Before creating a website, you must know which type of website is best suited for you.
Do you need a static website? Or do you need to go for a dynamic one?
Knowing this beforehand will make your website creation journey smooth.
So in this blog post, I'll explore the topic "Static vs Dynamic Website" to help you decide.
I'll break down the key differences between static and dynamic websites, their advantages and disadvantages, show you some examples, and help you decide which one is right for you.
Ready? Let's dive in!
Key Differences Between Static and Dynamic Websites
Before I dive into the nitty-gritty, let's quickly go over some key differences between static and dynamic websites:
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Static websites contain fixed information and elements to be shown to everyone, while dynamic websites can display different information and elements to different users.
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Static websites are faster and require fewer resources. Dynamic websites require more time and resources but they offer more functionality.
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Static websites are easier to create Dynamic websites take longer to setup initially but they are more efficient to manage.
Got it? Great! Now let's explore each type of website in more detail.
What is a Static Website?
A static website is like a digital brochure. It's pre-built, meaning the content and layout are fixed and will only change if you manually update the source code.
Think of it as a printed flyer – once it's printed, you can't change the content without reprinting it. Simple.
Static websites are built with only HTML, CSS, and Javascript. When users browse static website pages, each web page is accessed as an HTML file, representing the most basic structure of a web page.
The term "static website" might create a misconception that it doesn't have any interactive elements, as "static" means lack of action or movement. But it's not true.
A static website can have clickable buttons and links, web forms, images, videos, etc., to make the site interactive and engaging.
But one thing is constant. Everyone will see the same elements when they visit a static site.
Some popular examples of static websites are portfolio websites, company brochure sites, product promo pages, landing pages, etc.
Advantages of a Static Website
Let's discuss the advantages you will enjoy if you go for a static website over dynamic sites.
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Faster Page Loading Speed: One of the biggest advantages of static websites is their speed. Since the content is pre-built and the same content is shown to everyone, there's no need for a web server to generate the pages on-the-fly. It ensures faster load times for your visitors. And who doesn't love a fast-loading website?
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Less Creation Time: Static websites are relatively easy to create. With some basic knowledge of HTML and CSS, you can have a simple static website up and running in no time. No need for complex programming or databases – just plain and simple code.
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Potential for Enhanced Security: Static sites have fewer technical components, which means there's less potential for security vulnerabilities. With no server-side processing or databases, there's less room for hackers to exploit your site. Sounds good, right?
Disadvantages of a Static Website
Now let's peek at the other side of the coin and see what problems static websites bring.
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Limited Scalability: Managing a static website can become a challenge as your website grows. Adding new pages or updating content requires manual changes to the source files. You have to rely on your developers for every little change. It can be a time-consuming process and is prone to errors. Not ideal for a growing business.
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Less Efficient Management: Static websites lack the content management systems (CMS) that dynamic websites have. You'll need to manually update and maintain your site, which can be tedious and inefficient. You might have to spend hours updating all the HTML, CSS, and Javascript files.
You can use static site generators or website builders like Dorik, Gatsby, Gridsome, etc., to avoid the coding part and create a website effortlessly.
Static Website Examples
Let's show you some examples of static sites to clarify the concept further.
1. Brochure Site
Super Soco is an excellent example of a static site. It's an impeccably designed brochure website. The information on a brochure website hardly changes, and everyone who visits the website sees the same things.
2. Portfolio Site
Portfolio sites are one of the best examples of static websites as they contain fixed information.
Look at this portfolio of Modhurima Chowdhury Proma, a no-code website developer who built this static site using the Dorik website builder.
What is a Dynamic Website?
A dynamic website is a collection of dynamic web pages. It is like a digital chameleon. It changes and adapts based on user interactions, server-side processing, and database queries.
Think of it as a living, breathing digital organism that evolves with your needs. Pretty cool, huh?
You can tailor the content of a dynamic website to the visitors' needs. You can show different elements and information to visitors based on their behavior.
To build a dynamic website, you can choose a content management system (CMS) like Dorik or use web frameworks like Ruby, Vue.js, Django, etc., at its core.
Some popular dynamic website examples are content-heavy sites (i.e., news portals like BBC), websites with user-generated content (i.e., Facebook, Twitter), and various user-driven online services (i.e., Netflix, Amazon)
Advantages of a Dynamic Website
It's time to discuss the good things that will happen when you create a dynamic website.
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Easy to Update: Dynamic websites use a database or CMS (Content Management System), which makes updating content a breeze. No need to dig into source files – just log in to your CMS, make your changes, and hit publish. You can change something in one place, and it will be displayed across all pages. Simple and efficient!
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Better User Experience: Dynamic websites can provide visitors a more personalized and interactive experiences. You can use mechanisms like users' cookies and locations to provide a tailored experience. For example, if you design and create a restaurant website, you can use your user's location to perform local SEO to increase your website’s visibility.
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Greater Functionality: Dynamic websites can offer more advanced features and functionality, such as online shopping, payment transaction, user accounts, and personal dashboards. It can help you to create a more engaging and feature-rich website that keeps your visitors returning for more.
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Scalability Opportunities: A dynamic website can grow with your business. The website will be connected to a CMS or database so that it can handle large amounts of data. So you won't have to worry about any performance issues when your website's traffic constantly increases.
Disadvantages of a Dynamic Website
The good and the bad coexist in this world, and it's true for everything, even for dynamic websites.
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Takes More Resources to Create: Dynamic websites require more resources and expertise. The design process will be complex. You will have to define logical rules for content structure. You'll need to be an expert programmer or hire a professional web developer. It'll add to the overall cost.
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Security Issues: Dynamic websites have a lot of technical components, which can be more vulnerable to a security breach. You will need sound knowledge about website security to ensure your site's safety.
By the way, if you use Dorik to build your dynamic websites, the disadvantages will instantly disappear.
With Dorik on your side, you won't need to hire any developer to create a website, and for site security, you will get a free SSL/TLS certificate with every site built with Dorik.
Dynamic Website Examples
It’s time to show you some examples of dynamic websites that provides users with a customized and personalized experience.
1. Dorik
Dorik is one of the best no-code website builders that allows anyone to build a website.
This website provides a seamless user experience with interactive elements and teleports users to the website builder tool after signing up.
2. Twitter
Anyone who doesn't live in a cave knows about Twitter. According to internet live stats, this platform handles over 6000 tweets per second on average, so you can imagine the dynamic changes Twitter's user interface goes through.
3. Netflix
Netflix suggests TV shows and movies based on what you watch and the information you provide in your profile.
This personalized user interface has helped Netflix become the most popular streaming service it is today.
4. American Chess Magazine
American Chess Magazine is a small e-commerce website built with Dorik CMS that sells chess magazines and books. You can add products to your cart, buy them and leave reviews on this dynamic site.
5. Feature Flux
Feature Flux is another dynamic website built with the Dorik no-code website builder. It allows designers to receive feedback on their product designs from clients or stakeholders.
Create Dynamic or Static Websites with Dorik
You can easily create a static or dynamic website using Dorik with some easy-to-follow steps. Here's how:
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Visit dorik.com and sign up. You'll be redirected to a dashboard.
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Inside the dashboard, click on the type of website you want to create: Static or Dynamic (CMS).
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After selecting the type, you need to click on Create New Site. It'll take you to the starting point where you can choose a website template to make the process faster and easier.
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Then you will need to set a project name and choose a subdomain name for your site to be published under the main domain of Dorik. You can connect a custom domain name with a premium plan later.
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After that, you will see the builder, where you can play with your site's design and publish it.
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You will get a dedicated CMS dashboard for each dynamic site you build to maintain the site.
That's it. Following those steps will make you the proud owner of a website.
That's the short version, of course. A wide range of features and functionalities are available inside the Dorik website builder for you to explore.
Feel free to check them out in your free time.
Some relevant good reads:
FAQs About Static and Dynamic Websites Answered
Should I design a Static or a Dynamic website?
It depends on your needs and goals. A static website might be the way to go if you need a simple, fast, and secure website with minimal functionality.
But a dynamic website could be your best bet if you're looking for a more interactive, feature-rich, and scalable website.
Is a static website good for SEO?
Yes, a static website is great for SEO. Static websites typically have faster load times and fewer security vulnerabilities, which are factors that make users willing to visit a site. The more traffic a site has, the more chance there is to enter its name in Google’s good book.
However, following SEO best practices, such as optimizing your content, using relevant keywords, and creating a mobile-friendly design, is essential to ensure your static website ranks well in search results.
If you have any questions about SEO, there’s a good chance you’ll find the answer to it in our SEO FAQ guide.
Final Thoughts
"Static vs Dynamic Website" is an evergreen topic in the web development industry. Everyone who enters this space needs to acquire this knowledge.
Both static and dynamic website have their fair share of pros and cons. So it's essential to carefully consider your needs, resources, and goals to decide the right type of website for you.
Now that you're equipped with this knowledge, you're one step closer to creating the perfect website for your needs.
You can create any type of professional website without any coding skills with Dorik. It's simple, user-friendly, and convenient; you'll love it.
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