Static websites are, by definition, exactly as they sound; unchanged from their original source. Dynamic websites interpret data on a server and then generate the website accordingly. This is great for large companies because it means less work for IT departments to maintain a single version of the website while still having all content available when needed. However, this can lead to issues if security vulnerabilities arise in your code or if you need constant updates of new features due to changing interests.
A “static website” is a website that does not change over time. A “dynamic website” changes over time, usually in response to the user or device accessing it. Read more in detail here: static vs dynamic website examples.
Many individuals never consider the difference between static and Website that is constantly changings when they conceive of a website. After all, doesn’t the webpage just appear? Yes, technically, but there’s a lot going on in the background.
Knowing the difference between these two kinds of websites is crucial for anybody planning to build or transfer a website. The kind of site you choose will have an impact on how developers maintain and update the site, as well as potential operational and maintenance expenses.
You’ll understand the distinctions between static and Website that is constantly changings in this post. You’ll learn how developers create static and Website that is constantly changings, how your browser displays them, and a variety of additional similarities.
What is the difference between static and Website that is constantly changings?
Website that is static
As the name implies, a Website that is static’s elements are fixed or hard-coded. A Website that is static’s contents never change regardless of the browser youse use.
A Website that is static only serves HTML, CSS, and Javascript client-side code. It doesn’t have to process any kind of computations once a reader accesses the page. The browser handles any code for dynamic content such as buttons or input.
Most Website that is statics are informational in nature. Take personal blogs, for example, where the intent is to display information for readers. On a personal blog, users typically just browse the site’s contents.
Website that is constantly changing
Conversely, a Website that is constantly changing goes beyond client-side code. Ultimately, a Website that is constantly changing is based on HTML and CSS, much like a Website that is static. But, for a Website that is constantly changing to be functional, it requires server-side languages such as PHP, ASP.net, or JavaScript to generate HTML code dynamically.
Website that is constantly changings use the term CRUD, which stands for Create, Read, Update, Delete. CRUD represents operations performed against a database. And if you guessed that Website that is constantly changings use databases, then you guessed right!
Differences in Website Rendering
How do web servers deliver static and Website that is constantly changings to readers’ browsers?
Website that is statics Exactly Deliver the Code on the Web Server
Remember that Website that is statics contain hard-coded HTML documents with optional CSS and JS files. Whatever code you upload to a web server is precisely the code that will be served to the users browsing your website.
For example, below is a sample Website that is static project in Visual Studio Code that contains three files. This Website that is static’s homepage only displays a header and a button.
A word will be revealed when you click a button on this basic website.
Website that is static Project in Visual Studio Code
Below is the code of the index.html file. This serves are the homepage of the Website that is static.
<!– index.html –> <html> <head> <title>Static Site Test</title> <link rel=”stylesheet” href=”https://adamtheautomator.com/static-vs-dynamic-website/style.css”> </head> <body> <h1>Static Web Test</h1> <div> <button>Click to see what happens</button> </div> <p style=”display: none;”>Surpise!!!</p> <script src=”button.js”></script> </body> </html>
The following code is for style.css. The style of the homepage components in the browser is defined by this CSS file.
body font-family: ‘Segoe UI’, Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif; /* style.css */ border: 1px solid darkgray; font: inherit; background: lightgrey; color: black; border: 1px solid darkgray; font: inherit
Finally, the code for button.js includes the JavaScript code that will be executed by the browser when a reader hits the button.
/ var button.js document.querySelector(‘button’) = btn document.querySelector(‘p’).style.display = ‘block’) btn.addEventListener(‘click’, function() btn.addEventListener(‘click’, function() btn.addEventListener(‘click’, function() btn.addEventListener(‘click’, function()
Suppose that the Website that is static is now up, the demo below is what it would look like. Then, if you open the page source code, you should see that the page’s code is exactly the same as the source code of the index.html file.
Note: This Website that is static example is tested using the HTTP Server / HTML Preview extension in Visual Studio Code.
Example of a Static Web
As you can see from the demo above, even if the user interacted with the page by clicking on a button, the underlying code never changed. That is the behavior of a Website that is static; the browser handles everything.
Websites that change over time First, go through a database.
As opposed to a Website that is static, a Website that is constantly changing uses server-side processing to generate the code. This means that the underlying code behind the page may change at any time, depending on the design.
For example, below is a Node.js Website that is constantly changing project containing only one JavaScript file.
Website that is constantly changing Project in Visual Studio Code
The dynamicsite.js code is provided below. This code is a server-side script that shows the current computer time on every page load.
// dynamicsite.js var web = require(‘http’); web.createServer(function (req, res) { let xTime = new Date().toISOString().match(/(d{2}:){2}d{2}/)[0] res.end( ‘<h1 style=”font-family:verdana”>Dynamic Site Test</h1>’ + ‘<p style=”font-family:verdana”>The time now is: <b>’ + xTime + ‘</b></p>’ ); }).listen(8080);
The demo below shows how the Website that is constantly changing is displayed. The underlying HTML code changes each time the page is refreshed.
Note: This Website that is constantly changing example is tested using Node.js.
Website that is constantly changing Example
Now that’s a basic example of how a Website that is constantly changing behaves under the hood.
Static vs Website that is constantly changings: How Are Contents Managed?
Now you know how static and Website that is constantly changings are rendered and served. How about adding, updating, or deleting content? Suppose that you have a static personal blog website, how do you add new posts? If you have a dynamic e-commerce site, how do you add new products in your catalog?
How you manage your website content is determined on the sort of website you have. The standard Management of Content solutions are shown below.
Static Pages with Hard Coding
Whenever a website or its contents need to be updated, it nearly always necessitates coding updates. Hard coding is the most basic and perhaps the oldest way. This approach entails utilizing any text editor to change the site’s source code.
This method may be the most tedious and time-consuming because every aspect of the website must be coded manually. But, this also gives Website that is statics the flexibility over the design because every page can be different.
Some websites might benefit from writing their content in Markdown if they have a basic design and purpose. After that, convert the Markdown texts to HTML, which will result in web pages that can be posted to the webserver.
For example, the Website that is static below has three pages; index.html, page1.html, and page2.html. Although these files are a part of one Website that is static, they were written to have different designs or themes.
Example of a Website that is static with different page themes
Website that is static Generators
Instead of manually writing code, Website that is static generators offer the ability to create an entire Website that is static either from scratch or from boiler-plate templates. New posts or pages are typically written in Markdown, and HTML files are generated during the website build process.
The resulting files can then be uploaded to a webserver to bring the website to life. In some Website that is static generators, it is also possible to write content in other formats like straight-up HTML and JSON.
Below is the list of some of the most popular Website that is static generators that you can explore.
Without typing a single line of code, the example website below was created using Jekyll.
A Website that is static generated by Jekyll
System for Managing Content (CMS)
You’ve probably heard of WordPress. Drupal, Joomla, and Netlify, to name a few. These are the most well-known Management of Content systems, or CMSs.
A Management of Content system (CMS) is a program that allows you to create material for your website without having to write a single line of code. Consider it a graphical user interface (GUI) editor that allows you to generate content without having to understand the underlying programming.
Website that is constantly changings typically connect to a CMS. In fact, when you buy a web hosting package, it already includes website builders and CMS that can be deployed in a single-click (or few clicks) of the mouse. CMS is probably the reason Website that is constantly changings are the popular choice.
Website that is statics can be configured to use CMS as well. For example, Netlify has integration support with static site generators such as Jekyll, Hugo, and NextJS. Although setting up the CMS integration with these platforms usually involves more work when compared with Website that is constantly changings.
When To Use a Website that is static vs. a Website that is constantly changing
If you’re wondering when the old-age question will be answered, “Which one is better?”, you can keep waiting. There probably won’t be a definitive winner. Whether a dynamic or Website that is static is better is subjective to what your requirements are.
When deciding on the sort of website to create, there are several factors to consider. Some of the things to think about are listed below.
| Factor | Website that is static | Website that is constantly changing |
| Cost | Hosting static website is usually less expensive. They can even be hosted on GitHub Pages for free. | Because of the expected extra processing requirement, Website that is constantly changings may need a more capable hosts. Higher host specs usually means higher cost. |
| Management of Content | To update content, coding skills will be required to write HTML or Markdown (and other languages). There are established and emerging headless CMS options that support Website that is statics. | Established and popular Management of Content systems already exists such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. Updating content may never need a developer’s involvement. Users would be able to manage content on their own. This could translate to development or maintenance cost savings in the long run. |
| Extensibility | Add-ins may not be available to Website that is statics. But, third party services may be integrated into a Website that is static. Some examples are Disqus and MailChimp. | There are tools and add-ins that can extend the functionality and optimization of Website that is constantly changings. |
| Security | Securing a Website that is static can be more complex due to JavaScript running on the browser and can be exploited. This is not to say that Website that is statics cannot be secured. It’s just that developers need to be more creative for security. | Website that is constantly changing security may be easier to achieve as there are already best practices, libraries and tools that are included in server-side languages. |
| Complexity | Knowing HTML, CSS and JavaScript are the basic coding skills for Website that is static development. Other languages may be needed only if you use static site generators. | Various web development abilities and knowledge of more programming languages are usually required. |
| Backup/Recovery | Only files are being backed up. If the website crashes, files can be restored to recover a Website that is static. | It’s possible that a more sophisticated backup is required. There may be databases that need to be backed up in addition to the website. |
| Static vs Website that is constantly changing |
Conclusion
If you already own a website, you probably already know if you have a static or Website that is constantly changing. If not, then you should have learned in this article how to distinguish between these two types.
A Website that is static does not mean that what you see on the page does not change at all. It only means that the content or underlying code is pre-built and never changes. Each time a reader views a page from a Website that is static, the same code is served over and code.
A Website that is constantly changing does not mean that no homepage or HTML code is being served. Instead, the server generates the HTML page dynamically. Each request to the Website that is constantly changing may yield different content, and the HTML code behind the page typically changes.
If you’re just planning to build a new website, your choice will largely depend on its purpose. Like, e-commerce and recruitment websites may be better as dynamic. While a blog or portfolio website will find Website that is statics to be sufficient.
Website that is statics are where it all started and will probably never go away. Especially now that static site generators are gaining more popularity. Website that is constantly changings will only get better as further development happens continuously.
Additional Reading
Be sure to check out these other ATA posts if you’re interested in learning more about static and Website that is constantly changings.
A dynamic website is one that changes over time. A static website stays the same. Static websites are easier to manage, but dynamic websites can be more engaging for visitors. Reference: what is dynamic website.
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