPhone. It can be set up from Settings > iCloud in iOS and Settings > iCloud in Mac OS X.
What is Arrangement Mode?
A mode that enables you to rearrange the icons on an iOS home screen or within Dashboard in Mac OS X. It's identified by the jiggling around of icons and small crosses appearing at their top-left corners. Access it by holding down any individual app icon for a second or two. Quit Arrangement Mode by pressing the Home button, or Done button in the top right-hand corner of an iPhone X (and related series).
What are Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)?
In a web and mobile context, AR and VR represent a transformative leap in how we interact with digital content. Far beyond traditional screens, these technologies blur the lines between the physical and virtual worlds, offering deeply immersive and interactive experiences.
AR overlays digital information (e.g., images, videos, and 3D models) directly onto a user's real-world view. Think of apps that let you preview furniture in your living room before you buy it, or games that project virtual chargers onto your street. AR often leverages device cameras and sensors on mobile, while WebAR enables the experiences directly within a browser, eliminating the need for dedicated app downloads. This makes AR more accessible and easier to share.
VR, by contrast, creates a completely simulated environment that fully immerses the user, typically through VR headset. This technology transports users to entirely new digital spaces, whether it's exploring historical sites, playing immersive games, or participating in virtual meetings.
What does Backend mean?
Backend development is typically talked about in terms of databases, which provide a way for developers to link to cloud-based storage.
What are Badges?
Apps use badges to indicate a new message, push notification, voicemail, or email. Each app with the unread information has the number in the upper right-hand corner of the app that is called badges. They warn users about unread emails, messages, etc.
LEARN MORE: Best Practices for Driving Engagement with iOS App Notification Badges
What is a Beta Version?
Beta is the version of your app that undergoes beta testing (the process of testing a pre-release version of your app). In contrast to the alpha version, which may not be a complete one, the beta typically contains all of the features planned for release.
What is a Blacklist?
Blacklist is a list of IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers that are barred by mobile operations for use on their network.
What is a Bug?
Bugs, sometimes also referred to as issues or defects, are any sort of unintended behavior in your mobile app. You know you’re working with a proven team of developers when your bug-fixing (the process of elimination of said defects) includes mostly change requests (adjusting the system so it fits your needs better) and code reviews (systematic examinations of code done by the developers to find and eliminate vulnerabilities overlooked in the initial development).
What is a CDP?
CDP stands for "customer data platform." It's a software platform such as Segment or mParticle that collects and organizes user data across a variety of touchpoints. A CDP is a crucial tool to create individualized customer profiles and begin to form a 360-degree view of the customer for growth marketing efforts.
LEARN MORE: How to Improve Data Quality with Bespoke CDP Reporting
What is a Chatbot?
A chat robot ("chatbot" for short) that is designed to simulate a conversation with human users by communicating through text chats, voice commands, or both. They are a commonly used interface for computer programs that include AI capabilities.
LEARN MORE: 7 UX/UI Rules for Designing Conversational AI Assistants
What is the Control Center?
iOS & Android feature that enables quick access to many frequently used settings and features, including the volume and brightness controls, the toggles to switch Airplane Mode, Do Not Disturb mode and Bluetooth on and off, AirDrop, the camera, and the torch.
What is a CRM?
CRM stands for "customer relationship management." It's a software platform that enables organizations to store and categorize customer data, plus document activities and interactions between the customer and the company.
What is a Cross Platform App?
An app that is developed to target more than one platform, using a single programming language to do so. For example, apps developed in Unity and Cocos2d-x can be exported to both iOS and Android platforms.
LEARN MORE: Starting a Flutter App: Our Guide to Large-Team Collaboration
What is a Device ID?
This is a generic term used to describe the unique identifier each iOS or Android device has. On iOS this is also sometimes called a UDID.
What are DevSecOps?
DevSecOps is short for development, security, and operations. It's a transformative software development methodology that fundamentally shifts security from a late-stage bottleneck to an integral, continuous part of the entire software delivery lifecycle. It represents the natural evolution of DevOps, explicitly embedding security practices and considerations into every single phase of the pipeline: development, security, and operations.
Traditionally, security was often an afterthought, typically handled by a separate team towards the end of the development process. This bolt-on approach frequently led to vulnerabilities being discovered late, causing costly rework, delays and increased risk. DevSecOps addresses this by promoting a "shift left" approach, advocating for security to be considered everyone's responsibility, from the initial design phase through to deployment and ongoing operations.
What is a Display Port?
A high-performance digital interface used primarily to connect a laptop or computer to a display (monitor). It can include both audio and video, and also supports other forms of data like USB. Most Macs use the same interface as Lightning to run Display Port.
What is a Dock?
Feature at the bottom of iOS and Mac OS X home screen/desktop that contains icons for commonly used apps. On Mac OS X can also contain folders and documents and the Trash Can.
What is Do Not Disturb (DND) Mode?
A mode on iOS devices that blocks phone calls and makes the phone run on silent. Useful for meetings, public events, and bedtime. On default settings, repeated calls to the iPhone will be let through after three rings, but you can tweak the way it works. You can even set it to allow through VIP callers only.
What is an Epic?
As the term implies, an epic is a relatively big body of work created during the agile development process.
What are Gestures?
A set of finger movements that you use to interact with touch screen devices like the iPhone and iPad. Common gestures include flick, pinch or unpinch (opposite gestures performed with a finger and thumb), and tap.
What are Haptics and Haptic Feedback?
Haptics are a raft of technologies based around the concept of touch-based feedback. Screens respond to your fingertip in such a way that it feels like you're touching the physical object depicted on them, or like the screen is ‘tapping’ you to get your attention. By adding a sense of feel, the device tells the user when certain onscreen items have been touched or activated. Many mobile phones use haptic feedback through subtle use of the vibrating alert.
What is HIG?
HIG stands for "Human Interface Guidelines." These are Apple’s guidelines for creating user interfaces for iOS devices.
What is the Home Screen?
The main screen that displays available apps and folders in iOS or Android. You can swipe left and right to show more apps and folders.
What does IAP mean?
IAP stands for "in-app purchases" (i.e., when users buy stuff within an app).
What is iCloud?
A range of cloud services offered by Apple. Notable features include push email, contact sync, calendar sync, Find My iPhone/iPad and iTunes Match.
What is iMessage?
Service offered by Apple that enables users to send SMS-style text messages between Mac OS X and iOS devices. Free to send but requires both users to have an Apple ID. If iMessage is not available, the message is sent from iPhone using SMS instead (which is charged for).
What are Instant Apps?
Instant Apps are an innovative feature primarily on Android that allows users to engage with specific functionalities or content of an app immediately by tapping a deep link, without requiring a full download or installation. This try-before-you-buy model provides a frictionless experience, enabling users to quickly access a specific task, explore features, or view content on demand. By loading only the necessary modules of an app, Instant Apps streamline user acquisition and can dramatically improve conversion rates by removing the traditional barrier of a full app download.
What is Internet of Things (IoT) Integration?
IoT integration is the process of seamlessly connecting and coordinating a vast array of devices, sensors, and data streams to create intelligent, unified systems. This means your mobile app isn't just controlling a single gadget, but rather, it's the hub for an entire interconnected ecosystem, whether it's managing smart home appliances and wearables or overseeing industrial machinery.
By enabling these diverse "things" to communicate and share data, IoT delivers immense benefits: unmatched convenience, dramatic efficiency gains, substantial cost savings, and the foundation for innovative new services across every sector. It's the essential glue making the hyper-connected world a reality, transforming raw data into actionable intelligence and fundamentally reshaping how we interact with our environment.
What is iOS?
iOS is Apple’s mobile operating system, found on iPhones, iPods and iPads. (NOTE: In order to create an app, the developer will work with the Swift or Objective-C languages.)
What is Jailbreaking?
When you jailbreak a device, you remove the locks and restrictions that are put into place so that you can only install officially approved apps from the App Store.
What is JSON?
JSON stands for "JavaScript Object Notation." It's a lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and for machines to parse and generate.
What is a JWT?
JWT stands for "JSON Web Token." From the RFC: "JSON Web Token (JWT) is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between the two parties." https://jwt.io/ and https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7519
What is a Lightning Connector, Port, Cable, or Dock?
Lightning is the name Apple gives to the connection port used to connect its most recent iPhone, iPod touch or iPad models to the mains for charging, or to a computer for charging and sync. Older models — such as the iPad 2, which has since been discontinued — use the older 30-pin dock, which is wider.
What are Live Photos?
A feature announced by Apple at the launch of its iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. If you have this feature activated, your iPhone will automatically capture 1.5 seconds of video before you take a still photo, and 1.5 seconds after, thus preserving a 3-second video of the moment that can be activated at any time by using 3D touch.
What is Material Design?
Google’s guidelines for creating user interfaces for Android devices. View the Android App Terminology Standards.
What are Mockups?
A critical part of the product design process is creating mockups, which are meant to show the end-user what the app will look like without having to actually build the app or its underlying functionality. Software UI mockups can range from very simple, hand-drawn screen layouts to realistic bitmaps and even semi-functional user interfaces. They are comparable to architects’ blueprints. Not to be confused with wireframes (see description below).
What is a Multimodal Interface?
A multimodal interface offers users multiple modes of input (e.g., text, touch, voice, image, video) and output. WillowTree specifically highlights multimodal as it relates to voice technology inputs and outputs. A multimodal interface allows for a user to speak via a variety of entry points (e.g., within an app, within an intelligent assistant like Siri, or within a chatbot) and then the user then receives information visually through an app, dedicated messenger, or bot applications.
What is Multitasking in a mobile context?
In the general sense, of course, multitasking simply means the ability to do more than one thing at once. But in the tech world it refers to running two programs at once — something early generation iPads and iPhones were been unable to do. You might think you’ve got two apps running at once, but for most intents and purposes, every app except the one you’ve got open right now is frozen in a static state.
What is an MVP?
MVP stands for a "minimum viable product," which is a first new version of a product that has the minimum required number of features to satisfy user needs and provide a foundation to inform future iterations.
What is Notification Center or Notification Drawer?
A feature in iOS and Mac OS X (Notification Center) and Android (Notification Drawer) that enables you to view recent messages and alerts on the device. On an iPhone or iPad, you access Notification Center by swiping downwards with a finger from the top of the screen.
What is Predictive Analytics?
Predictive analytics involves the sophisticated application of historical user data collected within mobile apps, combined with advanced statistical modeling and machine learning algorithms to forecast future user behaviors and trends. By analyzing past interactions, preferences and patterns, apps can intelligently predict what a user might do next, what content they'd prefer, or what services they might need. This capability empowers applications to deliver highly personalized experiences, offer proactive recommendations, provide targeted content and even anticipate potential churn, thereby enhancing user engagement driving business outcomes for product companies.
What is Objective C?
Programming language created by Apple and used to develop Mac OS X and iOS software.
What is an OS?
The OS is the operating system within which you create your app. Do not confuse it with Open Source!
What is Open Source?
Open source refers to a software whose source code is publicly available for use and modification.
What is OTT?
OTT stands for "over-the-top." It refers to any media streaming service that is provided via the Internet rather than cable or satellite, such as Netflix or Hulu. OTT devices such as Roku provide media streaming options outside of typical Internet-enabled devices like laptops and mobile phones.
What is Pinch to Zoom?
A gesture made on touchscreens and trackpads that zooms into webpages, photos, maps, and so forth. It's made by pinching the index finger and thumb together on screen — though technically, usually the ‘unpinch’ zooms in and the pinch zooms out. Still, we call it "pinch to zoom" in a general sense.
What is PR in engineering?
PR stands for "pull request." It's a way to let others know that you have code ready for review.
What is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
A progressive web app represents a significant evolution in web development, leveraging modern web capabilities to deliver a user experience that closely mimics that of a native mobile application. PWAs are designed to be highly effective hybrids, combining the broad reach and accessibility of the web with the rich functionality and performance typically associated with dedicated apps installed from an app store.
PWAs are transforming the digital landscape by offering an accessible, performant, and engaging alternative to traditional native apps, making web content more immersive and integrated into the users daily digital life. They represent a powerful tool for businesses and developers seeking to deliver app-like experiences with the low friction and broad reach of web.
What are Push Notifications?
A push notification is a short message that can be sent to app users even when said users don’t have their mobile applications open. The messages are displayed on the home screen of the device (even when locked). iOS requires that apps ask permission from users before sending push notifications, Android does not. There are two types.
- Remote: sent from an external source to the device
- Local: sent by the app to the device (e.g. a calendar reminder)
What is Scrum?
Scrum is a strategy in which the team works as a unit to reach a common goal through daily communication among all team members and disciplines in the project.
What is an SDK?
SDK stands for "software development kit," which is a programming package that enables developers to create apps for a particular software platform or framework. An SDK typically includes one or many APIs, programming tools, and documentation.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for "search engine optimization." It's both a technical and content-driven strategy for increasing the likelihood that a website or web pages show up in organic search, with the goal of driving higher volume and more relevant traffic to a website via search engines such as Google.
What is Siri?
Voice-recognition technology launched with the iPad 3 and iPhone 4S. It enables you to perform many features on the device without having to interact with the touchscreen.
What is Siri Shortcuts?
Siri Shortcuts is a powerful feature in iOS 12 that allows your app to expose its functionality to Siri. This enables Siri to suggest your shortcut at relevant times based on various context. Shortcuts can also be added to Siri to run with a voice phrase on iOS, HomePod, and watchOS.
What is the Sleep/Wake Button?
The button at the top, right side or back of iOS and Android devices that enables you to wake up the device, or put it back to sleep. If you hold it down you can power the device down completely. Sometimes also called the power button.
What is Spotlight Search?
Search technology found in iOS and Mac OS X devices that enables you to find many different types of information: contacts, documents, music files, and so on. You can search through documents as well as by the file name.
What is a Sprint in engineering?
Teams working in sprints, forecasting to complete a set of user stories during a fixed time period. Sprints can be one, two, or four weeks long, but are generally two weeks each.
LEARN MORE: Hidden Costs of Short Sprints: Why Two Weeks Is the Sweet Spot
What is a Stand-Up Meeting?
This style of meeting starts each day with a brief meeting that allows participants to know about potential challenges and to coordinate efforts to resolve difficult or time-consuming issues. Example structure: what you did yesterday, what you’re working on today, and blockers, all shared in 1-2 minutes.
What is the Status Bar?
The top bar running along iOS and Android devices. Displays many small icons related to the status of the device (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G).
What is a Super App?
More than just a collection of features, a Super App is an all-encompassing mobile ecosystem designed to serve a broad range of users needs within a single, integrated platform. It will seamlessly incorporate a multitude of disparate services, ranging from core functions like messaging and payments to diverse offerings like ridesharing, food delivery, e-commerce, financial services, and even gaming.
These Super Apps aim to become indispensable hubs for a user's digital life. This consolidation provides convenience, fosters deep user loyalty, and often leverages a unified payment system and user identity (think Uber, Meta/Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp, Amazon, Paypal/Venmo).
What are Taptics and the Taptic Engine?
A contraction of ‘tap’ and ‘haptics,’ this is Apple’s take on the haptic concept defined above. Most famously, a taptic engine in the Apple Watch vibrates in such a way when you get an alert that it feels like it’s tapping you on the wrist.
What are Touchless User Interfaces (UI) and Voice Recognition?
Touchless UI and voice recognition are rapidly becoming key modes for interacting with applications without physical contact. Primarily, this involves voice recognition, allowing users to control app functions through spoken commands. Voice recognition often leverages integrated voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant, or app-specific voice features.
While less common for direct control, gesture recognition using device sensors also falls under the touchless umbrella. These interfaces are gaining significant traction due to the unparalleled convenience they offer for hands-free operation, their role in enhancing accessibility for disabled and impaired users, improved hygiene by reducing device contact, and increased efficiency in performing tasks.
As Tobias Dengel, President of TELUS Digital Solutions and author of The Sound of The Future: The Coming Age of Voice Technology aptly states, "Voice isn't just a feature; it's a fundamental shift in how we relate to technology, moving from tapping and typing to speaking and sensing." Ultimately, by enabling more natural and intuitive interactions, touchless UI and voice recognition are transforming how we engage with our digital world, making technology more seamless and integrated into daily life.
What is User-Centered Research?
User-centered research is the process of directly engaging real customers or users in order to learn about their needs, habits, and values and to evaluate and test ideas, concepts, prototypes, and designs.
What is UDID?
UDID stands for "unique device identifier." It's a unique 40-character alphanumeric string that identifies a specific mobile device. Typically it’s assigned by the mobile device manufacturer.
What is UI?
UI, which stands for "user interface," is the design of the mobile app with a focus on the experience of the user, keeping in mind the overall interaction. It’s arguably the most important part of your app since it determines how easily a user can make the program do what he or she wants. Even a powerful idea with great technical execution has little value with a poorly designed UI.
What are User Stories?
The product owner creates simple user stories, which are a number of sentences in simple language that outline the desired outcome without going into detailed requirements. The goal of user stories is to document requirements with the end-user in mind. An example would be: creating a persona, a personal need of this persona, and the reason for that need (who, what, why).
What is UX?
UX stands for "user experience." It refers to how a user perceives, reacts, or feels when interacting with your mobile app.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for "virtual private network" and is a way to connect to a private local area network using a public network, such as the Internet. It enables a user to share and receive data across shared public networks. For example, a VPN allows employees to get access to corporate intranet while traveling outside the office.
What is Wearables Integration?
Wearables integration focuses on creating apps that extend their functionalities beyond smartphones to interact with and utilize data from various wearable devices (e.g., smart watches, fitness trackers, smart rings). This enables apps to leverage real-time biometric data (e.g., heart rate, sleep patterns, activity levels) along with location information and sensor input, powering capabilities like enhanced health and fitness monitoring, personalized insights, convenient notifications, and hands-free control. Wearables integration unlocks new possibilities for proactive health management, improved productivity through alerts, and highly tailored user experiences that are always on and contextually aware.
What are Wireframes?
Wireframes are drafts used to present the proposed functions, structure, and content of an app. A wireframe separates the graphic elements of the app from the functional elements in such a way that developers can easily explain how users will interact with the app.
What is a Web App?
A web application is a client-server software application that the client runs in a web browser.
What is Xcode?
Mac OS X software development environment. A program distributed for free by Apple that enables users to create Mac OS X and iOS software.
We hope this glossary has been helpful and we'll continue updating in the future!
