# Compliance glossary

Glossary of productivity, time management, & work-life balance terms.

### A/B Testing

A method of comparing two versions of a webpage, email, or feature to determine which performs better based on user behavior.

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### Acquisition cost (CAC)

The total cost of acquiring a new customer, including marketing and sales expenses, divided by the number of customers acquired in a given period.

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### Agile development

An iterative approach to software development that promotes collaboration, adaptability, and continuous delivery.

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### API

A set of protocols and tools that allow different software applications to communicate and share data.

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### Analytics

The systematic computational analysis of data or statistics to discover meaningful patterns, trends, and insights that inform business decisions and improve performance.

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### Authentication

The process of verifying the identity of a user, system, or application attempting to access a resource or service.

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### Automation

The use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention, often increasing efficiency and reducing errors.

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### Backlog

A prioritized list of tasks, features, or bugs waiting to be developed or addressed in future sprints.

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### Beta release

A pre-launch version of a software product released to selected users for testing and feedback.

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### Bootstrapping

Building and growing a company using personal savings or internal revenue rather than external funding.

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### Business Intelligence (BI)

Technologies and strategies used to analyze business data and provide actionable insights for decision-making.

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### Bug tracking

The process of identifying, documenting, and managing software defects throughout the development lifecycle.

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### Build automation

The practice of automating the compilation, testing, and deployment of software to reduce manual work and errors.

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### Burn rate

The rate at which a company spends its available capital, typically measured monthly, indicating cash flow sustainability.

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### Churn rate

The percentage of customers who cancel or stop using a subscription service during a given period.

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### Cloud computing

The delivery of computing services including servers, storage, databases, and software over the internet instead of local infrastructure.

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### Conversion rate

The percentage of users who complete a desired action (such as signing up, purchasing, or upgrading) out of the total number of visitors.

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### CRM

Software that helps businesses manage interactions with existing and potential customers to improve relationships and retention.

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### Customer lifetime value

The total revenue a business can expect from a customer over the entire duration of their relationship.

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### CI/CD Pipeline

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment processes that automate code testing, building, and deployment.

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### Code repository

A storage location where software source code and related files are kept, typically using version control systems like Git.

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### Dashboard

A visual interface that displays key metrics, analytics, and performance indicators in real time for easy monitoring and decision-making.

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### Data analytics

The process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to uncover patterns, trends, and insights that guide business decisions.

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### Data migration

The process of transferring data from one system, platform, or storage type to another, often during upgrades or software transitions.

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### Database

An organized collection of structured data stored electronically, designed for efficient retrieval, management, and updating.

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### DevOps

A set of practices that combines software development and IT operations to shorten the development lifecycle and deliver high-quality software.

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### Documentation

Written materials that explain how software works, including user guides, API references, and technical specifications.

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### Engagement rate

A metric that measures how actively users interact with your product, content, or platform, often through clicks, time spent, or feature usage.

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### End-to-end testing

A testing methodology that validates the complete flow of an application from start to finish to ensure all components work together correctly.

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### Error handling

The process of anticipating, detecting, and responding to errors in software applications to maintain functionality and user experience.

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### Event-driven architecture

A software design pattern where components communicate through events, enabling decoupled and scalable systems.

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### Extensibility

The ability of software to be extended with new features or functionality without modifying existing code.

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### Extract, Transform, Load (ETL)

A data integration process that extracts data from sources, transforms it to fit operational needs, and loads it into a target database.

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### Encryption

The process of converting readable data into encoded format to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

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### Enterprise software

Large-scale software solutions designed to meet the needs of organizations rather than individual users, typically offering extensive features and scalability.

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### Feature flag

A technique that allows developers to enable or disable features remotely without deploying new code, enabling safer releases and A/B testing.

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### Frontend

The part of a software application that users interact with directly, including the user interface and user experience components.

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### Framework

A reusable platform or structure that provides foundational code and functionality to build software applications more efficiently.

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### Full-stack development

The practice of developing both frontend and backend components of a software application, covering the complete technology stack.

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### Function as a Service (FaaS)

A cloud computing model where developers can execute code in response to events without managing server infrastructure.

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### Funnel analysis

A method of analyzing the conversion process by tracking users through a series of steps to identify where drop-offs occur.

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### Git

A distributed version control system that tracks changes in source code during software development, enabling collaboration and code history management.

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### GraphQL

A query language and runtime for APIs that allows clients to request exactly the data they need, reducing over-fetching and under-fetching.

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### GitHub

A web-based platform that provides Git repository hosting, collaboration features, and project management tools for software development.

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### Growth hacking

A marketing approach that focuses on rapid experimentation across marketing channels to identify the most effective ways to grow a business.

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### Gamification

The application of game-design elements and principles in non-game contexts to enhance user engagement and motivation.

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### Hosting

The service of providing storage space and access for websites, applications, and data on servers connected to the internet.

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### HTTP/HTTPS

Protocols for transferring data over the internet, with HTTPS providing encrypted and secure communication between web browsers and servers.

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### Hybrid app

A mobile application that combines web technologies with native app features, allowing it to run on multiple platforms from a single codebase.

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### Hotfix

An urgent patch or update deployed to fix critical bugs or security vulnerabilities in production software without following the normal release cycle.

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### Hashing

The process of converting input data into a fixed-size string of characters using a mathematical function, commonly used for data integrity and password storage.

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### Headless architecture

A software architecture pattern where the frontend presentation layer is decoupled from the backend, allowing flexible content delivery across multiple channels.

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### Horizontal scaling

The practice of increasing system capacity by adding more machines or servers rather than upgrading existing hardware, improving performance through distribution.

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### High availability

A system design approach that ensures services remain operational and accessible for extended periods, minimizing downtime through redundancy and failover mechanisms.

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### Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

The practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive tools.

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### Integration

The process of combining different software systems and applications to work together, enabling data sharing and coordinated functionality across platforms.

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### Iteration

A single development cycle in an iterative process where software is built, tested, and refined incrementally to improve quality and functionality over time.

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### IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

A cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, including servers, storage, and networking infrastructure.

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### IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

A software application that provides comprehensive tools for software development, including code editor, debugger, and build automation in a single interface.

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### In-memory database

A database management system that primarily relies on main memory for data storage, providing faster data access compared to disk-based databases.

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### Backlink

A link from one website to another, often used by search engines to measure a site’s authority and relevance.

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### CTA (Call to Action)

A prompt on a webpage or ad that encourages users to take a specific action, such as “Buy Now” or “Sign Up.”

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### Dashboard

A visual interface that displays key data metrics and insights to help users monitor performance or activities.

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### Engagement Rate

The percentage of users who interact with content, such as liking, sharing, or commenting on a post.

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### Funnel

A model that represents the stages customers go through before making a purchase or taking a desired action.

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### Growth Hacking

A strategy focused on rapid experimentation across marketing channels to identify the most effective ways to grow a business.

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### Journey Mapping

A visual representation of a customer’s experience with a brand, showing each step and touch point across their journey.

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### Keyword Research

The process of discovering search terms that people use in search engines to inform SEO and content strategy.

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### KPI (Key Performance Indicator)

A measurable value that indicates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.

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### Knowledge Base

A centralized repository of information that helps users find answers to common questions about a product or service.

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### Kanban Board

A visual workflow management tool used to visualize tasks, identify bottlenecks, and improve productivity in projects.

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### Knowledge Graph

A system that connects information using relationships between concepts, improving data organization and understanding.

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### K-Factor

A metric used in viral marketing to measure how many additional users each existing user brings to a product or service.

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### Knowledge Management

The process of capturing, organizing, and sharing knowledge within an organization to enhance efficiency and decision-making.

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### Landing Page

A focused web page designed to convert visitors into leads or customers, often tied to marketing campaigns.

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### Lead Generation

The process of attracting and converting potential customers into leads who show interest in a company’s product or service.

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### Lifetime Value (LTV)

The total revenue a business can expect from a single customer over the entire duration of their relationship.

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### Link Building

The process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to improve your own site’s search engine visibility and authority.

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### Local SEO

An optimization strategy focused on increasing visibility for businesses in local search results, maps, and directories.

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### Lead Nurturing

The process of developing relationships with potential customers through personalized communication to move them toward a purchase.

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### Market Segmentation

The process of dividing a target market into smaller groups based on shared characteristics such as behavior or demographics.

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### Metadata

Descriptive data that provides information about other data, often used in SEO and content organization.

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### Marketing Automation

Software that automates repetitive marketing tasks such as email campaigns, lead scoring, and social media posting.

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### Microcopy

Small pieces of text on digital interfaces that guide users or improve user experience, such as button labels or error messages.

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### Newsletter

A regularly distributed email that shares updates, tips, or news to engage subscribers and promote brand awareness.

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### Niche Market

A specialized segment of the market focused on a specific need, interest, or demographic group.

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### Net Promoter Score (NPS)

A customer loyalty metric that measures how likely users are to recommend a product or service to others.

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### Onboarding

The process of welcoming and educating new users or customers about a product to ensure successful adoption.

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### Organic Traffic

Visitors who come to a website through unpaid search results rather than paid advertisements.

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### Persona

A semi-fictional representation of an ideal customer based on research and real data.

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### Pay-Per-Click (PPC)

An online advertising model where advertisers pay each time a user clicks on their ad.

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### Product Roadmap

A strategic plan that outlines the vision, direction, and progress of a product over time.

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### Quality Score

A rating used by search engines to measure the relevance and quality of ads, keywords, and landing pages.

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### Retargeting

A digital marketing tactic that displays ads to users who previously interacted with your website or app.

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### ROI (Return on Investment)

A performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or compare profitability.

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### SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

The practice of improving website visibility on search engines through content and technical optimization.

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### Social Proof

The concept that people are influenced by the actions and opinions of others, often shown through reviews or testimonials.

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### SaaS (Software as a Service)

A software delivery model where applications are hosted online and accessed via a subscription.

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### Target Audience

A defined group of people most likely to be interested in a product or service.

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### Touchpoint

Any interaction or communication between a business and its customers throughout the customer journey.

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### UI (User Interface)

The visual layout of elements that users interact with in a digital product.

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### UX (User Experience)

The overall experience a user has while interacting with a product or service, focusing on ease of use and satisfaction.

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### Viral Marketing

A strategy that encourages users to share a marketing message rapidly across their networks.

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### Workflow Automation

The use of software to automate business processes, reducing manual effort and increasing efficiency.

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### Wireframe

A simplified visual guide that outlines the structure of a webpage or app before design and development.

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### XML (Extensible Markup Language)

A markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a human- and machine-readable format.

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### Yield Management

A strategy used to maximize revenue by adjusting prices based on consumer behavior and demand.

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### Zero-Click Search

A search result where the user finds the answer directly on the search results page without clicking a link.

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