Static vs Dynamic Web Pages – Key Differences You Must Know

Static and dynamic webpages are HTML documents delivered from a server to a browser. The key distinction lies in where the content resides and how it is served.

Static Web Pages

A static webpage’s content is pre-built: the developer prepares the webpage’s information in advance and saves it on the server. The content does not update automatically; it remains unchanged for all users. Every adjustment requires direct modification of the source code by a person, not automated processes.

In other words, static webpages have fixed content. Users get the pages exactly as the developer stored them. Once live, no one, not even administrators, can modify the content. To make changes, you must alter the website’s code.

Tip

Static webpages are finalized when they are deployed to the server.

Dynamic Web Pages

A dynamic webpage’s content resides in a database. The server injects this content into the page when a user requests it. The HTML contains placeholders, which are filled with live data from the database. The page can display new or different content while the site is active.

In other words, dynamic websites use HTML templates (a file with standard HTML and placeholders for dynamic content). The server inserts data into these placeholders at runtime, avoiding the need to create separate pages for different data sets.

Tip

Dynamic webpages are finalized as users request them.

Request-Response Steps

Static:

1. Users request webpages through URLs in their browser.
2. The server responds by sending the pre-built pages without updating any of their content.

Dynamic:

1. Users request webpages through URLs in their browser.
2. The server retrieves the template for the requested page and fills its placeholders with data from the database.
3. The server sends the completed page to the user.

Use-Cases

A static webpage is best for small, informational sites that do not require personalized customizations or frequent updates.

A dynamic webpage is ideal for sites with large amounts of content, as templates minimize the number of individual pages stored on the server.

For example, the Amazon website utilizes HTML templates and databases, eliminating the need for thousands of static pages. Instead of creating a separate static page for every product, Amazon stores product data in a database.

When users request to view a product, Amazon’s server fills a predefined HTML template with the relevant product data from the database.

Server Processing

Static webpages do not require fetching data from a database, so servers process them faster than dynamic websites.

Page Personalization

Dynamic webpages allow personalizing pages for each user. On the other hand, static pages always show the same fixed content.

Server-Side Scripting

Dynamic websites require backend code, which involves extra programming on the server to retrieve information or process requests. However, static websites do not require server-side programming.

Cost

Static webpages generally cost less than dynamic sites because they use fewer server resources, needing no databases or backend logic.

Content Management

Managing content on a dynamic website is accessible to a broader audience—they often use content management systems and user-friendly interfaces, such as forms, which let non-technical users update content. So, managing content usually needs no coding.

Updating static webpages requires technical skill, as changes are made directly in the source code.

Tip

A website can have both static and dynamic pages. Such a site is referred to as a hybrid website.