Website architecture refers to one of the approaches that can be taken for the design and planning of websites. As such, it takes into account three facets of the website: the functional, the technical, and the aesthetic aspect. The primary focus of website architecture is the website user and his needs. Website Architecture involves the organization of website content. Simple architecture for your website is not only beneficial to the user, but also to the search engine spiders.

Website Architecture provides a way to visualize a website and all of its sections. In order to create the architecture, it is necessary to determine the areas the website will include, the pages that are needed, and the content that you need. It is the blueprint or layout design for the website. Each website typically has a top level that includes the landing or home pages such as the home page, about us page, etc. The website also includes a second level, which contains all of the pages beneath the top layer or the ones that you navigate to from the top-level pages.

• Wikipedia explanation of website architecture
• Website architecture 101
• A blog post on the relationship between website architecture and seo

Website Benchmarking scores a website’s performance on a variety of tests. The tests typically involve the following areas: the use of frames, search engine optimisation, valid HTML/XHTML code, search engine positioning, and website accessibility. The results of the test are indicators of areas of your website that could benefit from an upgrade or modifications. They also inform the website owner whether their codes are correct, if their site is properly optimised for the best search engine visibility, and if the website is designed properly for the intentions that you have set aside for it.

Special website benchmarking utilities make it possible to assess a website’s performance and to show just how good it is. Website benchmarking is a valuable tool for website owners since it can point out both the strengths and weaknesses of the website. Website benchmarking is critical to the successful achievement of gaining a competitive advantage in the e-business environment.

• Alexa
• W3C Validation Tool
• Google Analytics

API is the application program interface that exists between the application programs and the operating system. It is the source code that operating systems use to support the functioning of computer programs. It supports the requests made for services required for the application programs to function properly. The API increases the capabilities of Web servers and it is popular with programmers who write applications that are interactive with other applications.

An API server is a set of programs that are integrated collectively into a Web server so that it is capable of interacting with the API. A server API, created by software developers who write the programs, is a published interface. The programs actually become part of the server. Some of the more common server APIs along with the servers that are supported by them include: Netscape Commerce and Enterprise Server, NSAPI, ISAPI, Microsoft Internet Information Server, and WSAPI, O’Reilly Website and Website Pro.

• Wikipedia explanation of API
• Webopedia explanation of API
• About,.com Definition
• About.com article about API