Journal · Glossary
Every tech term, explained.
The languages, frameworks, databases, clouds and protocols behind modern apps and websites, grouped by where they belong in a product. Every entry starts in plain English, then covers how it works, the differences from its neighbours, pros and cons, when to pick it and roughly what it costs.
400 terms · 22 areas · 71 side-by-side comparisons · prices checked September 2026
Where things belong
A product is built in layers, from the language it is written in to the screen people touch and the servers behind it. Pick a layer, open an area, and every term in it is one click away.
01
Written in
The languages everything else is built with.
02
On the screen
What people see, tap and read, on the web, on phones and on desktops.
- FrontendEverything that runs in the browser: the screens people see, click and type into.26 terms · 5 comparisons
- Rendering and architectureWhen and where a page gets built, and the overall shape of an app.16 terms · 3 comparisons
- Mobile appsWays to build for Android and iPhone, native or cross-platform, and how apps reach the stores.34 terms · 5 comparisons
- Desktop appsApps for Windows, macOS and Linux, and what it takes to ship them.12 terms · 2 comparisons
- Media and documentsVideo, audio, graphics, PDFs and the formats written content lives in.14 terms · 3 comparisons
- Building blocks and outside APIsReady-made pieces you plug in: editors, charts, diagrams and data from other services.14 terms · 2 comparisons
- Maps and locationMaps, addresses, delivery zones and finding where a device is.9 terms · 1 comparison
03
On the wire
How requests and pages travel between machines, and how that traffic stays private.
04
Behind the screen
The server side: logic, sign-in, safety, money, messages and AI.
- Backend and APIsThe server side: business logic, APIs and the ways apps talk to each other.26 terms · 5 comparisons
- Auth and identitySigning people in, and deciding what each one is allowed to do.17 terms · 3 comparisons
- SecurityKeeping data safe and attackers out, and the people who test for weak spots.20 terms · 3 comparisons
- PaymentsTaking money online: gateways, UPI, cards, subscriptions and the fees in between.13 terms · 1 comparison
- Email and notificationsReaching people: email, push notifications, SMS, WhatsApp and chat alerts.15 terms · 2 comparisons
- AI and LLMsLanguage models, embeddings, agents and the plumbing around them.22 terms · 4 comparisons
05
Where data lives
Databases, and the ready-made backends built around them.
06
Where it runs
Hosting, and the workflow that gets code there safely.
- Hosting and cloudWhere code runs once it leaves your laptop, and what that costs.26 terms · 5 comparisons
- Dev workflow and DevOpsHow code is written, stored, reviewed, packaged and shipped.21 terms · 4 comparisons
- Testing and qualityProving it works before users find out that it doesn't.10 terms · 3 comparisons
07
Getting found
Measuring visitors and showing up in search and AI answers.
Side by side
The differences people ask about
Each one is a table of the questions that usually decide the choice, followed by a short guide on when to pick which.
- SQLite vs PostgreSQLDatabases and storage
- SQL vs NoSQL: PostgreSQL vs MongoDB vs FirestoreDatabases and storage
- Supabase vs FirebaseBackend platforms
- Vercel vs Netlify vs Cloudflare PagesHosting and cloud
- Serverless vs VPS vs shared hostingHosting and cloud
- Native vs Flutter vs React Native vs Capacitor vs PWAMobile apps
- Flutter vs React NativeMobile apps
- React vs Vue vs Angular vs SvelteFrontend
- CSR vs SSR vs SSG vs ISRRendering and architecture
- REST vs GraphQL vs tRPC vs gRPCBackend and APIs
- Electron vs TauriDesktop apps
- Razorpay vs Stripe vs PayPal vs CashfreePayments
- Sessions vs JWTAuth and identity
- OpenAI vs Gemini vs Claude vs OpenRouterAI and LLMs
How to read an entry
- A plain-English line first, so anyone can follow
- Then the technical picture: how it works and what it is used for
- Pros and cons, and when to pick it or skip it
- Roughly what it costs, with a link to the vendor's own pricing page
- Related terms, including ones in other areas
Prices are approximate list prices in each vendor's own currency, checked September 2026. Taxes such as GST or VAT are usually extra.
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