When you start creating a website, you will find that there are many options for how to build, customize, and design your website. One of the first decisions you will need to make is whether to create a static or dynamic website, the latter of which is one of the most popular options on the internet today.
What is the difference between a static and dynamic website?
Static websites come with a set number of pages that have their own specific layout. When the page is opened in a browser, we can say that the content is literally static and does not change in response to user actions. A static website is usually created with HTML and CSS in text editors that are simple, such as Notepad.
If you need a website with less than three pages, choosing a static website is the right choice. Building one does not require as much time or effort as when choosing dynamic websites. If the pages of your website need to look different, the HTML code can be very quickly duplicated on each of those pages, containing the necessary changes.
Although the website will display the same thing without any part time data complicated navigation details, static websites don’t have to consist of just plain text. In fact, you can use various multimedia elements and videos. An HTML website may look beautiful, but ultimately the source code of the page will not change, no matter what actions the user takes on it.
Compared to static websites, which are purely informational, a dynamic website is far more functional. It allows users to interact with the information that is listed on the page. This definitely requires the use of more than just HTML code.
Static websites use only client-side HTML and CSS code, while dynamic websites rely on both client-side and server-side scripting languages, such as JavaScript, PHP, or ASP. When a user accesses a dynamic website, it can be modified using code that runs in the browser and/or on the server. The end result is the same as a static website: an HTML page displayed in a web browser.
To generate dynamic content, such websites use a combination of server-side and, therefore, client-side scripts. Client-side scripts refer to code that is executed by the browser, which is usually JavaScript. Meanwhile, server-side scripts refer to code that is executed by the server (before the content is sent to the user's browser).
Which of the two options should I choose?
If you still don't know which type of website is right for you and your business, don't worry. Answer a few questions below and you'll get the right answer right away.
Edit
In case you have a smaller website with a few pages and you don't need to change much, you can use a static website. If you want to upgrade your site and you want to add a few pages, enable changing and editing or updating of your site, you should choose a dynamic one.