webCOMAND Glossary

The following terms are used in webCOMAND and its documentation.

Attribute - Objects that refer back to a given object. In other words, if a Book object references an Author object, then the Book object is considered an attribute of the Author object. Conversely, if an Author references a Book, then the Author is considered an attribute of the Book. For more information, see cQL Attributes and cObject::get_attributes().

Back Link Field - A field that is automatically populated with a list of source objects that link to this object through a Link Field. The values must be updated by changing the value of the source objects that contains the link. For more information, see Field Relationships.

cCell - A spreadsheet formula language that combines common spreadsheet syntax (LibreOffice Calc, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets) with cScript for database-enabled spreadsheets. For more information, see cCell.

cJSON - A plain text file format used to serialize COMAND repository objects in JSON. cJSON is identical to standard JSON, except JavaScript comments are allowed and ignored, just like JavaScript source code. The data structures in cJSON follow a specific format. For more information, see cJSON.

CMS - See Content Management System.

Content Management System - Software that simplifies the creation, management, and publishing of digital content, particularly on websites. It allows users, even those without coding skills, to create, edit, and manage website content using a user-friendly interface.

Content Type - Defines the structure and properties of a specific type of content, such as a blog post, a product page, or a media item. It essentially outlines the fields that are required for that content type, acting as a blueprint for creating multiple instances of that content.

cPath - Used to traverse and identify content in Bases, similar to a file system path for folders and files, and XPath for the XML DOM. However, cPath has query and filter options not available with file paths, which are easier to learn than similar options in XPath. For more information, see cPath.

cQL - Used to query a COMAND repository or collection and return a set of results. cQL can also update and delete objects, manage content types and grant authorizations. For more information, see cQL.

cQuery - Combines cPath and cQL into one query where cQL clauses are contained in curly brackets. For more information, see cQuery.

cScript - The COMAND script language, most commonly used to define procedures started by scheduled events, repository content updates and actions performed in the webCOMAND UI. For more information, see cScript.

cTemplate - The COMAND template language used to produce web pages and related files. It is functionally similar to cScript, except that it is written inline with plain text and markup, such as HTML. For more information, see cTemplate.

Data Field - A field that holds a single named value, such as a number, date and/or time, true/false state, color, file or image. For more information, see Date Fields.

Decoupled CMS - A content management system that separates the back-end from the front-end presentation layer, enabling independent development and delivery of content. This means the content creation and storage (back-end) and the website's design and presentation (front-end) are distinct, allowing for more flexibility and customization in how content is displayed.

Embed - Short-hand for "embedded object", which refers to an object within a greater-object.

Embed Field - Refers to a field that forms a relationship from one object to one or more embeds. For more information, see Field Relationships.

Embedded Object - Refers to an object within a greater-object.

Field - A named container within an object that holds data or a reference to one or more objects. Fields define the type of content that can be stored within a content type, such as text, images, dates, or other structured data. Fields are building blocks to structure and organize content within a CMS, allowing users to input, manage, and display information in a consistent and organized manner.

Greater-Object - Refers to a group of related objects including the top-most object of a hierarchy of embedded objects and all of its embedded objects recursively. This is an important concept in webCOMAND because many features and functions operate on a greater-object as a single unit. For example, if you delete a top-level object, it will delete the top-level object and all of its children recursively. As another example, the Last Modified Timestamp for an object refers to when the greater-object was last modified. This Last Modified Timestamp refers to a specific object within the greater-object.

Headless CMS - A content management system (CMS) that separates the content repository (back-end) from the presentation layer (front-end). This means the content is managed and stored independently of how it's displayed, allowing it to be delivered to any device or channel through an API. webCOMAND can be used as a Headless CMS.

Immediate-Object - Refers to a specific object, which may be part of a greater-object. In contrast, when just referring to an "object", it is not clear if you are referring to the greater-object, top-level-object, or a specific embedded object.

JSON - JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), is a lightweight, text-based format for storing and exchanging data. It's human-readable and easily parsed by machines, making it popular for transmitting data between a server and a web application, especially in web development.

Layout Field - A field that determines how other fields within a content type will be organized in Form View. For more information, see Layout Field Types.

Link Field - A field that refers to one or more objects, forming a named relationship. Sometimes this is more formally called a "forward reference field". For more information see Field Relationships.

Object - An individual piece of content defined by a content type. In other words, content that is made up of fields stored and managed within the webCOMAND database. It could be a blog post, product, or any other type of digital content. Objects are organized and managed through collections or databases, enabling users to create, edit, and publish content efficiently.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - A cloud computing model that provides a complete, on-demand platform for developing, running, and managing applications. It offers developers a pre-built environment with tools, infrastructure, and middleware without the need to manage the underlying hardware or software. Essentially, PaaS allows developers to focus on coding and application logic while the cloud provider handles the infrastructure and maintenance. webCOMAND is a PaaS.

Relationship Field - A field that refers to one or more objects, forming a named association. More specific types of relationship fields include Link Field, Back Link Field. For more information see Field Relationships.

Software as a Service (SaaS) - A cloud-based software delivery model where a provider hosts applications and makes them available to end users over the internet. Users access these applications through a web browser or application, often on a subscription basis, without needing to install or manage the software on their own devices. webCOMAND is provided as SaaS.

Top-Level-Object - The object at the top of a hierarchy of embedded objects.

Traditional CMS - A traditional Content Management System is a platform that combines both the back-end (content storage and management) and the front-end (presentation layer) into a single, unified system. This means content creation, storage, and display are all handled within the same environment, often referred to as a "monolithic" architecture. Examples of traditional CMS include WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. webCOMAND can function as a traditional CMS, decoupled CMS or headless CMS.

UUID - A Universally Unique Identifier is a 128-bit value used to uniquely identify information in computer systems. It's typically displayed as a 36-character string. UUIDs are designed to be highly likely to be unique across different systems and applications, making them useful for a variety of purposes. For more information, see the UUID PHP class and UUID() cQL function.

WCMS - A Web Content Management System, or Web CMS.

Web CMS - A software application that allows users to create, manage, and edit content on a website without needing to write code. It essentially provides a user-friendly interface for building and maintaining web pages. webCOMAND is a Web CMS.