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Technical terms for user-website interaction

English Language & Usage Asked by Saggy Manatee And Swan Folk on March 25, 2021

I am making a context diagram of a website and I noticed that the words I used for a user and the website’s interaction are not consistent or cohesive.

I have been using the pairs of words below to indicate that a user requests to “see” a webpage:

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a user “visits” a website and the webpage “views” (as a response to the user)

I can’t find a more acceptable alternative for these two but I am sure there are better ones out there that I just don’t know.

One more, what should I use if the page that a user wants to see is a popup or specifically a modal element (which means a user is not directed away from their current page)?

4 Answers

A user views and inputs. A website displays and outputs. A modal pop-up is called a modal window.

Correct answer by RyeɃreḁd on March 25, 2021

My Microsoft Manual of Style says to use "pop-up window". The reference was not specific to webpages, but the context was similar to what you describe.

Here's some of the entry from page 359

Do not use as a noun. Also do not use as a verb to mean open or appear.
'Pop-up window' is all right to use in references to windows that pop up in context-sensitive Help. Do not use 'pop-up window' as a synonym for dialog box.

Answered by Val on March 25, 2021

"Request" and "response" are the nouns typically used in HTTP specifications and libraries. "Request" and "respond" are the corresponding verbs.

Answered by tobyink on March 25, 2021

For a pop-up window you could say the user invokes it, then after interacting with it dismisses it.

Answered by Oldcat on March 25, 2021

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