One of the first challenges you might face when setting up a Frame site is understanding the terminology. There’s a lot of specialized jargon, which can get confusing quickly! This glossary is intended to clarify the terms we use to discuss websites.

#s

404 page

A 404 page is the error page visitors see when they try to access a URL that doesn't exist on your site — either because it was deleted, moved, or the link was typed incorrectly. Frame includes a default 404 page, and some themes allow you to customize its appearance.

A

absolute path

The complete location of a file on a web server, starting from the root of the system. You're unlikely to need this in day-to-day site management, but it may come up if you're troubleshooting with support.

admin bar

The admin bar — also called the administration bar or toolbar — is the dark bar that appears at the very top of your screen when you are logged in to your Frame site. It provides quick links to common tasks like adding a new post, editing the current page, or accessing your dashboard. Visitors who are not logged in will never see it.

API

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. WordPress uses APIs behind the scenes to power features like blocks, plugins, and third-party integrations. As a site administrator, you generally won't interact with APIs directly.

archive

An archive page automatically collects and displays a list of posts grouped by a common attribute — such as a category, tag, author, or date. For example, clicking on a category label like "Announcements" would take a visitor to that category's archive page, showing all posts in that group.

attachment

An attachment is a file — such as an image, PDF, or audio file — that has been uploaded to a post or page through the Media Library. WordPress creates an individual attachment page for each uploaded file, though these are rarely linked to directly.

author

An author is a user role that allows someone to write, edit, and publish their own posts, but not the posts of others. Authors cannot create pages or manage site settings. This role is useful for church or school staff who contribute blog content regularly.

autosave

As you work in the editor, Frame automatically saves your content every couple of minutes. You'll see a quiet confirmation in the editor when this happens. Autosave is there to protect your work — so even if something unexpected happens, you're unlikely to lose much progress. Autosaves don't publish your content; they just keep a working copy safe.

avatar

An avatar is a small image that represents a user — commonly seen next to comments or author bylines. On Frame sites, avatars are typically pulled from Gravatar, a free service that links a profile photo to an email address. See also: gravatar.

B

back end

The back end is the area of your site that only logged-in users can access — your dashboard and all its settings, content tools, and management screens. Visitors to your public site never see this area. It's sometimes referred to as "the admin area" or simply "WordPress."

block

A block is a distinct, self-contained unit of content in the editor — such as a paragraph, image, video, button, or form. Every page and post on your Frame site is built by stacking and arranging blocks.

block (inserter) library

The block inserter is the panel that opens when you click the + (plus) button in the editor. It shows all the blocks available to add to your page or post, organized into categories. You can search by name or browse to find the right block for your content.

block categories

Blocks in the inserter are grouped into categories — such as Text, Media, Design, and Widgets — to make them easier to browse. These categories are for organizational purposes only and don't affect how blocks function on your site.

block editor

The block editor (sometimes called Gutenberg) is the editing interface used in Frame to create and manage pages and posts. Rather than typing into a single text field, you build content by adding and arranging individual blocks. It's designed to be approachable and visual — no coding needed.

block name

Each block type has a unique internal block name — for example, core/image or core/paragraph. You'll rarely see these directly, but they may appear in technical documentation or support conversations.

block styles

Many blocks offer built-in style variations — for example, a button block might have a "Fill" style or an "Outline" style. These are selected in the block's settings sidebar and change the visual appearance of that individual block without affecting others.

block template parts

A template part is a reusable section of your site's structure — such as the header or footer — that is built from blocks and shared across multiple pages. Template parts are edited in the Site Editor. Changes to a template part affect every page where it appears.

block templates

A block template is a predefined arrangement of blocks used as the starting structure for a page, post, or other content. Templates help ensure consistency across your site. In Frame, templates are selected when creating a new page and control things like whether a page has a hero image or a sidebar.

breadcrumbs

A breadcrumb is a small navigation trail, typically displayed near the top of a page, that shows the visitor where they are within your site's structure — for example: Home > Ministries > Youth. Breadcrumbs help visitors understand your site's layout and navigate back easily.

browser

A browser (or web browser) is a software application on your computer, tablet, phone, or other device used to view and interact with sites on the World Wide Web. Common browsers include Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.

C

cache

A cache is a saved copy of your site's data, stored temporarily to help your site load faster for visitors. Frame uses server-side caching automatically, so visitors get a speedy experience. On occasion, cached content can mean changes you've made don't appear immediately — if that happens, clearing your cache usually does the trick.

capabilities

A capability is a specific permission granted to a user — for example, the ability to publish posts, manage other users, or install plugins. Capabilities are bundled into roles, so rather than assigning capabilities one by one, you assign a role that comes with a predefined set of permissions. See also: role.

category

A category is a way to group your posts by broad topic. For example, a church might use categories like "Sermons," "Announcements," or "Community Events." Every post should belong to at least one category. Unlike tags, categories are hierarchical — you can have subcategories under a parent category.

child theme

A child theme inherits all the styles and functionality of a parent theme, while allowing customizations to be made independently. This means updates to the parent theme won't overwrite your changes. Child themes are useful for developers making code-level customizations.

class

A class is a label applied to an HTML element that allows CSS styles to be applied to it. For example, a block might be given a class like is-style-rounded to apply a specific visual style. You generally won't need to work with classes directly in Frame, but the term may come up when customizing the appearance of blocks or communicating with a developer.

classic block

The classic block is a block that embeds the older TinyMCE text editor within the block editor. It exists primarily to support content that was created before the block editor existed. If you open an older post and see a single large editing area instead of individual blocks, you're likely working in a classic block.

content

In WordPress, content refers to the text, images, videos, and other media that make up your pages, posts, and other sections of your site. Content is separate from the design and structure of your site — your theme handles how things look, but content is what you fill those spaces with.

content management system

A content management system (or CMS) is software that makes it easy to create, edit, and organize content on a website — without needing to know how to code. WordPress is a CMS, and Frame is built on top of WordPress, adding a layer of curation and support specifically for Adventist churches, schools, and ministries.

cookie

A cookie is a small piece of data stored in a visitor's browser when they visit a website. Cookies help websites remember things — like whether a user is logged in, or their language preference. WordPress uses cookies to manage login sessions and certain site functions.

core

Core refers to the base WordPress software — the foundational code that everything else is built upon. Updates to WordPress core bring new features, security patches, and performance improvements.

CSS

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the language that controls how your site looks — colors, fonts, spacing, layout, and more. Your theme uses CSS to style all the visual elements of your site. You don't need to know CSS to manage a Frame site, but understanding the term can be helpful when customizing your theme's appearance or communicating with developers.

custom post type

A custom post type is a type of content beyond the standard posts and pages — for example, Sermons, Staff Profiles, or Events. Custom post types are configured by your theme or plugins and give each type of content its own dedicated area in the dashboard.

D

dashboard

The dashboard is your Frame site's main control panel — the first screen you see after logging in. It includes a toolbar at the top, a navigation menu on the left, and a main work area in the center. From here you can access all areas of your site: pages, posts, media, settings, users, and more.

default theme

The default theme is the fallback theme WordPress uses if your active theme becomes unavailable. In Frame, your site always has an active theme selected and managed for you, so you won't typically encounter the default theme — but it exists as a safety net.

DIV

A DIV is an HTML element used to define a section or container within a web page. It's a foundational building block of web layout. You generally won't need to think about DIVs when using Frame, but the term may come up in discussions about custom design or theme development.

DNS

The DNS (Domain Name System) is the system that translates a domain name (like www.mychurch.org) into the numeric address that computers use to find your site. When you set up or connect a domain for your Frame site, you'll need to update your DNS settings to point to Frame's servers.

domain name

A domain name is the human-readable address of your website — for example, www.mychurch.org. It's what people type into their browser to find you. Your domain is registered separately from your Frame site and connected via DNS settings.

draft

A draft is a post or page that has been saved but not yet published. Drafts are only accessible to logged-in users with the appropriate permissions — they don't appear on your public site. Drafts are perfect for content you're still working on or posts you want to review before making them live.

E

editor

The editor is the interface used for creating and updating pages, posts, and other content on your Frame site. It features a toolbar across the top with the block inserter and document overview, a central content area where you build your layout with blocks, and a settings sidebar on the right for configuring options specific to the current block or document.

editor styles

Editor styles are design settings applied within the editing interface to make the editor look more like your published site. This helps you get a more accurate preview of your content as you write, without needing to open the Preview every time.

excerpt

An excerpt is a short summary of a post — usually a sentence or two — that appears on archive pages, search results, and post feed blocks instead of the full post content. You can write a custom excerpt in the post settings sidebar, or leave it blank to let Frame generate one automatically from the beginning of your post.

export

The export tool in WordPress lets you download a copy of your site's content — including pages, posts, and media metadata — as an XML file. This is useful for backing up your content or migrating it to another site.

F

featured image

A featured image is the main representative image for a post or page. It typically appears at the top of the content, in post listings, and when the post is shared on social media. On Frame sites, the featured image is sometimes referred to as the hero image or header image depending on the context and template used.

feed

A feed (commonly called an RSS feed) is a stream of your site's content in a machine-readable format. It allows people to subscribe to your site and receive updates automatically through a news reader app. WordPress generates a feed for your posts automatically. Feeds are also used by podcast directories and some digital signage tools to pull content from your site.

footer

The footer or footer area is a template part that displays content at the very bottom of every page on your site, below the main content. It commonly contains contact information, social media links, a secondary navigation menu, or copyright text. In Frame, the footer can be edited through the Site Editor or through theme settings in the dashboard.

front end

The front end is the public-facing side of your site — what visitors see when they navigate to your URL. It's the "finished" version of your site, as opposed to the dashboard (back end) where you manage content.

G

gallery

A gallery is a collection of images displayed together in a visual layout. In Frame's block editor, the Gallery block lets you arrange multiple images in a grid. It's a great way to share photos from church events, school activities, or campus life.

GDPR

GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation — a European Union law governing how organizations collect, store, and use personal data. Even if your church or school is based in North America, GDPR may apply if any of your site visitors are located in the EU. WordPress includes privacy tools to help you comply, including a privacy policy page template and tools for managing data requests.

gravatar

A gravatar is a globally recognized profile photo linked to a person's email address through the free service at Gravatar.com. When a user leaves a comment on a WordPress site, their gravatar will appear automatically next to their name. See also: avatar.

GUI

GUI (pronounced "gooey") stands for Graphical User Interface — the visual, click-and-point way of interacting with software. WordPress is entirely GUI-based, which means you can manage your Frame site through buttons, menus, and drag-and-drop tools without ever needing to touch code.

Gutenberg

Gutenberg is the name of the project behind WordPress's block editor — named after Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the movable type printing press. The Gutenberg block editor replaced the older Classic Editor in WordPress 5.0 and continues to evolve with new features. In Frame, Gutenberg is what powers the editing experience you use every day.

H

header

The header displays content at the top of your site, above the main content of every page or post. Your site's title, logo, and primary navigation menu are commonly found in the header. In Frame, the header is a template part shared across all pages and is edited through the Site Editor.

hero

The hero is a wide image, video, or area that displays a page's title or featured content, often appearing just below the header. Heroes are commonly used on home pages and landing pages to make a strong first impression. Not all page templates include a hero — check your template options when creating a new page.

home page

A home page (also called a homepage or front page) is the first page visitors see when they arrive at your site's main address. In Frame, your home page is typically a static page you've designated in Settings > Reading. It's often the most important page on your site — the front door to your ministry's online presence.

hosting provider

A hosting provider is the company or service that stores your website's files and makes them accessible on the internet. Frame handles hosting for you as part of the platform — so you don't need to source, set up, or manage a separate hosting account.

HTML

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language used to structure content on the web — defining things like headings, paragraphs, links, and images. WordPress generates HTML automatically as you build content with blocks, so you don't need to write it yourself. Occasionally, you may encounter an HTML block if you need to embed custom code.

I

import

The import tool in WordPress allows you to bring in content from another WordPress site or platform using an exported XML file. This is helpful when migrating content from a previous site.

IP address

An IP address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to every device connected to the internet — similar to a street address for computers. You're unlikely to need to know your site's IP address during normal site management, but it may come up in DNS configuration or security discussions.

M

media

In Frame, media refers to any file you upload to your site — images, PDFs, audio files, video files, and more. All uploaded media is stored in the Media Library, where you can search, organize, and reuse files across your site.

menu

A menu is a list of navigation links — typically displayed in your site's header — that helps visitors move around your site. You can create and manage menus in the dashboard, adding links to pages, posts, categories, or custom URLs. Menus can also be placed in your footer or other navigation areas.

N

navigation

Navigation refers to the links and menus that help visitors find their way around your site. Good navigation is one of the most important parts of any ministry website — it helps first-time visitors quickly find service times, contact information, or key resources.

navigation block

The Navigation block is a block used in the Site Editor to display and manage your site's navigation menus. It allows you to add, remove, and rearrange menu items visually.

P

page

A page is a static document for displaying content that doesn't change frequently — like your About page, Contact page, or Beliefs page. Pages are not associated with a date and don't appear in your post feed. They live outside the normal blog flow and form the core structure of your site. Not sure whether something should be a page or a post? Check out our guide on Pages vs. Posts.

page template

A page template controls the layout and structure of an individual page — for example, whether it has a full-width layout, a sidebar, or a hero image area. Frame provides several templates to choose from when creating a new page, depending on your theme.

pagination

Pagination is the system that splits long lists of posts across multiple pages, typically showing a set number of posts per page. You'll see pagination links like "Next Page" or numbered page links at the bottom of archive or blog listing pages.

parent theme

A parent theme is the base theme that a child theme inherits from. The parent theme provides all the core styles and functionality, while the child theme adds or overrides specific elements. If you're not working with a developer, you won't typically need to think about parent themes.

patterns

Patterns are pre-designed layouts made from blocks that you can insert into a page or post as a starting point. For example, a pattern might be a two-column section with an image and text, or a call-to-action banner. Once inserted, patterns are fully editable — you customize the content to suit your needs. Frame includes patterns designed to help you build ministry-focused pages quickly.

permalink

A permalink is the permanent, shareable URL for a specific page or post on your site — for example, www.mychurch.org/about. Permalinks are designed to remain stable over time, so that links shared in bulletins, emails, or social media continue to work. Frame generates permalinks automatically from the page or post title.

permissions

Permissions determine what actions a user is allowed to perform on your site. They are controlled through roles — each role comes with a predefined set of permissions. See also: role.

plugin

A plugin is a piece of software that adds features or functionality to your WordPress site. Frame comes with a carefully selected set of plugins already included — things like event management, form builders, and caching tools — all vetted for security and performance. Learn more about our supported plugins.

post

A post is a piece of content that is time-stamped and appears in your site's feed in reverse chronological order (newest first). Posts are great for news, announcements, sermon notes, or any content that's tied to a specific date. Unlike pages, posts can be organized with categories and tags. (Posts are sometimes confused with pages, so we wrote a guide to explain the differences!)

post editor

The post editor is the editing interface for creating and updating posts. In Frame, this is the block editor — the same interface used for pages. It includes the content area, a top toolbar, and a settings sidebar on the right where you can configure categories, tags, featured image, and post status.

post format

A post format is a theme-specific designation that tells WordPress how to display a post — for example, as a standard post, a quote, a video, or a gallery. Post formats are optional and depend on whether your theme supports them.

post settings

The post settings panel is the sidebar on the right side of the post editor. It contains options like publish date, visibility, categories, tags, featured image, and author. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the editor to toggle this panel open or closed.

post slug

The post slug is the URL-friendly portion of a post's address, automatically created from the post title. For example, a post titled "Youth Camp Recap 2024" would get the slug youth-camp-recap-2024. Slugs can be edited in the post settings. Keeping them short and descriptive helps with readability and SEO.

post status

The post status indicates where a post is in its lifecycle. The main statuses are: Published (live and visible to all visitors), Draft (saved but not yet published), Scheduled (set to publish at a future date and time), and Private (visible only to logged-in administrators).

post type

A post type defines the kind of content something is. WordPress includes built-in post types like Posts, Pages, and Attachments. Frame themes may also include custom post types like Events or Sermons. Each post type has its own section in the dashboard.

Q

query block

The Query block (also called a post feed, post loop or query loop) allows you to display a list of posts dynamically based on filters you define — such as a specific category, tag, or post type. It's the block behind most "latest posts" or "recent news" layouts on Frame sites.

R

relative path

A relative path is a file location described in relation to the current location, rather than from the root of the server. This is a technical concept you'll rarely encounter during normal site management, but may come up in developer discussions.

responsive design

Responsive design means your site automatically adjusts its layout to look great on any screen size — whether a visitor is on a desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone. All Frame themes are built with responsive design in mind, so your site will be readable and usable across devices without any extra work from you.

revision

Every time you save a post or page, WordPress stores a revision — a historical snapshot of the content. Revisions let you compare past versions side by side and restore a previous version if needed. You can access revisions from the post or page settings sidebar under "Revisions."

role

A role defines what a user can and cannot do on your site. Common roles include Site Admin (the highest Frame role), Editor (manage all content), Author (publish own posts), Contributor (write posts, but not publish), and Subscriber (read-only access). Assigning the right role to each team member helps keep your site organized and secure.

RSS

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a format that allows people to subscribe to your site's content using a news reader. When you publish new posts, subscribers receive the updates automatically. WordPress generates an RSS feed for your site automatically. RSS is also used by podcast apps and some church management tools to pull content from your site.

S

scheduled post

A scheduled post is a post that has been written and set to publish automatically at a specific future date and time. This is useful for planning ahead — you can write a series of announcements in one sitting and schedule them to go out throughout the week.

screen options

Screen options is a collapsible panel at the top right of most dashboard screens that lets you show or hide certain columns or fields. For example, on the Posts list screen, you could use screen options to show or hide the "Author" or "Comments" columns.

SEO

SEO (short for "search engine optimization") is the process of improving your site to help it rank higher in the results of search engines like Google and Bing. Good SEO involves using clear headings, descriptive page titles, relevant content, and well-written excerpts. Frame includes SEO tools to help you optimize each page and post. Learn the basics of SEO for your site.

settings

The Settings section of your dashboard contains configuration options for your site — including your site title, tagline, date format, reading preferences, discussion settings, and permalink structure. Most settings only need to be configured once during initial setup.

settings sidebar

The settings sidebar is the panel on the right side of the editor. When a block is selected, it shows options specific to that block. When no block is selected, it shows document-level settings like post status, visibility, categories, and featured image. You can toggle it open or closed with the gear icon in the top-right corner of the editor.

sidebar

A sidebar is a vertical column displayed alongside the main content area on certain page layouts. It typically contains widgets like a search bar, recent posts, or event listings. Not all Frame themes or page templates include a sidebar.

site

In the context of Frame, a site refers to your complete web presence — your domain, your pages, your posts, and all the settings and content that make up your digital home. Each church or school on Frame has its own individual site.

site editor

The site editor is an advanced editing environment that allows you to directly edit your site's templates, template parts (like the header and footer), and global styles — all using blocks. It gives you a full visual editing experience for your entire site, beyond just individual pages and posts.

slug

A slug is the URL-friendly version of a title — short, lowercase, and using hyphens instead of spaces. For example, the slug for "Contact Our Team" would be contact-our-team. Slugs are used for pages, posts, categories, and tags. Keeping them concise helps with readability and SEO.

spam

In the context of your Frame site, spam most commonly refers to unwanted or automated comments submitted to your blog posts. WordPress includes built-in tools to moderate comments, and Frame sites can use spam-filtering plugins to reduce the noise. Spam comments are held in a separate queue for your review before they'd ever appear on your site.

SSL

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that encrypts the connection between your site and its visitors. When a site has SSL enabled, its URL begins with https:// and displays a padlock icon in the browser. SSL helps protect your visitors' privacy and is now standard for all reputable websites.

sticky post

A sticky post is a post that has been "pinned" to remain at the top of your blog or post feed, even as newer posts are published. Use sticky posts for important announcements or featured content you want visitors to see first.

T

tag

A tag is a keyword used to describe the specific topics covered in a post. Tags are more granular than categories — for example, a post in the "Sermons" category might be tagged with topics like "hope," "community," or "Matthew 5." Tags help visitors explore related content across your site.

tagline

Your site's tagline is a short phrase that describes your church, school, or ministry — often displayed near your site's title. Think of it as your site's motto: something that communicates your community's heart at a glance. You can set or update your tagline in Settings > General in the dashboard.

taxonomy

A taxonomy is the classification system used to organize your content. WordPress includes two built-in taxonomies — categories and tags — and some custom post types add their own. Taxonomies make it easier for visitors to browse related content on your site.

template

A template controls the layout and structure of a page or post — which elements appear, where they appear, and how the content is displayed. Selecting a different template for a page changes its overall look and feel. Frame provides several templates per theme, such as full-width, with sidebar, or with hero image.

template editing mode

Template editing mode is a view within the editor that lets you directly edit the template being used by the current post or page. It's a scaled-down version of the full Site Editor, focused specifically on the template structure.

term

In WordPress, a term is an individual item within a taxonomy. For example, "Announcements" is a term within the category taxonomy, and "hope" is a term within the tag taxonomy. Terms help classify content and make it searchable.

theme

Your theme controls the visual design of your entire site — colors, fonts, layouts, and overall appearance. Changing your theme transforms how your site looks without affecting your content. Frame offers a curated set of themes designed specifically for Adventist churches, schools, and ministries.

toolbar (admin bar)

The toolbar is the dark bar displayed at the very top of your screen when you are logged in. It provides quick access to common dashboard functions like adding new content, viewing or editing the current page, and accessing your profile. Visitors who are not logged in will not see it.

toolbar (in the block editor)

Within the block editor, the block toolbar is the set of controls that appears directly above a selected block. It provides quick formatting options specific to that block type — for example, bold, italic, and alignment options for a paragraph block, or crop and resize options for an image block.

trash

When you delete a post, page, or other item in WordPress, it goes to the trash — similar to the recycle bin on your computer. Items in the trash are not visible on your site and can be restored within 30 days. After 30 days, WordPress automatically permanently deletes them.

U

updates

Updates refer to new versions of WordPress core, themes, or plugins that contain improvements, bug fixes, or security patches. Keeping your site up to date is important for security and performance.

URL

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the full web address used to reach a specific page or resource — for example, https://www.mychurch.org/contact. Every page, post, image, and file on your site has its own URL. Also sometimes called a web address or address.

user

A user is anyone with a login account on your Frame site. Each user is assigned a role that determines what they can see and do. You can manage users from the dashboard under Users > All Users.

V

visual editor

The visual editor refers to the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editing experience — where your content looks similar to the final published result as you're working on it. In Frame, the block editor functions as the visual editor. You can toggle to a code editor view for specific blocks if needed, but most editing is done visually.

W

widget

A widget is a self-contained component that can be added to sidebars, footers, or other designated areas on your site. Common widgets include a search bar, recent posts, social media links, or an event list. In modern block-based themes, many traditional widgets have been replaced by equivalent blocks.

WordPress

Frame is built on WordPress, one of the most widely used content management systems in the world. Frame is an intentionally curated and customized version of WordPress, built to support churches, schools, and ministries across North America. Most WordPress documentation and terminology applies to Frame, though some features are adjusted or restricted to keep the platform simple, secure, and ministry-focused.

X

XML

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a format used to store and transfer structured data. In WordPress, XML is used for the import/export system and for RSS feeds. You'll most commonly encounter XML when exporting your site's content or importing content from another platform.