Have you ever wondered what the difference between static and dynamic websites is? Knowing the difference between the two and being able to tell them apart can help while creating a website.

A static website is one that uses all HTML pages and doesn’t use any external pages or stylesheets. Static websites don’t refer to any type of database so if you ever need to change something you would have to go through each individual page and make any changes that were necessary. Maintaining a static website is very cost effective and are quick to develop. Hosting a static website is also cheaper than if you were to host a dynamic website. It’s a good idea for someone using a static website to make sure that the site won’t need that many changes to the content. One looking into a static website will also want to be aware that optimizing your site to search engines will be hard and the content on your site can become outdated if you don’t keep up with the maintenance of the website.

Dynamic websites are different and allow the user the ability to make changes to the site on their own. Unlike a static website, dynamic websites incorporate multiple forms of code, including PHP and CSS. Dynamic websites are supported by a database and controlled by a content management system. This means you are able to make changes to all pages using a CSS stylesheet. One downside of using a dynamic website is that it is more costly to develop and host. It also takes longer to develop.  The maintenance of a dynamic website is much easier than a static website and is more functional. Dynamic websites are helpful when you have a website that offers products online or if you plan on updating your site on a regular basis. They give you the ability to be found on search engines which will in time increase the number of visitors to your site.

Check out Windy City Web Designs. Can you tell if it is a static or dynamic website?

By Kelly Hammersmith