Ever wondered about what is meant by a static website? Are you curious about the uses of static websites and how they differ from dynamic ones? Dive into the article to explore this essential term in website development.
Deciding between a dynamic or a static web page will probably be one of the first important things you do when building a website.
Unsure of what those terms mean? Stick around for our high-level overview; this time focused on static web, so you can be one step further to making the essential initial decision.
To start off, let’s take a look at the meaning of a static website. A basic definition of a static website could be as follows: A static website (also a static web page or a static web) is a website that appears the same for every user, despite the user’s settings and preferences and other factors like location or local time.
As Pluralsight elaborates, a static web is made up of “fixed code” stored on a web server. When a user uses a URL to request a page from the server, the server ships the code back without any alterations. As a result, these sites are delivered to users precisely the way they’re stored.
To help you get an even better understanding of what a static site is, let’s go a bit beyond the basic static web page definition. The “fixed code” of a static site is a series of HTML files, where each file represents a physical page of a website.
This means that if you want to update or alter something on your pages, you will have to go and manually change every HTML file. Similarly, if you want to add a new page, you will simply need to create a new HTML file.
These sites are mainly used to display information, but as HubSpot explains, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be engaging. They can include visuals like images and videos, links and clickable buttons, or forms and downloadables.
While researching static web development, you may be wondering about the pros and cons of static sites.
Let’s start with their benefits:
However, running a static site doesn’t come with positives only. The biggest con of these sites may be the offer of a less tailored experience.
Do you want to serve real-time data and offer a more dynamic experience? Then dynamic websites are a better option.
Unlike a static web page, a dynamic website shows different content and information to different visitors. This is done based on factors including the user’s settings, local time, or location.
Dynamic sites don’t store each page as an HTML file – what they do instead is build pages “on the fly” by creating customized HTML files for the user in question, after he or she requests a page with a URL.
In addition to client-side technologies, these sites require server-side scripting languages like Python, Ruby, or PHP, which can alter and write HTML files without needing a person to do it manually.
Dynamic site examples include news websites, e-commerce sites, entertainment sites, or social media sites.
Now that we explained the dynamic and static web page definition, let’s check out some static website uses illustrated by examples. Static sites are mostly used to display information.
In the following list, take a look at the 5 static websites mentioned by HubSpot:
If you want your site to only transfer information that doesn’t need to be frequently updated, a static web page is a fast and cost-efficient way to go.
If you, however, want to tailor the experience on your site to individual users, a static information website won’t be enough. For more interactivity and personalization, dynamic websites are your best choice.
Based on your knowledge and experience, there are different ways to create a static site. If you’re just starting out, static web development might be a good learning experience. In that case, you may opt for building your website from scratch and start writing HTML pages directly.
To help you create speedy and easy-to-load static sites, you can also consider a static site generator (SSG). SSGs apply prepared content against templates and generate a structure of static HTML files.
There is a number of static site generators you can choose from, such as:
Did you know that SSGs can help you launch a secure and fast-performing site, but adding a headless CMS like Kontent.ai can really set you up for success?
A modular content platform to store your content will help you collaborate with ease and create stellar content for your static site.
With Kontent.ai, the team will have access to an easy-to-use editing interface and first-class collaboration features so everyone can breeze through the whole process.
Flexible workflows will help you make sure that consistent content is published on time. On top of that, you can set up role permissions to avoid overlapping responsibilities and duplication of work.
Thanks to the benefits of headless, rest assured that your content will look and feel great on any device and channel. Interested in trying out all Kontent.ai features for free? Start our free Kontent.ai trial, with no credit card required.
We hope that this article made it a little easier to understand what a static page is. What now? Connect with us!
Where are you on your web development journey? Will you be opting for static websites, or are dynamic sites a better fit for you? Let us know on our Twitter!
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