PUBLISHING

scripting. A related concept is client-side
scripting, where the software (for example
JavaScript) is not run on the web server,
but inside the user’s web browser.
Software
Structured sets of instructions to be performed
by a computer or handheld device.
Software can be contrasted with hardware
(the actual physical device), and also with
data (the information processed by the
software). The terms software, computer
program, application and app are often
used more or less interchangeably.
Software Development Kit (SDK)
A collection of tools and services for
software developers who wish to program
applications for one particular operating
system or platform. SDKs are usually created
by the vendors of those systems: for
example, both iOS and Android have their
own specific SDKs.
Streaming
Direct audio or video playback from a
website, without having to download the
whole file first. Today, the most common
streaming formats are MP3 and MPEG-4.
Streaming requires a broadband connection
to the internet, with good bandwidth.
See also bandwidth.
Style sheet
In book and journal publishing, a style
sheet is an instruction document for
authors that tells them which editorial
conventions they need to follow while
preparing their manuscript for publication.
In graphic design, style sheets also refer
to design templates. See Cascading Style
Sheets (CSS).
Syntax
In computing, syntax means the correct
notation of a markup, command-line or
programming language. Since computers
cannot interpret ambiguity, ‘syntax errors’
easily occur in these languages; one small
typo in a complex computer program
will often stop the program from working
altogether.
T
Tablet
A tablet is a compact portable computer
that is operated via a touchscreen and has
a larger screen than a smartphone. Apple’s
iPad is a typical example of a tablet
computer.
Tagging
Tags are (typically) short strings of text
that contain metadata. In electronic publishing,
there are two widespread forms
of tags: markup tags for the (visual-typographic
and logical) formatting of a document,
and general metadata tags which
describe and categorize the document
as a whole (such as: information on the
author and publisher of an ebook).
Text editor
Software for writing and editing plain text.
Unlike word processors such as Microsoft
Word, text editors do not combine text
writing and text formatting within one
software application. Many text editors
provide more powerful text processing
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