Glossary of Terms

Word	Definition
Access rights	Describes the level of permission a given user has. Rights are frequently divided between upload, download, email, and editing of metadata.
Admin	In WebDAM, this is the "owner" of the account. The admin has access to everything in the account. Access that is unique to the admin include the ability to manage the metadata schema, create/remove users and groups, and modify permissions.
Advanced search	Searching across the database using special filters or various operators such as "and", "not", "or".
Album	In WebDAM, this term is interchangeable with folder. Every asset should belong to an album or folder.
API (Application Programming Interface)	Source code that facilitates communication between different software or applications. Common uses include retrieving information from a database to be populated in a different format.
Asset	A digital file.
Asset Creator	The person who originally created the file. This is a type of metadata commonly added by software applications.
Asset Owner	In WebDAM, this is the user who uploaded the asset into the platform.
Audience Scope	Describes who has accessibility or visibility.
Batch Import	Uploading multiple assets at once often through FTP or drag and drop.
Batch Sharing	Sharing multiple assets at once, a function of the lightbox.
Best Practices	Guidelines set for your general users and contributing users. These guidelines may be as broad as when assets should be added to the DAM or as specific as instructing on which metadata must be added to assets.
Brand Template	Programmatic instructions for how your WebDAM will look. Includes HTML template and CSS files.
Browsability	This term is used to describe the ease at which assets are located in a given folder structure.
Browse	Describes navigation through folders containing assets.
Cloud	This term is interchangeable with the Internet. If something is "in the cloud" then it can be accessed anywhere Internet is available.
Cloud Computing	This term describes applications, platforms, and services that you use on the Internet.
Cloudware	Web-based software.
Collaboration	Multiple users sharing a workspace within the lightbox.
Content Management System (CMS)	A system that is used for maintaining content on a website. Includes the ability to collaborate with multiple users in the management of website content.
Contributor	In WebDAM, this is a user that has one a more of the following permission levels: upload assets/folders, move assets/folders, delete assets/folders, and/or edit metadata.
Controlled vocabulary	A predefined list of terms often used as keywords. Increases consistency and searchability.
Customer Success Manager	WebDAM product expert available to the admin of WebDAM accounts. A resource for consulting on workflows, metadata strategy, and tips on user adoption.
DAM (Digital Asset Management)	Describes the overall management of all files in digital format. Includes inception of the asset, organization, and distribution.
Data Migration	Moving metadata from one system to another system and mapping it to the correct assets.
Database	A collection of information in one location.
Date Captured	Photo specific, the date a photo is taken.
Date Uploaded	The date an asset/file is uploaded into WebDAM.
Descriptive metadata	Information which tells the viewer what or who is in the image, and where and when the image was taken. These include captions, headlines, titles, keywords, location, date created and more.
Digital Asset	A file that is digital.
Downtime	Time used to describe when a system is inaccessible.
E-Commerce	A method through which money is exchanged for a product such as an electronic shopping cart.
Embedded Metadata	Data that is written onto a given asset/file. This type of metadata stays with the file.
End-User	Term used to describe the people who will ultimately download and use your assets.
Event Date	Used to describe the date an event occurred, or in marketing a date for which assets will be used. For instance, the conference date that a given logo is to be used for is an event date.
EXIF Data	Exchangeable Image File Format, metadata that is added to an image by the camera such as date and time.
Faceted Lists	A type of controlled vocabulary with facets used for segmentation. For instance, if you search for "car," a faceted list may allow for segmentation by "color."
Flat List	List of terms that do not relate to one another. Most basic type of controlled vocabulary.
Folder	A container for digital assets.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)	A tool used to transfer files over the internet. Common software used to facilitate this include Fetch, Filezilla, SmartFTP, and Cyber Duck.
Hierarchical List	A type of controlled vocabulary. Items are grouped into parent groups.
Interoperability	Describes the level at which different systems can interpret the same digital assets or information.
IPTC	International Press Telecommunications Council, this is informational metadata, data added to describe a variety of items such as subject matter or product details.
JavaScript protection	A tool that helps prevent users from saving a digital asset without downloading through proper channels.
Keywords	A type of metadata, in WebDAM keywords are also clickable links that will automatically bring back all assets with the same keyword as search results.
Lightbox	A temporary grouping of assets, used frequently for collaboration of distributing assets in batch.
Low Resolution	A lower quality file, typically used for viewing on monitors, email sharing and web development (never for high production printing). Low resolution files often print with noticeable pixelation. A common low resolution size is 72 DPI.
Metadata	Data about data. It provides information about a certain item's content.
Metadata Schemas	Term used to describe the type of data your files contain.
Onboarding	The process of configuring preferences and beginning use of a new platform. Often included migration of assets from one system to another.
Permissions	Describes the level of accessibility. Frequent permission levels include admin, contributor, user, and guest.
SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)	Software hosted on the Web.
Self-Fulfillment	A concept central to cloud-based DAMs. Describes the ability of users to find and download assets on their own.
Slideshow	An on-screen viewing of assets that automatically rotate at specific time intervals.
Tagging	Adding keywords or other metadata to assets that will aid in later retrieval or organization of assets.
Use case	Describes a particular purpose for which an asset may be used. This information is helpful when outlining a metadata strategy.
User	In WebDAM, this term describes the end consumer, the person who accesses the database through the gallery.
Versioning	In relation to digital assets, this term describes having multiple renditions of the same asset accessed in the same area.
Virtual Library	Storage of digital files in an organized system built for retrieval.
Watermark	An imprint on a digital asset, used as added protection for material that is copywrited.

Learn

Glossary of Terms

DAM-it! – Blog