Let’s dig into the primary differences — as well as the pros and cons — of static and dynamic websites.

When building a new website, choosing to build a static or dynamic website is one of the first decisions that web designers make.

To make the right decision, you need to understand the difference between the two.

In web design, static and dynamic websites refer to the way they display content. A static website offers the same content to all visitors, while a dynamic website can tailor content per individual visitor.

Let’s explore the concepts of static and dynamic websites, learn the pros and cons of each, and discuss what concept is better to follow when you build your website.

What is a static website?

The word “static” is typically used to describe something that is lacking in movement, action, or change. A static website is a website made up of a collection of static pages, or pages that don’t change, created by HTML, CSS, and Javascript. In its simplest form, each web page is represented as an HTML file visitors access while browsing a website. Static websites appear the same for every visitor who accesses them, and the only way to change this is to modify the source files.

Though the term “static website” might give you a false impression that this kind of website doesn’t have any interactive elements — static websites can have interactive elements like web forms, although those elements cannot be tailored per individual user.

Static websites generally work for smaller websites with a limited number of pages and don’t require frequent content updates. Examples of static sites include a personal portfolio, a company brochure site, and a product promo page.

Pros and cons of a static website

Most avengers of static websites come from their relative simplicity:

• Ease of creation. Static websites don’t require creating any logic for content loading from a database. Today, anyone can create a static website using an online website builder.
• Good performance. Static websites require minimal back-end processing. Because all content is predetermined, it’s possible to optimize it to offer better performance. For example, web designers can use caching so the content will be delivered without delays.
• Better level of security. Since static websites require much fewer tech building blocks to perform, they are generally less affected by security issues.

But static websites have a few downsides, too:

• Time-consuming content management. On static websites, content and design are not separated; if you want to modify content, you need to dive into source code to do so. Introducing site-wide updates on a static website can be tedious because all changes should be introduced manually on all individual pages.
• Poor scalability. If you need to add 100 new pages to your website, you will need to create all 100 pages manually, and every page will be built as a separate entity. The faster your website grows, the harder it will be to manage it.
• Unable to offer tailored experience. Static websites allow limited or no personalization and customization for visitors. It’s possible to provide only limited real-time tweaks based on user behavior. As a result, static websites might not work for eCommerce sites, for example,  because it’s impossible to tailor the shopping experience to customers.

What is a dynamic website?

The word “dynamic” is often used to describe something that constantly changes or progresses. Dynamic websites generate content on the fly, loading it from a database. The dynamic content on pages can be tailored to the visitor’s needs (based on visitor behavior). This means a dynamic site can present different information to different visitors. Dynamic websites typically have a content management system (CMS) or a web framework like Ruby at its core, and they work best for websites that require frequent content updates.

Examples of dynamic websites include content-heavy portals (i.e., news resources like CNN), websites with user-generated content (i.e., social media platforms like Twitter), and various online services with user-driven content (i.e., online entertainment platforms like Netflix that offer recommendations based on viewing habits).

Pros and cons of a dynamic website

The list of advantages of dynamic websites include:

• Ease of content management. Dynamic websites make it much easier to manage content on a website. Changes can be done in one place and applied across all pages. For example, a site owner can update company contact information and be sure that the relevant information is displayed across the entire website.
• Easy to update the visual design. Since content and design on dynamic websites are separate, it’s easier to introduce changes to a page’s layout. If a website uses a CMS, it’s possible to use a different visual theme. It allows web creators to stay current with the latest visual design trends.
• Better visitor experience. It’s possible to use mechanisms like user location and cookies to offer tailored experiences to visitors. For example, when you design a property booking website, you can use the visitor’s location to show them offerings in their area.

Because dynamic websites are more complex than static websites, they also have disadvantages:

• More complex web design process. When you create a dynamic website, you must invest time in creating business logic. You will need to define rules on how content will be organized in a database (content structure) and accessed by visitors (define rules on how to display the content).
• Higher cost of creation. Dynamic websites have a higher cost of creation because they are typically more hardware demanding (i.e., dynamic websites require database insurance) and require technical expertise (i.e., you need to know how to use a CMS or have coding skills).
• Performance and security problems. Dynamic websites can be affected by various performance and security issues. Since dynamic websites have more technical components, each component can affect the performance and be vulnerable to a security breach.

Should I design a static or dynamic website?

There is no single correct answer to this question. The nature of your content and the experience you want to offer to your audience should define the type of website you want to build. If you’re starting to develop a new website, it’s safer to begin by creating a static one because it will help you launch faster and better understand how to effectively organize your information. Once you see how visitors interact with your website, you will know what content they want to see.

It’s essential to mention that these days, most websites belong to the category of hybrid websites. Hybrid websites have a set of static web pages (content that doesn’t change very often), as well as a set of dynamic web pages. For example, you can blend some static and dynamic functionality on your company’s website with a set of static pages (i.e., “About us,” “Our mission,” etc.), as well as dynamic ones (pages where content changes frequently, such as a blog or a private user space where users can track the status of their requests).

Getting started on your site

Whether you choose to build a dynamic or static site, it’s important to make sure that on both the frontend and backend, it is well designed and works well for your specific business needs. To get started, be sure to check out our ultimate web design course.

If you are interested in original article by Nick Babich you can find it here

More isn’t always better when it comes to web design. A well-done one-page website can communicate the products or services of small businesses and individual professionals. Even if the site structure seems limited, its simple layout could be effective at enticing audiences to focus on a specific aspect of a business and driving conversions

Looking to create your own one-page website design? In this article, we’ll compile some examples to give you some inspiration.

1. Use Impactful Headings

How will you pitch your product in just a few words? Quack—a video recording tool—uses clear and concise headings. The heading “more than a video recorder” and the subheadings “tackle your bugs with full context” and “record bugs and capture network and console logs” summarize its features on the home page. If you have hesitations about getting the product, the call to action (CTA) “Add to Chrome – It’s free” will encourage readers to try it out for themselves.

Source: Quack

2. Create Interactive Elements

Game designer Martin Gauer has a one-page portfolio with interactive elements. Upon clicking the page, you’ll find a Game Boy made out of 100% HTML and CSS that highlights his skills as a developer and creative. There is also more about his interests, skills and profession. Follow this example to pique people’s interest and unconsciously encourage them to continue interacting with your website.

Source: Martin Gauer

3. Display High-Quality Photos

The Twenty Fourth Pizza & Meatballs website proves high-quality food photos are all you need to make your restaurant stand out from the crowd. To present products in the best light, you’ll find combined high-quality photos, menus and product details. Guaranteed to tempt customers with its mouth-watering products, this restaurant will surely receive orders from hungry visitors.

Source: Twenty Fourth Pizza & Meatballs

4. Catchy Puns and Parodies

Having a consistent color scheme will instantly make your brand recognizable. No one understands this better than Apple Plug—a parody site of Apple products.

It jokingly offers a slim plug that fits in your headphone jack but won’t be removed. Since the page has an Apple logo and product photos akin to real-life Apple products, it fools individuals into thinking it was launched by the tech giant.

Source: Apple Plug

5. Use Horizontal Scrolling

Experience design agency Neverland shows off its expertise via a centralized interactive image on its website. In fact, the first thing you’ll see is a 360-degree view of a conceptual work of art with horizontal scrolling. For those looking to learn more about Neverland, there’s more information about its services and notable clients too. All of these elements combined make for a polished and professional page that can make clients stop and stare.

Source: Neverland Agency

6. Encourage Engagement

Relays is a branding studio that encapsulates what branding means. The page has a consistent blue and white color scheme highlighting its dedication to crafting consistent visual identities for a variety of clients. As another cool feature, you’ll have to click the CTA button “Next: Who” to reach the next section of the page instead of scrolling down.

Source: Relays

7. Demonstrate the Product or Service

The goal of Alinea is to build a social investing app for crypto, playlists and stocks. Its website is simple: Just get the app, and you’ll see what your friends are investing in, share playlists, invest in cryptocurrency and learn bite-sized investment insights.

Combining high-quality photos, interactive graphics, consistent design and informative copy, this homepage does a great job of getting interested visitors to try the product themselves.

Source: Alinea

8. Gamify the Experience

The Lucky Bones offers stunning 3D animated lucky charms through the Ethereum blockchain. It has a Lucky Wheel that users can spin to reap stickers, wallpapers and emojis.

This site is another example of how scrolling can enrich your branding and user experience.
Much like the popular “Spin the Wheel,” it has a horizontal scrolling feature to replicate a wheel’s movement.

A glove icon functions as a cursor or mouse pointer that changes colors each time you click. If you don’t want to scroll horizontally, hover the cursor to the lower right-hand corner. Here, you’ll find clickable buttons to reach a section of the web page with the click of a button.

Source: The Lucky Bones

9. Orient Users With a Map

If you want to promote your apartment listings, a one-page website can do the trick. This Brooklyn-based property business has informational sections about the type of units, amenities and floor plans for interested tenants. Visitors can also find information about nearby Citi Bike stations, public transportation, parks, coffee shops and supermarkets and click the “Get Direction” button to find its location via Google Maps. Overall, this information makes it easy for tenants to decide whether they’re interested in checking out the property.

Source: The Rafael

10. Play a Movie or Slideshow

From a visual perspective, The Art of Texture does an impressive job of introducing the artworks of its owner—Tom Lawrence. The artist believes that rubbish can be transformed into something beautiful which is conveyed by his images, videos and slideshows. Whenever the mouse pointer hovers over the creative pieces, you’ll find the title, details or click the image to view its larger version. Overall, the site’s clever use of visual elements are enough to pique the interest of art connoisseurs.

Source: The Art of Texture

11. Showcase the End Result

Pixelmator Pro has impressive photographs and screenshots featuring its extensive collection of powerful professional image editing tools. Each individual section manages to highlight the product’s capabilities, be it its handcrafted dual-texture brushes, intuitive workspace, remove background tool and machine learning capabilities. If you’re looking to showcase the capabilities of your software, try replicating this example.

Source: Pixelmator Pro

12. Make Navigation Effortless

Graphic design firm Panache has a website with fantastic scrolling experiences combined with animation effects and colorful transitions. The navigational links on the side make it easy for users to move from one section to the other. Instead of presenting a series of projects, the visual experience highlights the team’s skills despite not opening a new tab. It’s clear the designers are experts and have a lot to offer, which entices users to convert.

Source: Panache

13. Keep it Simple

Typically, educational websites display a lot of textual data to prove their point. The one-pager of World Pollution diverges from this example with its interactive pages about the world pollution phenomenon. Clicking a number on the globe triggers pop-ups about environmental issues and potential solutions. It’s an effective way at keeping readers engaged about world issues across the globe.

Source: World Pollution

14. Use Colors That Evoke Emotion

Jivati offers refreshing vodka seltzers with natural flavors. Its optimism and cheerful vibe are depicted in its vibrant color gradients, floating cans and fly-in typography.

Also, notable is the site’s compelling copy. Upon landing on the website, viewers can find information about its ingredients and variety packs that accurately represent the brand’s fun and bold personality. There’s also an option to check out where to buy the product and view retailer locations via Google Maps.

Source: Jivati

15. Let Customers Speak Out

Washington, D.C. restaurant Falafel offers a close-up view of its dishes and, above all, an overview of its menu, which leaves a strong impression. As if that weren’t enough, it shares the ingredients of each item on the menu to convey that each item is all-natural, fresh and sourced locally. Having doubts about buying from this restaurant? Just head to the reviews section at the bottom to find five-star Yelp reviews from loyal patrons.

Bottom Line

One-page websites are a testament to the fact that sometimes simple is better. The ideal one-page websites have seamless navigation, high-quality images and a compelling call to action. Here’s hoping this list of stunning websites inspires your own sites too.

If you are interested in original article by Monique Danao you can find it here