Websites 
Codes and Conventions
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
As with all media products it is important to identify 
two key elements when looking at any website: 
- The purpose of the product 
- The target audience
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
As with all media products it is important to identify 
two key elements when looking at any website: 
- The purpose of the product 
- The target audience 
Consider the purpose and target audience for 
the following websites:
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
As with all media products it is important to identify 
two key elements when looking at any website: 
- The purpose of the product 
- The target audience 
Consider the purpose and target audience for 
the following websites:
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
As with all media products it is important to identify 
two key elements when looking at any website: 
- The purpose of the product 
- The target audience 
Consider the purpose and target audience for 
the following websites:
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
As with all media products it is important to identify 
two key elements when looking at any website: 
- The purpose of the product 
- The target audience 
Consider the purpose and target audience for 
the following websites:
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
As with all media products it is important to identify 
two key elements when looking at any website: 
- The purpose of the product 
- The target audience 
Consider the purpose and target audience for 
the following websites:
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
In order to analyse the effectiveness of a website, it is important 
to deconstruct the website and identify how it conforms to the 
codes and conventions that we expect.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
In order to analyse the effectiveness of a website, it is important 
to deconstruct the website and identify how it conforms to the 
codes and conventions that we expect. 
Not all websites will feature all of the codes and conventions 
listed here, and in some circumstances their omission may be 
as noteworthy as their inclusion.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
In order to analyse the effectiveness of a website, it is important 
to deconstruct the website and identify how it conforms to the 
codes and conventions that we expect. 
Not all websites will feature all of the codes and conventions 
listed here, and in some circumstances their omission may be 
as noteworthy as their inclusion. 
It is not enough to simply identify the inclusion of the 
following codes and conventions. They must also be analysed 
in order to identify how they contribute to the effect of the 
website as a whole.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
URL - uniform resource locator 
The URL, also known as the ‘web address’ 
is how users will find and access the 
website. 
In almost all circumstances the URL is short, and clearly represents 
the content of the site, whether that be through a name or a 
factual description.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
HOME PAGE 
The home page is simply the main page for 
the website. 
When typing in the URL into a web browser, you will be taken 
to the website’s home page.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
HOME PAGE 
The home page is simply the main page for 
the website. 
When typing in the URL into a web browser, you will be taken 
to the website’s home page. 
The content of the home page can vary dramatically depending 
on the site itself, however it is usual to find information about 
the site itself to make it clear to the audience as to the purpose 
of the site, as well as to find navigation elements to direct users 
around.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Masthead 
The website’s name and/or logo. It may 
not have changed for many years so it is 
the easiest way to identify a website. A 
very important element of website 
branding.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Masthead 
The website’s name and/or logo. It may 
not have changed for many years so it is 
the easiest way to identify a website. A 
very important element of website 
branding. 
The decisions made in the choice of font, colours, size, style etc. 
can tell us a lot about the website and it’s content and target 
audience. 
When clicking on the masthead the user would expect to be 
taken back to the website home page.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
House style 
A house style is a set of rules which state how all documents and 
written communication for a business/individual should be 
formatted. In the case of websites, how each page on the site 
should be formatted. It will cover:
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
House style 
A house style is a set of rules which state how all documents and 
written communication for a business/individual should be 
formatted. In the case of websites, how each page on the site 
should be formatted. It will cover: 
- the colours to be used 
- the font style and size 
- where the logo should appear 
- whether text should be right, centre or fully justified 
- the ratio of images to copy
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Navigation 
The navigation covers all of the links that move the 
user around within the website itself. Moving from page 
to page but not leaving the site as a whole.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Navigation 
The navigation covers all of the links that move the 
user around within the website itself. Moving from page 
to page but not leaving the site as a whole. 
Anything that moves a user can fall 
into the category of navigation, 
however it is a common 
convention to have a specific 
navigation bar that easily allows 
the user to move around the site.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Navigation 
The navigation covers all of the links that move the 
user around within the website itself. Moving from page 
to page but not leaving the site as a whole. 
Anything that moves a user can fall 
into the category of navigation, 
however it is a common 
convention to have a specific 
navigation bar that easily allows 
the user to move around the site. 
Navigation elements can be very simple, using simple text, or much 
more complicated, using images and animations that change as the 
mouse moves over the top.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
COPY 
‘Copy’ is the technical term for text 
in a media product.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
COPY 
‘Copy’ is the technical term for text 
in a media product. 
On a website the copy could be 
large blocks of text, for example a news story on a particular 
news website. 
Or a small amount of text accompanying an image or multimedia 
element.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
COPY 
‘Copy’ is the technical term for text 
in a media product. 
On a website the copy could be 
large blocks of text, for example a news story on a particular 
news website. 
Or a small amount of text accompanying an image or multimedia 
element. 
The language used and the amount of copy can tell you a lot 
about the type of website, as well as the target audience.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
main image 
The main image is found on the 
homepage of the website and 
can be analysed in the same way 
as we look at other visual media 
elements, by looking at:
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
main image 
The main image is found on the 
homepage of the website and 
can be analysed in the same way 
as we look at other visual media 
elements, by looking at: 
- The camera shot 
- The lighting used 
- Any special effects 
- The composition of the image
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
main image 
The main image is found on the 
homepage of the website and 
can be analysed in the same way 
as we look at other visual media 
elements, by looking at: 
- The camera shot 
- The lighting used 
- Any special effects 
- The composition of the image 
The choice of image used immediately tells the user a lot 
about the website and what to expect moving forward.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Multimedia elements 
Modern websites make full use of all multimedia elements including: 
- Animations 
- Video Clips 
- Music 
- Image slideshows
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Multimedia elements 
Modern websites make full use of all multimedia elements including: 
- Animations 
- Video Clips 
- Music 
- Image slideshows 
The use of these elements allows a website developer to more 
easily share content with the website’s users.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Multimedia elements 
Modern websites make full use of all multimedia elements including: 
- Animations 
- Video Clips 
- Music 
- Image slideshows 
The use of these elements allows a website developer to more 
easily share content with the website’s users. 
All of these elements have a purpose of their own, and can be 
analysed individually as well as within the context of the website 
as a whole.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
External links 
External links are like navigation elements, however upon 
clicking on the link, the user will be redirected away from the 
website that they are on to a completely different site.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
External links 
External links are like navigation elements, however upon 
clicking on the link, the user will be redirected away from the 
website that they are on to a completely different site. 
It is very common for external links to open the new page in a 
fresh window or tab.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
External links 
External links are like navigation elements, however upon 
clicking on the link, the user will be redirected away from the 
website that they are on to a completely different site. 
It is very common for external links to open the new page in a 
fresh window or tab. 
By opening the link in a new tab, the original site is still open. It 
is undesirable for a website developer to move a user away 
from their site without giving them any way to return.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Social media links 
Social media links are very specific external links that redirect 
the user to an associated page on another website that relates 
to the page they are on. For example a band website will link to 
that band’s Facebook page, their Myspace page etc.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
Social media links 
Social media links are very specific external links that redirect 
the user to an associated page on another website that relates 
to the page they are on. For example a band website will link to 
that band’s Facebook page, their Myspace page etc. 
Again it is very common for these social media links to open in 
a fresh window or tab.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
banner advert 
A banner advert is an image/animation embedded into the web 
page somewhere that is advertising something external to the 
website that you are on. The content of a banner advert is not 
always controlled by the website developer.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
banner advert 
A banner advert is an image/animation embedded into the web 
page somewhere that is advertising something external to the 
website that you are on. The content of a banner advert is not 
always controlled by the website developer. 
Upon clicking on the banner advert it acts like an external link, 
taking the user away from the website that they are currently 
on to the new one. Banner adverts are designed to distract and 
get users to click on them.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
pop-up advert 
A pop-up advert has the same purpose as a banner advert, in 
that it is attempting to get a user to leave the website that they 
are currently on to look at what is being advertised. However 
the pop-up advert is much more intrusive, rather than being 
embedded into the website, it appears in front of the site itself.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
pop-up advert 
A pop-up advert has the same purpose as a banner advert, in 
that it is attempting to get a user to leave the website that they 
are currently on to look at what is being advertised. However 
the pop-up advert is much more intrusive, rather than being 
embedded into the website, it appears in front of the site itself. 
By appearing in front of the content that the user has visited 
the site to see, the pop-up advert is forcing the user to interact 
with it in order to proceed.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
pop-up advert 
A pop-up advert has the same purpose as a banner advert, in 
that it is attempting to get a user to leave the website that they 
are currently on to look at what is being advertised. However 
the pop-up advert is much more intrusive, rather than being 
embedded into the website, it appears in front of the site itself. 
By appearing in front of the content that the user has visited 
the site to see, the pop-up advert is forcing the user to interact 
with it in order to proceed. 
The most intrusive pop-up adverts trigger another pop-up 
advert upon being closed, essentially attempting to force the 
user to interact with the advert in the way in which they want 
them to.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
White space 
The use of white space is very important when analysing 
websites.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
White space 
The use of white space is very important when analysing 
websites. 
Too much white space and a site could appear amateur or 
unfinished.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
White space 
The use of white space is very important when analysing 
websites. 
Too much white space and a site could appear amateur or 
unfinished. 
Too little white space and the site may look cramped and 
unprofessional.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
White space 
The use of white space is very important when analysing 
websites. 
Too much white space and a site could appear amateur or 
unfinished. 
Too little white space and the site may look cramped and 
unprofessional. 
The position and amount of white space used can again tell you 
a lot about the websites purpose and target audience. A more 
mature and sophisticated user may appreciate the white space 
more than a younger more interactive user who may wish to 
have as much content available as possible.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
‘above the fold’ content 
‘Above the fold’ is a phrase used 
to describe what can be seen 
by a user on any page without 
having to scroll down.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
‘above the fold’ content 
‘Above the fold’ is a phrase used 
to describe what can be seen 
by a user on any page without 
having to scroll down. 
Some websites are designed 
specifically so that all content is above the fold in order to 
ensure that the user does not miss any content.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
‘above the fold’ content 
‘Above the fold’ is a phrase used 
to describe what can be seen 
by a user on any page without 
having to scroll down. 
Some websites are designed 
specifically so that all content is above the fold in order to 
ensure that the user does not miss any content. 
A website that has content ‘below the fold’ will often use one of 
the previously mentioned elements in order to direct users 
further down the webpage.
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions
WEBSITES - Codes and conventions 
For the website screenshots, identify and analyse all of the codes 
and conventions that you can see within the webpage. 
Masthead 
House Style 
Navigation 
Copy 
Main Image 
Multimedia Elements 
External Links 
Social Media Links 
Banner Adverts 
Pop-up Adverts 
White Space 
Above/Below The Fold Content
Write four extended PEE paragraphs 
Each should look at a different element used in website production 
and explicitly explain the effect that it has and/or it’s use within the 
webpage. 
You should cover both why the creator of the website has used 
the particular element, as well as what the effect is on the 
audience.

Website Codes and Conventions

  • 1.
    Websites Codes andConventions
  • 2.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions As with all media products it is important to identify two key elements when looking at any website: - The purpose of the product - The target audience
  • 3.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions As with all media products it is important to identify two key elements when looking at any website: - The purpose of the product - The target audience Consider the purpose and target audience for the following websites:
  • 4.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions As with all media products it is important to identify two key elements when looking at any website: - The purpose of the product - The target audience Consider the purpose and target audience for the following websites:
  • 5.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions As with all media products it is important to identify two key elements when looking at any website: - The purpose of the product - The target audience Consider the purpose and target audience for the following websites:
  • 6.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions As with all media products it is important to identify two key elements when looking at any website: - The purpose of the product - The target audience Consider the purpose and target audience for the following websites:
  • 7.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions As with all media products it is important to identify two key elements when looking at any website: - The purpose of the product - The target audience Consider the purpose and target audience for the following websites:
  • 8.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions In order to analyse the effectiveness of a website, it is important to deconstruct the website and identify how it conforms to the codes and conventions that we expect.
  • 9.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions In order to analyse the effectiveness of a website, it is important to deconstruct the website and identify how it conforms to the codes and conventions that we expect. Not all websites will feature all of the codes and conventions listed here, and in some circumstances their omission may be as noteworthy as their inclusion.
  • 10.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions In order to analyse the effectiveness of a website, it is important to deconstruct the website and identify how it conforms to the codes and conventions that we expect. Not all websites will feature all of the codes and conventions listed here, and in some circumstances their omission may be as noteworthy as their inclusion. It is not enough to simply identify the inclusion of the following codes and conventions. They must also be analysed in order to identify how they contribute to the effect of the website as a whole.
  • 11.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions URL - uniform resource locator The URL, also known as the ‘web address’ is how users will find and access the website. In almost all circumstances the URL is short, and clearly represents the content of the site, whether that be through a name or a factual description.
  • 12.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions HOME PAGE The home page is simply the main page for the website. When typing in the URL into a web browser, you will be taken to the website’s home page.
  • 13.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions HOME PAGE The home page is simply the main page for the website. When typing in the URL into a web browser, you will be taken to the website’s home page. The content of the home page can vary dramatically depending on the site itself, however it is usual to find information about the site itself to make it clear to the audience as to the purpose of the site, as well as to find navigation elements to direct users around.
  • 14.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Masthead The website’s name and/or logo. It may not have changed for many years so it is the easiest way to identify a website. A very important element of website branding.
  • 15.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Masthead The website’s name and/or logo. It may not have changed for many years so it is the easiest way to identify a website. A very important element of website branding. The decisions made in the choice of font, colours, size, style etc. can tell us a lot about the website and it’s content and target audience. When clicking on the masthead the user would expect to be taken back to the website home page.
  • 16.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions House style A house style is a set of rules which state how all documents and written communication for a business/individual should be formatted. In the case of websites, how each page on the site should be formatted. It will cover:
  • 17.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions House style A house style is a set of rules which state how all documents and written communication for a business/individual should be formatted. In the case of websites, how each page on the site should be formatted. It will cover: - the colours to be used - the font style and size - where the logo should appear - whether text should be right, centre or fully justified - the ratio of images to copy
  • 18.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Navigation The navigation covers all of the links that move the user around within the website itself. Moving from page to page but not leaving the site as a whole.
  • 19.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Navigation The navigation covers all of the links that move the user around within the website itself. Moving from page to page but not leaving the site as a whole. Anything that moves a user can fall into the category of navigation, however it is a common convention to have a specific navigation bar that easily allows the user to move around the site.
  • 20.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Navigation The navigation covers all of the links that move the user around within the website itself. Moving from page to page but not leaving the site as a whole. Anything that moves a user can fall into the category of navigation, however it is a common convention to have a specific navigation bar that easily allows the user to move around the site. Navigation elements can be very simple, using simple text, or much more complicated, using images and animations that change as the mouse moves over the top.
  • 21.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions COPY ‘Copy’ is the technical term for text in a media product.
  • 22.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions COPY ‘Copy’ is the technical term for text in a media product. On a website the copy could be large blocks of text, for example a news story on a particular news website. Or a small amount of text accompanying an image or multimedia element.
  • 23.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions COPY ‘Copy’ is the technical term for text in a media product. On a website the copy could be large blocks of text, for example a news story on a particular news website. Or a small amount of text accompanying an image or multimedia element. The language used and the amount of copy can tell you a lot about the type of website, as well as the target audience.
  • 24.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions main image The main image is found on the homepage of the website and can be analysed in the same way as we look at other visual media elements, by looking at:
  • 25.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions main image The main image is found on the homepage of the website and can be analysed in the same way as we look at other visual media elements, by looking at: - The camera shot - The lighting used - Any special effects - The composition of the image
  • 26.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions main image The main image is found on the homepage of the website and can be analysed in the same way as we look at other visual media elements, by looking at: - The camera shot - The lighting used - Any special effects - The composition of the image The choice of image used immediately tells the user a lot about the website and what to expect moving forward.
  • 27.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Multimedia elements Modern websites make full use of all multimedia elements including: - Animations - Video Clips - Music - Image slideshows
  • 28.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Multimedia elements Modern websites make full use of all multimedia elements including: - Animations - Video Clips - Music - Image slideshows The use of these elements allows a website developer to more easily share content with the website’s users.
  • 29.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Multimedia elements Modern websites make full use of all multimedia elements including: - Animations - Video Clips - Music - Image slideshows The use of these elements allows a website developer to more easily share content with the website’s users. All of these elements have a purpose of their own, and can be analysed individually as well as within the context of the website as a whole.
  • 30.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions External links External links are like navigation elements, however upon clicking on the link, the user will be redirected away from the website that they are on to a completely different site.
  • 31.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions External links External links are like navigation elements, however upon clicking on the link, the user will be redirected away from the website that they are on to a completely different site. It is very common for external links to open the new page in a fresh window or tab.
  • 32.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions External links External links are like navigation elements, however upon clicking on the link, the user will be redirected away from the website that they are on to a completely different site. It is very common for external links to open the new page in a fresh window or tab. By opening the link in a new tab, the original site is still open. It is undesirable for a website developer to move a user away from their site without giving them any way to return.
  • 33.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Social media links Social media links are very specific external links that redirect the user to an associated page on another website that relates to the page they are on. For example a band website will link to that band’s Facebook page, their Myspace page etc.
  • 34.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions Social media links Social media links are very specific external links that redirect the user to an associated page on another website that relates to the page they are on. For example a band website will link to that band’s Facebook page, their Myspace page etc. Again it is very common for these social media links to open in a fresh window or tab.
  • 35.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions banner advert A banner advert is an image/animation embedded into the web page somewhere that is advertising something external to the website that you are on. The content of a banner advert is not always controlled by the website developer.
  • 36.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions banner advert A banner advert is an image/animation embedded into the web page somewhere that is advertising something external to the website that you are on. The content of a banner advert is not always controlled by the website developer. Upon clicking on the banner advert it acts like an external link, taking the user away from the website that they are currently on to the new one. Banner adverts are designed to distract and get users to click on them.
  • 37.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions pop-up advert A pop-up advert has the same purpose as a banner advert, in that it is attempting to get a user to leave the website that they are currently on to look at what is being advertised. However the pop-up advert is much more intrusive, rather than being embedded into the website, it appears in front of the site itself.
  • 38.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions pop-up advert A pop-up advert has the same purpose as a banner advert, in that it is attempting to get a user to leave the website that they are currently on to look at what is being advertised. However the pop-up advert is much more intrusive, rather than being embedded into the website, it appears in front of the site itself. By appearing in front of the content that the user has visited the site to see, the pop-up advert is forcing the user to interact with it in order to proceed.
  • 39.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions pop-up advert A pop-up advert has the same purpose as a banner advert, in that it is attempting to get a user to leave the website that they are currently on to look at what is being advertised. However the pop-up advert is much more intrusive, rather than being embedded into the website, it appears in front of the site itself. By appearing in front of the content that the user has visited the site to see, the pop-up advert is forcing the user to interact with it in order to proceed. The most intrusive pop-up adverts trigger another pop-up advert upon being closed, essentially attempting to force the user to interact with the advert in the way in which they want them to.
  • 40.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions White space The use of white space is very important when analysing websites.
  • 41.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions White space The use of white space is very important when analysing websites. Too much white space and a site could appear amateur or unfinished.
  • 42.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions White space The use of white space is very important when analysing websites. Too much white space and a site could appear amateur or unfinished. Too little white space and the site may look cramped and unprofessional.
  • 43.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions White space The use of white space is very important when analysing websites. Too much white space and a site could appear amateur or unfinished. Too little white space and the site may look cramped and unprofessional. The position and amount of white space used can again tell you a lot about the websites purpose and target audience. A more mature and sophisticated user may appreciate the white space more than a younger more interactive user who may wish to have as much content available as possible.
  • 44.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions ‘above the fold’ content ‘Above the fold’ is a phrase used to describe what can be seen by a user on any page without having to scroll down.
  • 45.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions ‘above the fold’ content ‘Above the fold’ is a phrase used to describe what can be seen by a user on any page without having to scroll down. Some websites are designed specifically so that all content is above the fold in order to ensure that the user does not miss any content.
  • 46.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions ‘above the fold’ content ‘Above the fold’ is a phrase used to describe what can be seen by a user on any page without having to scroll down. Some websites are designed specifically so that all content is above the fold in order to ensure that the user does not miss any content. A website that has content ‘below the fold’ will often use one of the previously mentioned elements in order to direct users further down the webpage.
  • 47.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions
  • 48.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions
  • 49.
    WEBSITES - Codesand conventions For the website screenshots, identify and analyse all of the codes and conventions that you can see within the webpage. Masthead House Style Navigation Copy Main Image Multimedia Elements External Links Social Media Links Banner Adverts Pop-up Adverts White Space Above/Below The Fold Content
  • 50.
    Write four extendedPEE paragraphs Each should look at a different element used in website production and explicitly explain the effect that it has and/or it’s use within the webpage. You should cover both why the creator of the website has used the particular element, as well as what the effect is on the audience.