Digital Media Glossary
25 essential terms — because precise language is the foundation of clear thinking in Digital Media.
Showing 25 of 25 terms
A set of rules or instructions followed by a computer to perform calculations, process data, or solve problems, often used to curate and personalize digital content.
Traditional media formats that use continuous signals — such as vinyl records, film reels, and printed newspapers — as opposed to the discrete binary data of digital media.
Technology that overlays digital information such as images, text, or 3D models onto the real-world environment, typically viewed through a smartphone or headset.
The maximum data transfer rate of a network connection, measured in bits per second, determining how quickly digital content can be transmitted.
The ratio of users who click on a specific link or advertisement to the total number of users who view it, expressed as a percentage.
Software enabling the creation, editing, and publication of digital content without specialized coding, such as WordPress or Drupal.
The merging of previously distinct media technologies, industries, and content forms into interconnected digital platforms.
A set of standardized copyright licenses allowing creators to specify how others may use, share, or adapt their work.
The process of examining digital datasets to draw conclusions, identify patterns, and inform decisions about content strategy and audience engagement.
The gap between populations with effective access to digital technologies and those without, influenced by socioeconomic status, geography, age, and infrastructure.
Access-control technologies used by publishers and copyright holders to limit the use and distribution of digital content.
A metric measuring the level of audience interaction with digital content, typically calculated from likes, comments, shares, and clicks relative to reach.
The intellectual isolation resulting from personalization algorithms that limit users' exposure to diverse information and viewpoints.
A word or phrase preceded by the '#' symbol, used on social media to categorize content and make it discoverable in topic-based searches.
Text displayed on a digital device containing links to other text, documents, or media, allowing non-linear navigation. The foundation of the World Wide Web.
Legal rights protecting creations of the mind — inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols — including copyrights, trademarks, and patents in digital contexts.
Descriptive data about other data, such as file name, author, creation date, and keywords, used to organize and retrieve digital content.
The principle that internet service providers should treat all data on the internet equally without discriminating by source, destination, or content type.
A digital mechanism restricting access to content unless the user pays a subscription fee or makes a one-time purchase.
The smallest addressable element of a digital image or display screen, arranged in a grid to form complete images.
A web development approach ensuring websites render correctly across a variety of screen sizes and devices through flexible layouts and media queries.
The continuous delivery of audio or video content over the internet in real time, without requiring the user to download the entire file first.
The overall experience a person has when interacting with a digital product, including ease of use, accessibility, efficiency, and satisfaction.
A fully computer-generated immersive environment that replaces the user's real-world surroundings, typically experienced through a headset with motion tracking.