In Sitecore MVC, what does the term 'components' refer to?

In the context of Sitecore MVC, 'components' refer to code-level blocks that are used to create a webpage. These components encapsulate the functionality and presentation logic needed to render specific parts of a page, such as headers, footers, or content sections. By breaking down the web page into smaller, reusable pieces, developers can enhance maintainability and streamline the development process. Each component can consist of a combination of views, controller actions, and models, which together define how that block behaves and appears on the site.

While other terms mentioned relate to aspects of web development, they do not specifically define the concept of components within Sitecore MVC. The complete web page layout encompasses the overall structure but does not focus on the modularity that components provide. Visual representations of webpage elements pertain more to front-end design rather than the coding and logic encapsulated in components. Lastly, style and design guidelines address the aesthetics and branding aspects but are not directly tied to the functional development of web pages through components.