I used to feel very strongly that a Webmaster was a person who was well versed in HTML and Web programming. The Webmaster built and maintained Web pages and sites in a professional capacity. Building a personal page on Geocities did not make you a Webmaster, nor did using a WYSIWYG editor.
But my opinions have changed over the years. Now, if I had to define a Webmaster, it would be the person responsible for the Web server. The administrator in charge of keeping the Web site up and the server running - but not the person in charge of building the pages. Those positions would be filled by Web Developers, Web Designers, Web Writers, Information Architects, and Web Producers.
It seems that the term Webmaster means different things to everyone who uses it. Some people think it's the person who has overall authority over a site. Others think a Webmaster is the person who does the maintenance. And there are lots of opinions in between.
"The overseer of the entire website (builder, maintainer, etc)." - Delilah
"A webmaster to me is the 'boss' of a certain website, the one who is in overall control. So in my Web design business, I am a Website Designer, as I design and build the sites. The client retains overall control, as it is their decision what to put on the site, how it should look, I can only influence that decision." - Nicholas
"When I hear the term 'Webmaster' I think of someone who updates the content on a website. What I do is develop server side and client side code for websites, mainly XHTML, CSS and PHP so I'd much rather be called a 'Web Developer'." - Daniel
"I think that the webmaster means exactly what it says, being a master of the Web. Knowing the ins and outs of the source code, how to write source code, fixing problems, and saving and then loading your written/coded work." - Shawn
"A person who has knowledge on developing and producing a quality web page that is able to be read throught many different browsers by all people." - Donald
"I think it means the person who is responsible for a website from a to z. He may not be familiar with any programming languages but he is responsible for adding pages, removing parts, asking the programmers to change something." - Shahir
"Webmasters must be proficient in HTML as well as one or more scripting and interface languages such as JavaScript or Perl." - Bhupendra
"The webmaster is ultimately responsible for the content, presentation and functionality of a website. S/He is the one who should put toghether the design, programming and writing work to make a website. Of course, the webmaster can also be a web programmer, designer and/or writer. In my case, for my own page I'm everything, because I do everything. For one of the websites I work for, I'm a programmer and SEO specialist." - Eduard
"It means that you may not be the person who designed or developed the website. However, you are the person who is maintaining the site." - Joseph
"Someone who has mastered a certain amount of knowledge and skills in web development." - Sally
"A webmaster is someone who knows all about websites and designs and develops them." - Vinit
"A Web designer is proficient in several programming languages and other programs such as Flash." - Scott
"A webmaster is somebody who has a website on the Internet and posts news on taking care of the e-mail and stuff. A Web developer is somebody who builds websites in (X)HTML or PHP. A Web designer is somebody who only takes care of the layout and other grafic stuff." - Wilbert
"A webmaster is a person who can design anything for anyone; whether it be CSS, C++.... anything" - Nicola
"A webmaster is someone who is responsible for both the technical and design aspects of a website." - Dwayne
"I think webmaster describes anyone who maintains, develops, or designs websites." - Amy
"A webmaster has the ability to design, develop, and deploy web sites. Knowledge of markup languages (HTML/XHTML, CSS), web programming languages (JavaScript), server programming languages (PHP, ASP), Databases, and even hardware and operating systems is required to be a webmaster. Knowing HTML makes you a Web Designer (as you are designing layouts with a markup language), and knowledge of server-side code makes you a Web Developer." - Matthew
"A webmaster is anyone who has anything to do with the Internet professionally." - Russell
"A webmaster is the master in creating, developing, and maintaining websites." - Krishna
"A webmaster is the person who can maintain the website." - Shah
"The Webmaster designes and maintains a website on an ongoing basis" - Trudy
"Admin of an entire site, webmail, hosting, etc." - Frank
"Someone that can write HTML and maintain a web site for themselves." - Drennen
"In my definition of webmaster, it is someone who has mastered the web, and not only know some of it." - Donna
"'Webmaster' seems to be the title used when 'In Charge Of' a web site. Many definitions add on maintainance of a web server but how many companies have their site hosted? How then do the limitations affect the title? I personally believe that to obtain 'Webmaster' you should know and keep learning all aspects of the web and not just HTML. Sadly our current 'Webmaster' seems to be outdated as he still uses notepad and netscape composer to maintain a template created by a hosting company that give us very little control of how the site is managed." - James
"A webmaster is someone who has a good programming skills." - Sheetal
"A title to the one responsible for the development, upkeep, upgrades and daily operation of the server(s) hosting your employer's site. This title also encompasses all development and maintenance of the site's content." - Daniel
"A person that can design, develop, publish and maintain a website." - Rodrigue
"A person who posseses a vast knowledge in at least Web designing and maintenance." - Hamad
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