Glossary of Terms

This glossary defines common terms you’ll see across our help site related to web accessibility, content management, SEO, and AI-driven search and discovery. Whether you’re editing pages in Modern Campus, reviewing content for accessibility, or preparing pages to perform well in search engines and AI-powered tools, these definitions are designed to give you clear, plain-language explanations and shared understanding across campus.

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)

AEO focuses on structuring your content so AI-driven assistants and voice tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Bing Copilot, or Alexa can extract precise, trustworthy answers to user questions. AEO emphasizes concise explanations, schema markup and question-based headings that align with how people ask for information conversationally.

AIO (AI Optimization)

AIO focuses on structuring content so it can be accurately interpreted and surfaced by AI-powered tools, assistants and search experiences. It emphasizes clear language, semantic structure, accessibility and authoritative context to ensure content is usable by both humans and AI systems.

Alt Text (Alternative Text)

Text that describes the content and purpose of an image for screen reader users and when images fail to load. Alt text should convey meaning, not just appearance.

Analytics

The measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of web data for purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage, and to assess and improve the effectiveness of a website. Google Analytics code is placed on all sites in Modern Campus CMS.

ARIA Label

An ARIA label is an accessibility attribute that provides a clear, descriptive name for an element — such as an icon, button, or form control — when the visible text alone does not convey enough meaning. It is especially important for buttons with short, non-contextual calls to action like “Learn more,” where the ARIA label should add specific context (for example, “Learn more about undergraduate admissions”) so screen reader users understand the action and its destination.

Asset

In Modern Campus, an asset is a reusable piece of content — such as an image, document, code snippet, or structured data item — stored in the CMS and referenced across one or more pages. Updating an asset updates it everywhere it is used, helping maintain consistency, accuracy and accessibility site-wide.

Check In/Check Out

Check in / check out works like a library system: when you check out a file, it is locked for editing by you alone so others cannot make changes at the same time. The file stays checked out — even after saving — until it is published (which automatically checks it back in) or you manually check it in by turning off the light bulb icon in the editor or Pages view.

CMS (Content Management System)

A CMS, or content management system, is the platform used to create, edit, organize, and publish website content without needing to write code. Our CMS — Modern Campus — manages page content, assets and components while enforcing consistent design, accessibility and governance standards.

Color Contrast

The difference in brightness between text and its background. Sufficient contrast ensures text is readable for users with low vision or color blindness.

Component

A component is a structured, reusable content block in Modern Campus — such as a callout, accordion, or card — designed to ensure consistent layout, branding, and accessibility across pages. Components guide editors to enter content in a standardized way while preserving design and technical requirements.

Focus Indicator

A visible outline or highlight that shows which element is currently selected when navigating with a keyboard. It is essential for users who do not use a mouse.

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)

GEO focuses on preparing your content so it can be accurately summarized and surfaced in AI Overviews and other generative search experiences, like Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE). GEO focuses on clarity, factual accuracy and structured information that AI can easily interpret and repurpose.

Heading Structure

The logical hierarchy of headings (H1–H6) used to organize page content. Proper heading structure allows screen reader users to navigate pages efficiently.

Hero Banner

A large, prominent visual section at the top of a webpage used to highlight key messages, campaigns, or calls to action. It typically includes an image, headline, and optional button, and should be concise, accessible and purposeful.

HTML

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard code used to structure content on the web, including headings, paragraphs, links, images, and lists. In Modern Campus, HTML is generated from structured content and templates to ensure consistent display and accessibility.

Keyboard Navigation

The ability to access and operate all interactive elements using only a keyboard. Content must be usable without requiring a mouse.

Revert

Revert is a CMS action that restores a page or file to a previously saved or published version. It is used to undo recent changes and return content to a known, stable state.

Semantic HTML

HTML elements used according to their intended meaning, such as headings for titles and lists for grouped items. Semantic HTML improves accessibility and compatibility with assistive technologies.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

SEO is the practice of structuring and writing web content so it can be easily discovered, understood, and ranked by search engines. It includes clear page titles, headings, descriptive links, alt text, and well-organized content.

Side Nav

The side navigation file is the file on the side of your web pages, which includes links to the other pages in that content section or parent section(s), if applicable. It can be turned on or off. New pages are automatically added to the side nav unless you choose not to add them when creating the new page or by adjusting that setting in page properties.

Snippet

Snippets are reusable content elements that insert predefined, styled content into a page and can be edited in the WYSIWYG editor without changing the original snippet file. They are commonly used for elements like buttons, tables, quotes, and images to ensure consistent design and formatting across the SBU website.

Staging and Production

The Staging server is the server that contains all of the web page templates, web page files and supporting files. When you create a new page or are editing a page, you are working on the staging server. The staging server saves all published versions of a page.

The Production server is the server that houses the live site, the site that the world sees. When you publish a page, the staging server pushes a copy of that page from staging to the production server, where it is updated.

Tab Order

The sequence in which interactive elements receive focus when navigating with the Tab key. A logical tab order follows the visual and reading flow of the page.

Templates

Templates define the underlying structure and layout of pages in Modern Campus, controlling where content, components, and navigation appear. They ensure pages follow Stony Brook University’s design, branding, and accessibility standards while allowing editors to focus on content.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

International standards that define how to make web content accessible to people with disabilities. WCAG requirements guide accessibility decisions across Stony Brook University websites.

Workflow

Workflow is the approval process that content follows in Modern Campus before it is published, such as review, editing, and final sign-off. It ensures content meets Stony Brook University’s standards for accuracy, accessibility, and governance before going live.

WYSIWYG

WYSIWYG stands for “What You See Is What You Get” and refers to the visual editor used to create and edit page content in Modern Campus. It allows editors to format text and insert elements while seeing a close representation of how the content will appear on the live website.

XML

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a structured format used in Modern Campus to store and organize content separately from its presentation. It allows content to be reused, transformed, and displayed consistently across the website through templates and XSL.

XSL

XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) is a set of rules used in Modern Campus to control how structured content is transformed and displayed on the website. It defines how data is rendered into HTML, ensuring consistent layout, styling, and accessibility across pages.