Appendix A – Vibe Coding Handbook Glossary

A

• Alert: Popup window that shows a message to the user (the one where you have to click “OK”)
• API (Application Programming Interface): The digital waiter that carries orders between your app and external services (weather, maps, payments)
• App native: An application developed specifically for an operating system (iOS or Android) using the platform’s native languages
• Array: An ordered list of elements, like a filing cabinet with drawers numbered from 0 onwards
• Artifact: A file or result generated by a development process or AI (documents, code, images)
• Async/Await: A way to make your code do multiple things at once, like updating multiple apps on your phone simultaneously

B

• Backend: The app’s “kitchen” where things happen that the user doesn’t see (database, calculations, secret logic)
• Base64: A way to transform images into long text strings, so you can save them as if they were words
• Boolean: Data type that can only be true or false, like an on/off switch
• Breakpoint: A stop point in code where the debugger pauses execution to let you inspect what’s happening
• Browser: The program you use to surf the internet (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) that transforms code into websites
• Build: Preparing and packaging code to put it online, like packing your suitcase before a trip

C

• Cache: Temporary memory that speeds up the site by remembering things already loaded
• Callback: Function that gets called when another finishes (old style, now Promises are preferred)
• Canvas: A virtual area where you can draw or display AI-generated graphic elements
• CDN (Content Delivery Network): Copies of your site scattered around the world to load it faster everywhere
• CI/CD: Continuous Integration/Deployment – the robot that automatically publishes your site when you save changes
• Clickjacking: Bad guys’ trick to make you click on hidden things
• Cloud: Servers and services on the internet instead of on your computer (like having your fridge in a shared warehouse)
• Coding assistant: An AI that helps you write code by translating your ideas into programming language
• Commit: A “save” in Git’s diary with a description of the changes made
• Component: Reusable piece of interface (like a LEGO brick for interfaces)
• Console: The window in the browser where you see messages, errors and can test JavaScript code
• Const/Let/Var: The three ways to declare variables (const = immutable, let = mutable, var = old style)
• Context awareness: The AI’s ability to remember what you’re talking about during the conversation
• CORS: The browser’s bouncer that decides who can call your APIs from other domains
• CRUD: Create, Read, Update, Delete – the 4 basic operations you do with data
• CSS: The language that defines how your site looks (colors, sizes, positions)
• Cursor: Code editor with integrated AI to help you while programming

D

• Database: Where your app’s permanent memory lives, like Excel on steroids
• Debug/Debugging: The art of finding and solving errors in code, like a digital detective
• Debounce: Technique to not stress APIs by waiting for the user to finish typing before making requests
• Deploy: Putting your app online (from your home to the entire world)
• Destructuring: Extracting only the pieces you need from objects or arrays, like picking only the cherries from fruit salad
• DNS: The internet’s phone book that translates domains (yoursite.com) into numeric server addresses
• DOM (Document Object Model): How the browser organizes and represents HTML elements in a tree structure
• Domain: The easy-to-remember address of your site (like marios-pizza.com)
• DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself): The principle of not rewriting the same code a thousand times

E

• Element: A single HTML component (div, button, p, h1, etc.)
• .env: The secret file where you put passwords and API keys (never share it!)
• Error handling: Managing errors gracefully instead of crashing everything (the trapeze artist’s safety net)
• Event listener: Code that “listens” and reacts when the user does something (click, typing, scroll)
• Events: User actions that trigger reactions in code (click, keyboard, mouse movement)

F

• Feature creep: When you keep adding features until the app becomes an unmanageable monster
• Fetch: The JavaScript command to retrieve data from the internet or call APIs
• Firebase: Google service for real-time database, authentication and hosting
• Framework: Pre-assembled construction kits to develop faster (like IKEA furniture for code)
• Frontend: The “restaurant dining room”, what the user sees and touches (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• Functions: Reusable code recipes that you can call when needed

G

• GET/POST/PUT/DELETE: HTTP verbs – like ordering (GET), creating (POST), modifying (PUT) or deleting (DELETE) from the digital waiter
• Git: The version control system that tracks every code change
• GitHub: The online vault where you store Git code and collaborate with others
• .gitignore: File that tells Git which files to ignore (like passwords and temporary files)

H

• Headers: HTTP request “headers”, like a digital business card
• Hosting: The “parking lot” where your site lives on the internet
• HTML: The language that defines your site’s structure (titles, paragraphs, buttons)
• HTTP status codes: Numbers that indicate how a request went (200=OK, 404=not found, 500=server error)
• HTTPS: The secure, encrypted version of your site (the one with the green lock 🔒)

I

• If/Else: The fork in code that decides which path to take based on a condition
• Import/Export: Sharing code between different files, like lending recipes between cooks
• IndexedDB: Browser database for saving large amounts of data (even images!)
• Inline: Code written directly in the HTML file instead of separate files

J

• JavaScript: The programming language that makes web pages interactive
• JSON: JavaScript Object Notation – the universal format for exchanging data, like the PDF of data

K

• KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid): The principle of keeping things simple instead of unnecessarily complicating
• Kotlin: Programming language for Android apps

L

• LLM (Large Language Model): The AI brains that understand and generate text (like ChatGPT or Claude)
• Library: A collection of ready-to-use functions you can add to your project
• LM Studio: Software to run AI models on your computer
• localStorage: The browser’s drawer where you save small data that remains even after closing the page
• Localhost: Your computer pretending to be a website, visible only to you
• Log: The register where messages and errors are written to understand what’s happening in the code
• Loop: Cycles that repeat actions, like a washing machine always running the same program

M

• Manifest.json: Your PWA’s business card with name, colors and icons
• Method: A function that belongs to an object (like array.push() or string.toUpperCase())
• MIME type: The file type that tells the browser how to interpret it (image, text, video)
• Mockup: A visual model of how the site will look, without real functionality
• MVP (Minimum Viable Product): The simplest version that works, without frills

N

• Netlify: Super easy service to put static sites online for free
• Node.js: JavaScript running outside the browser, on the server (like giving JS superpowers)
• NoSQL: Flexible databases that save data as documents instead of rigid tables
• npm (Node Package Manager): The JavaScript library supermarket where you find ready-made code

O

• Objects: Organized containers of related data, like a phone contact card
• Ollama: Software to run AI models locally on your computer
• Open source: Software whose code is public and modifiable by anyone
• Optional chaining (?.): Operator that prevents errors when accessing properties that might not exist
• Overengineering: Overcomplicating something simple (using a bazooka to crack a nut)

P

• Parameters: The ingredients you pass to a function to make it work
• parseInt/parseFloat: Convert text to whole or decimal numbers (“42” becomes 42)
• Path: The path of a file or folder in the computer (like a home address)
• Pattern: Recurring, tested solutions to common development problems
• Pixel: A colored dot on the screen – the more there are, the more detailed the image
• Plugin: Add-ons that expand program or editor functionality
• Promises: JavaScript promises that notify you when an asynchronous operation is completed
• Prompt: The question or instruction you give to AI to get a response
• Property: A field of an object (like ‘name’ in user.name)
• PWA (Progressive Web App): Website that behaves like an installable app on your phone

Q

• Query: Question you ask the database to retrieve specific data

R

• React: Very popular JavaScript framework for building user interfaces
• React Native: Framework for writing mobile apps with JavaScript instead of native languages
• Refactoring: Rewriting code to make it cleaner without changing what it does (like tidying up the room)
• ReferenceError: Error when you use a variable that doesn’t exist
• Repository: The Git folder containing the entire project and its change history
• Responsive: Design that automatically adapts to screens of different sizes
• REST: Standard for organizing APIs in a logical and predictable way
• Return: The value a function returns after finishing its work

S

• Scope: Who can see what in code, like private rooms in a condo
• Script: JavaScript code that adds interactivity to pages
• Server: The always-on computer that shows your site to visitors
• Service Worker: The PWA’s butler that manages cache and offline operation
• SQL: Language for querying relational databases (ordered tables)
• SQLite: Lightweight database that lives in a single file
• Spread operator (…): Operator that “spreads” arrays or objects, like opening a fan
• SSL: The certificate that makes connections secure (what puts the S in HTTPS)
• Stack trace: The map showing the path of an error in code
• String: Data type for text, always in quotes (“hello” or ‘hello’)
• Swift: Programming language for iOS apps (iPhone/iPad)
• SyntaxError: Typo error in code (like writing “functio” instead of “function”)

T

• Tech debt: The “debt” you accumulate when you overcomplicate code and slow down future development
• Template: Ready-made model to start from when creating pages or projects
• Ternary operator (?:): Compact if/else in one line (condition ? ifTrue : ifFalse)
• Thread: A conversation with AI (when it gets too long, better to open a new one)
• Token: The “words” that AI counts (and that you often pay for in APIs)
• Try/Catch: The safety net that catches errors before they crash everything
• TypeError: Error when you use a value the wrong way (like trying to cut with a spoon)

U

• UI (User Interface): The graphical appearance the user interacts with
• Undefined: Value of a variable not yet defined (JavaScript’s ghost)
• UX (User Experience): The overall user experience in using your product

V

• Vanilla: Using a pure language without external frameworks or libraries (“plain” JavaScript)
• Variables: Labeled boxes where you put information in code
• Environment variables: Secret drawers in the .env file where you put passwords and API keys
• Vercel: Hosting service similar to Netlify, great for modern projects
• VPS (Virtual Private Server): A virtual computer all yours in the cloud
• VS Code: Visual Studio Code, super popular and free code editor
• Vue: JavaScript framework for building interfaces, alternative to React

Y

• YAGNI (You Ain’t Gonna Need It): Principle that says not to implement things “for when they’ll be needed”

Symbols

• ++ / —: Operators that add or subtract 1 (counter++ or counter–)
• === / !==: Strict comparison that also checks type (“5” !== 5 is true)
• == / !=: Normal comparison more permissive (“5” == 5 is true)
• >= / <=: Greater/less than or equal to
• &&: Logical AND – all conditions must be true
• ||: Logical OR – at least one condition must be true
• !: Logical NOT – inverts true/false (!true = false)
• %: Modulo – the remainder of division (10 % 3 = 1)
• =>: Arrow function – compact way to write functions
• ${}: Template literal to insert variables in text: Hello ${name}