The Difference Between a Static Website and a Dynamic Website

If you are planning on having a website, it is important that you understand that there are two distinct types of websites: static and dynamic. We will take a few minutes here to explain to you the differences between the two, and once you are finished reading, you should have a very good understanding of both so that you can decide clearly which type of website is best for you.

Millions of us rely on a printed newspaper as a way to read the happenings in the world. A newspaper is in fact, a very good example of a static media. Once a story has been printed on a newspaper, it cannot be changed as its type has been set. You will simply have to wait until the next edition is printed in order to receive the latest news. Much in the same way, a static website cannot be changed until the webmaster or someone familiar with HTML or flash edits and/or updates the content.

A dynamic website, on the other hand, offers the owner the ability to upload information on their own, usually via a password protected interface. It is not a requirement that the owner knows HTML or website design. He can simply change the site as he pleases.

If you are attempting to rent out a cottage on a beach somewhere, and you just need to show a few photos of the outside and interior of that summer home, provide the rental rates and your contact information, a static site would be perfect. On the other hand, if you were in the real estate business in a very competitive market, you need to keep your information updated on a regular basis with your new listings. In this case a dynamic website is the perfect solution.

You may wish to go with a static website when:

• Your objective is simple. You will provide some text and some images in an eye-pleasing manner
• You do not plan to change the content often, if at all
• You are quite sure that you will not need to change or add any functionality to your site for some time well into the future
• You are not all that concerned with optimizing your site for the search engines
• You have no plans to enhance your online business

If you are serious about getting your site ranked well, you will have to update and refine your content on a regular basis. It is possible to change and update the content on a static website, but it is not convenient and does require that you know HTML. A static website can be looked at as an online business card as it is a good way of providing additional information about your existing business.

Advantages of a static website:

• Very quick to develop
• Inexpensive to develop
• Inexpensive to host

Disadvantages of a static website:

• Web development skills are required in order to update the site
• Not as useful to the user
• Content can become outdated

You may wish to go with a dynamic website when:

• You plan on selling products online
• You plan to update your website on a regular basis
• Your site will be updated by more people than just yourself
• You may want to add some functionality to your site at some time in the future
• It is very important to you to optimize your website for the search engines
• You want to gain visitors to your site

Advantages of a dynamic website:

• A highly functional website
• Very easy to update
• Fresh content draws visitors back to the site and helps in search engine ranking
• More than one user can develop/work on the site

Disadvantages of a dynamic website

• Takes longer to develop
• More costly to develop
• Costs more to host

Summary

If you are a small business owner or if the services and/or products you offer are few and easy to explain, then a static website would suit you just fine. But, if you have a lot of products and/or services and you want to allow your site visitors to be able to search through your inventory, a dynamic website is best. A static website is rather limited in its functionality while the dynamic site has a great deal of potential in terms of functionality, but it can be complex to use.