Learn the pros and cons of static and dynamic websites, so you can choose which of them is most convenient for your business.

If you are a regular Internet user, you have surely come across these different types of websites more than once. But, it is possible that you still do not know how to differentiate between one and the other.

Each of these types of web pages has a specific use, especially when it comes to business. It all depends on the goals you are pursuing and how much automation you need to achieve them.

So if you are thinking about creating a website, one of the first decisions you will have to make is the type of website to create. In this article, we're going to compare and contrast static and dynamic websites to help you choose the right one for you.

What Are Static Websites?

They are sites whose content and structure is fixed, regardless of who you are, or from where or with which browser you access. These are the types of sites that have proliferated since the beginning of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the information only changes when the person responsible wishes it to.

They are commonly created through programmers who use languages ​​​​such as HTML, CSS and Javascript to structure and style the content, although it is also possible through certain types of CMS.

These types of pages do not include connections to databases and other interactivity elements.

For example, many businesses and personal brands need to create a website for the sole purpose of providing fixed information to visitors about who they are and what they do.

To do this, they create a static website that remains available in a single language and without major interactive aspects.

Also, it is very easy to recognize this type of website on the so-called landing pages or traditional sales pages, as well as on link pages or social landing pages and on blogs.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Static Websites or Web Pages

Static websites have a number of advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before deciding if they are the right option for you.

Advantages:

●       They are easier to create and maintain:Static websites require less time to create and maintain, because they have simpler structures.

●       They are safer:By having simpler structures or separating design spaces from programming spaces, they are less vulnerable to computer attacks and easier to recover.

●       They are indexed more easily in search engines:This is because they are easier for search algorithms to understand.

●       They are faster:Their structures are simple and make use of storage caches from across the network to serve pages faster.

●       Design freedom:By having full access to the site's programming, it is possible to create designs completely adjusted to the user's wishes.

Disadvantages:

●       They cannot be easily updated:Static websites can only be updated by changing the HTML, CSS and Javascript files. This can be a slow and laborious process.

●       They are not very interactive:Static websites cannot offer interactive features, such as contact forms or shopping carts.

●       They are not as scalable:Static websites can be difficult to scale if your traffic increases due to content being rendered in the user's browser. This means that if the website receives a sudden increase in traffic, it may slow down or even crash the website.

What Are Dynamic Websites?

Unlike the previous one, dynamic websites offer interactivity and even personalized experiences based on various aspects or events. These may change their appearance or content based on who you are, where you are accessing from, and other elements.

For example, if you enter Google's email address in a browser, it will be displayed in the official language of the country you are accessing from. If you need to find a hotel for your vacation, when you explore Booking you will have specific content based on dates and locations.

When you access Amazon, it shows specific offers based on your product preferences or purchases you have made previously. All these aspects give dynamism to the content and expanded functions to the website.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dynamic Websites or Web Pages

Dynamic websites also have advantages and disadvantages that you should know:

Advantages

●       They provide extensive functionalities:With a dynamic site, company or personal brand processes are delegated to make them more automatic and efficient.

●       They offer better user experience:This is due to the extensive customization potentials when considering the individual qualities of the user.

●       They are easier to update:As they are based on traditional CMS or Content Management Systems such as Wordpress or Shopify, they are easier sites to manage because they include many automatic or easily accessible functions without technical knowledge.

●       They are more attractive to users:This type of site usually has greater traffic drag because it connects more with the end user.

●       They are easily scalable:They can handle more traffic without affecting performance as dynamic content is generated on the server, allowing the website to be split across different servers to support higher traffic.

Disadvantages

●       Limited Design:Although there may be a wide variety of themes or templates to work with, they will never be as free as creating a site according to the user's desires and expectations.

●       Most insecure:As these are crowded platforms, it is possible to quickly fall into attacks.

●       Slower:Because it includes dynamic content which involves connections to databases and other types of processing, these sites take longer to respond to the user. This can affect some aspects of positioning and indexing in search engines.

What is a Hybrid Website?

A hybrid website combines elements of static and dynamic websites. That is, it uses static content for the design and structure of the website, and dynamic content for data and interactive functions.

Hybrid websites offer the advantages of both types of websites. They are easy to create and maintain, like static websites, but can also offer interactive features, like dynamic websites.

The problem is that this technology is still being studied, so it may be more expensive in terms of exploration and risks.

When to Choose a Static, Dynamic or Hybrid Website?

Choosing between a static or dynamic website depends on your needs and budget.

If all you need is to display information under a specific number of pages and that does not need to be constantly changed, the best option for you is a static page.

It is also true if what you want is to publish articles or resources such as photos, audios or videos in small quantities and in a place managed directly by you. This will give your site greater speed and security, with greater indexing facilities at a lower cost.

If you want to generate experiences that provide more connection with the user, customizing functionalities or extending the operation of the business to the web, you must decide on a dynamic website with all its aspects.

This will reduce the speed of the site and make indexing difficult, increasing the cost but you will gain functionality.

Finally, you'll be able to choose a hybrid website that gives you the best of all worlds, like speed and scalability, but with the risks posed by the novelty of emerging technologies.

Conclusion

Choosing between a static or dynamic website depends on your needs and budget.

Static websitesThey are a good option for companies or projects that need something simple and economical. They are easy to create and maintain, and do not require programming or database knowledge.

dynamic websitesThey are a good choice for those who need complex and interactive features. They are more difficult to create and maintain, but offer more scalability.

Hybrid websitesThey are ideal for brands or businesses looking for something that is easy to create and maintain, but also offers interactive features.

Thanks for your time ;-)