Business & Technology Glossary
Business, technology, marketing and compliance terms organized by topic.
Technical
WHOIS
A protocol for querying databases that store registration information about domain names. WHOIS data includes registrant details, registration dates, nameservers, and expiration dates.
DNS (Domain Name System)
The internet's phone book that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses. DNS records also reveal hosting providers, email services, and security configurations.
CNAME Probing
A technique for detecting SaaS tools by checking DNS CNAME records. Many cloud services require customers to create CNAME records, revealing which tools they use.
SSL/TLS Certificate
A digital certificate that encrypts data between a user's browser and a web server. SSL certificates also contain information about the issuing authority and organization.
Domain Authority
A search engine ranking score that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results. Higher domain authority indicates stronger SEO presence and more backlinks.
PageRank
Google's original algorithm for ranking web pages based on the quantity and quality of inbound links. While no longer publicly visible, PageRank principles still influence search rankings.
Backlinks
Links from external websites pointing to your website. Backlinks are a key ranking factor for search engines and an indicator of domain authority and industry influence.
DMARC
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance, an email authentication protocol that protects against spoofing. DMARC builds on SPF and DKIM to verify sender identity.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
An email authentication method that specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of a domain. SPF records are published in DNS.
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. APIs enable integrations between B2B tools and data platforms.
Webhook
An HTTP callback that sends real-time data to another application when an event occurs. In B2B, webhooks are used to push lead data to CRMs and notification systems.
REST API
Representational State Transfer API, an architectural style for building web services that use standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE). REST APIs are the most common integration pattern in B2B software.
HTTPS
HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure, the encrypted version of HTTP that uses TLS/SSL certificates to protect data in transit between browsers and servers. HTTPS is a baseline security requirement and Google ranking factor.
Certificate Transparency
A public logging framework for SSL/TLS certificates that allows domain owners to detect misissued certificates. CT logs are also used in B2B intelligence to discover new subdomains and services.
Compliance
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
The European Union's data protection regulation that governs how personal data is collected, stored, and processed. GDPR requires lawful basis for processing and grants data subjects specific rights.
Data Privacy
The area of data protection that deals with the proper handling of personal data, including consent, notice, and regulatory obligations across different jurisdictions.
Legitimate Interest
A lawful basis for processing personal data under GDPR. Organizations can process data without consent when they have a legitimate business reason, balanced against the individual's rights.
CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
California's privacy law that gives consumers the right to know what personal information is collected, delete it, and opt out of its sale. Applies to businesses meeting specific thresholds.
Company Intelligence
Company Registry
A government-maintained database of officially registered businesses. Registries vary by country: Companies House (UK), SEC (US), Handelsregister (DE). They contain legal entity data.
Due Diligence
The investigation or research performed before entering into a business agreement. B2B due diligence includes verifying company registration, financial health, and legal status.
Funding Round
A stage of capital investment in a company. Rounds typically progress from Seed to Series A, B, C, and beyond. Recent funding is a strong buying signal for B2B sellers.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total revenue opportunity available for a product or service if 100% market share were achieved. TAM helps size market opportunities and prioritize segments.
Hiring Velocity
The rate at which a company is posting new job openings. High hiring velocity in specific departments (engineering, sales) signals growth and can indicate technology procurement needs.
Growth Signals
Observable indicators that a company is growing, including hiring velocity, funding events, office expansions, and social media follower growth. Growth signals predict technology purchases.
Put Your Knowledge to Work
Look Up a Real Company Record
Search official company registers in 25 countries, pull the verified record, and get alerted when it changes.