DYNAMIC AND STATIC WEBSITES

Anthony Dayal

Author

Dynamic vs Static Websites: Advantages and Differences

Keep yourself informed on the type of website that works for you – dynamic website or a static website. Most websites are classified as either dynamic or static. Dynamic websites are complex and delivers information from its database. Whereas static websites display the same content for every request.

Here are the differences between static vs dynamic websites.

A website is made up of several pages of text, images, video and more. You access websites through a URL typed into a browser search bar e.g.: https://vistasadindia.com/

Q. How does the process of
logging into a website work?

When you type in a URL in the browser search bar, a request is sent to the web server by the browser and the web server then returns the requested web page and its content to the browser. However, web server serves static and dynamic websites differently.

We explain the workings of both static websites and dynamic websites below:

What is a Dynamic Website?

Dynamic web pages are compiled at the server end during runtime as per user demand through server-side scripting languages such as PHP, Node.js, ASP.NET etc. as supported by the server.

Dynamic websites are preferred for its updating ease. A change made can reflect in all pages unlike static website where required change must be made in every page. While dynamic websites are slower than static websites its ease of updating and database interaction makes it popular for complex websites.

The advantages and disadvantages of Static and Dynamic Websites are many, depending on the application the website is built for.

We list a point-by-point detail for your ready reference.
Developed with server-side technologies and languages, dynamic websites can display content for each user or serve user generated content on a case-to-case basis.

Dynamic websites serve content from a database or content management system (CMS) connected to your web pages.

Dynamic websites allow customization and personalization of page content for specific user or users. Edits or modifications can be performed to many or all pages from a command from the dashboard instead of having to modify each page.

Dynamic websites can deliver relevant, location specific content, or based on user history – through cookies. A multilingual website serves content in your language based on your location. Essentially, every site visitor receives a personalized view of the page.

Dynamic websites are best for:

Dynamic websites is central to many business domains and the website as your advertising, and marketing tool and manages the implementation of transactions in the logistics and payment processing, in addition to playing many other roles.

Dynamic websites play a central in some of the following business domains:

  • eCommerce websites
  • Recruitment
  • Online forums
  • Membership websites
  • Portfolio websites
  • Blogs

as well as corporate websites with considerable data are some of the broad applications of dynamically built websites.

Dynamic websites are content heavy and driven by user participation. For e.g.: a real estate website lists hundreds of available properties, whose status changes continuously as available and as sold reflecting real time availability of each property. Dynamic websites are designed to automate and manage such complex functions.

Examples of
Dynamic Websites

Dynamic websites deliver content tailored to the visitor
based on their location, profile and browsing interests as
well as in response to the search query intent.

Some of the popular examples of dynamic websites include:

  • whatsapp
  • facebook
  • wikipedia
  • instagram
  • quora
  • Youtube
  • google search
  • bbc news

Essentially, social media websites, current news/weather/sports
results, websites, search engines, blogs and wikis
are all examples of dynamic websites.

Advantages of Dynamic Websites

The advantages of dynamic websites are many such as

  • Easy updating
  • Improved user experience
  • Scalable
  • Complex functionalities

Easily updated

Quick and easy updating facility runs business in many domains such as the real estate listings example illustrated above. Only a dynamically built database driven website can serve the purpose.

Dynamic websites enable changes made to a page to reflect in all or specified multiple pages. Page content updating and maintenance is simpler, faster and can be accomplished by multiple managers with access to the website without having to alter the structure or design of the website.

Dynamic websites enable changes made to a page to reflect in all or specified multiple pages. Page content updating and maintenance is simpler, faster and can be accomplished by multiple managers with access to the website without having to alter the structure or design of the website.

Facilitates scalability The ability to scale the website into a large portal is possible only with a dynamic website. Even with a small start it is possible to easily incorporate many pages over time.

Offers improved user experience User experience can be tailored to serve to users based on their interests, intent, and location on the basis of their past activity and actions.

Great functionality Dynamic websites enable you to build complex functionalities endlessly to the extent of your skill in using logic and language in delivering functions.

Disadvantages of dynamic websites

  • Building a dynamic website takes more resources than constructing a static website
  • Due to its complexity and interaction with a database, constant monitoring and a good website maintenance or trouble shooting plan is imperative to manage a dynamic website.

What is a Static Website?

Web pages in a static website are created with development languages such as: HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Every page is a single HTML file that is delivered to the user directly from the server. These pages make up your website, as is. No changes take place at any point during delivery of the page. Any changes must be made in the original HTML page at the code level.

All changes on static websites must be accomplished manually, page by page, each HTML page individually. To illustrate – edits made to the home page HTML file will only reflect on the home page and will not affect other pages. This applies to all sections of pages on your website, including the footer where the same content is displayed in all pages across the website.

Static websites are best for:

Static websites are suitable for simple web pages that provide information and doesn’t need updates and changes often. Where there is no need for a database driven content management. Where every visitor gets to view the same information regardless of location of profile.

Examples of static websites are personal profile websites, nonprofit organization and informational sites and landing pages with a single page.

Advantages of Static Websites

There are many advantages from static websites and static web pages are popular again owing to its simplicity.

  • Easier to build
  • Faster page loading
  • Shorter development cycle
  • Secure

Static websites are easier to build.
Built on HTML, CSS and JavaScript, static websites require no programming language. The content of static web pages is fixed and not interactive.

Faster page loading.
As the content on a static web page is pre-written and served directly from the server the loading speed of the page is instantaneous delivering excellent browsing experience to the user.

Static web pages are easier to cache and the content loads without delays due to minimal UX issues such as broken images.

Static websites demand less server power since there is no database or client server infrastructure to run through. Efficient and fast page loading is important as Google favors faster loading pages in its ranking preference.

Shorter development cycle
Static websites are easier and faster to build due to its simplicity and not having a database connection to content.

Interestingly, the focus is more on the page design and communication in most static websites.

Enhanced security
Static websites are more secure because its vulnerability is minimal. With no database connections, extensions and plugins points of attack are nonexistent.

Disadvantages of a static website are:

If the static website is purpose built for information dissemination there are no disadvantages, however, you will encounter some disadvantages when scaling up. Disadvantages of a static website are:

Limited scalability
While there is no limit on the number of pages you can create on a static website, the process is slow as each page must be created individually. If you anticipate a large, content heavy website then choose the dynamic website option.

Reduced page management efficiency While static websites are quick to create, page management is efficiency is reduced as each edit must done individually, without the benefit of content management system.

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