Development glossary

This software-development glossary defines, in a single sentence, the key terms you will come across in our courses: full-stack, REST API, .NET, Git, CI/CD… Each definition stands on its own. Not sure where to start? See our guide: Which development course should you choose?

Full-stack

A full-stack developer works on both the front-end (interface) and the back-end (server, data) of an application.

Front-end

The front-end is the part of an application that runs in the browser and that users interact with directly (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, frameworks like Vue.js).

Back-end

The back-end is the server side of an application: business logic, data access and APIs, invisible to the user.

REST API

A REST API is a standard way for applications to exchange data over HTTP using resources and verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).

.NET

.NET is Microsoft’s development platform for building web, desktop and cloud applications, mainly in C#.

ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core is the modern, cross-platform .NET framework for building web applications and APIs.

C#

C# is Microsoft’s main object-oriented programming language, used across the .NET platform.

Vue.js

Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework for building reactive, component-based user interfaces.

Entity Framework Core (EF Core)

EF Core is the .NET ORM that lets developers work with a database using C# objects instead of writing raw SQL.

ORM

An ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) maps database tables to objects in code, so developers manipulate data without hand-writing every query.

LINQ

LINQ (Language Integrated Query) is a C# syntax for querying collections and data sources in a readable, type-safe way.

CQRS

CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation) separates the operations that change data (commands) from those that read it (queries).

DTO

A DTO (Data Transfer Object) is a simple object used to carry data between layers or across an API, without business logic.

Git

Git is a distributed version-control system that tracks changes to source code and enables collaboration.

Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps is Microsoft’s suite for planning, source control, build and release pipelines, and testing.

Pull request

A pull request proposes merging one branch into another and is the point where code is reviewed before integration.

Docker

Docker packages an application and its dependencies into a container that runs the same way on any environment.

Container

A container is a lightweight, isolated unit that bundles an application with everything it needs to run, sharing the host’s operating system.

CI/CD

CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery) automates building, testing and releasing code so changes ship quickly and reliably.

JWT

A JWT (JSON Web Token) is a signed token that securely carries a user’s identity and claims between client and server.

Unit test

A unit test automatically checks that a small piece of code behaves as expected, catching regressions early.

Database migration

A migration is a versioned change to a database schema, applied in a controlled, repeatable way as the application evolves.

SQL

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard language for querying and manipulating relational databases.