Glossary
A
App Icon
The small image that represents an app on a device home screen.
App Store
Apple's digital distribution platform for mobile apps on iOS.
Asset
A digital resource (image, icon, etc.) used in app development.
A/B Testing
Comparing two versions of an asset or design to see which performs better.
App Submission
The process of uploading an app and its assets to the App Store for review.
C
Compression
Reducing the file size of an image or asset.
Crop
Trimming the edges of an image to focus on a specific area or fit certain dimensions.
Color Profile
Settings that determine how colors are displayed in images or assets.
D
Design System
A collection of reusable components, guidelines, and assets for consistent app design.
E
Export
Saving or converting a file from a design tool to a specific format.
F
Figma
A popular collaborative design tool for UI/UX and app icons.
G
GIF
An image file format supporting animation, often used for simple motion graphics.
Guidelines
Official rules or best practices for designing app assets, set by platforms like Apple.
H
Home Screen
The main screen on a device where apps and widgets are placed.
I
Icon Set
A collection of related icons in various sizes and resolutions for app submission.
J
JPG
A common image file format, often used for photographs and icons.
JSON
A lightweight data format, often used for Lottie animation files.
L
Lottie
A lightweight animation file format for apps, exported as JSON.
Layer
A single level in a design or image, which can be edited independently.
M
Mockup
A visual representation of how an app or icon will look on a device.
P
PNG
A lossless image file format, ideal for icons with transparency.
Preview
Viewing an app icon or asset as it will appear on a real device.
Prototype
An interactive simulation of an app’s design or flow.
Padding
Space between an asset’s edge and its content or other elements.
Pixel
The smallest unit of a digital image, forming the building blocks of graphics.
R
Resolution
The number of pixels in an image, affecting clarity and size.
Retina Display
A high-resolution Apple screen where individual pixels are not visible.
Review
Apple's process of evaluating an app and its assets before App Store release.
S
Safe Area
The part of the screen not covered by notches or rounded corners on modern devices.
Screenshot
A captured image showing what is displayed on a device screen.
Simulator
A tool for testing how apps or assets will appear and function on different devices.
Sketch
A vector-based design tool for UI, icons, and app assets.
SVG
A vector image file format, useful for scalable graphics and icons.
Scaling
Resizing an asset while maintaining its proportions.
Sharpen
Improving the clarity and definition of an image or icon.
Submission Guidelines
Apple’s rules for submitting apps and icons to the App Store.
T
Template
A pre-designed file or layout used as a starting point for app or icon design.
Transparency
Portions of an image that are fully or partially see-through, common in PNGs.
Thumbnail
A small preview image representing a larger asset or icon.
U
Upload
The process of sending an image or asset from a local device to a web tool or service.
V
Vector
A type of graphic based on mathematical paths, scalable without losing quality.
W
Widget
A small app or tool that can be added to a device home screen.
Workflow
The series of steps designers or developers follow to complete a project.