Comparison of Static and Dynamic Websites
We have discussed the basics of both static and dynamic websites. Here is the complete comparison of static and dynamic website features based on each parameters from usability to search engine visibility.
| Parameters | Static Webpage | Dynamic Webpage |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Loads the same content every time the page is reloaded. | 1. Loads different content each time the page is loaded or refreshed. 2. Provides interactive features within the page without re-loading. |
| Browser | 1. Browser sends the HTTP request and receives the response from the server. 2. Interprets the markups in the received HTML document and display it as a webpage. | 1. Client side scripting works in the same manner like a static page and the browser process the script code. 2. Server side scripting involves processing of the script code at server side before sending it to the client’s browser. |
| Browser Settings | No special settings required. | JavaScript is to be enabled in all type of browsers to see dynamic behaviors of a site. |
| Complexity | Less complex | 1. Client side scripting involves medium complexity. 2. Server side scripting involves high complexity. |
| Cost | 1. In most of the cases it costs only a domain name. 2. Free hosting is available with most of the website builder tools. | 1. Separate hosting account is required to access server side, hence sites involving server side scripting needs high cost compared to the static or sites involving client side scripting. |
| Google Analytics | 1. Installing Analytics code is simple. 2. Copy the Analytics script code and paste it in the header section of a page. | Needs to follow the difficult process using Tracking Code wizard for installing Analytics code in a PHP or ASP page. |
| Interactive Features | No interactive features are provided to the visitors. | 1. Simple features like form validations are done with JavaScript. 2. Complex features like login module are created with PHP. |
| Language | 1. Static pages are generally created with Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). 2. It is not necessary that all HTML pages are static. Scripts can be embedded in a static HTML document. | 1. Dynamic pages are created with scripting languages. 2. Client side scripting language includes JavaScript, ActionScript and Flash. 3. Server side scripting language includes PHP, ASP, JSP, ASP.NET, ColdFusion, Perl and WebDNA. |
| Layout and Content | Both content and layout of a static webpages are fixed. | Layout and content can be changed independently in a dynamic webpage. |
| Loading | Static page loads very fast since no script processing at client and server side is required. | Dynamic page loads slowly compared to a static page since it involves processing of client or server side scripts. |
| Multimedia | Simple video or audio elements can be added to a static site. | 1. Flash objects can be added to a dynamic site. 2. Flash objects respond to the user inputs and provide more interactive features. |
| Page Name | Static page name mostly ends with .html or .htm. | Dynamic page name ends with .php or .asp. |
| Page Speed | Loads very fast. | 1. Loads slow due to script processing. 2. Sometimes script becomes non-responsive and forces the browser to close. |
| Personalized | Content can’t be personalized for a specific user. | Content can be personalized for a specific user based on login or any other parameter. |
| SEO | Search engines easily index the static pages. | 1. Since the content of a same page is changing, search engines finds it difficult to index dynamic pages. 2. Webmasters can redirect dynamic pages to a static one so that the search engines can index it easily. |
| Server | Server receives the request and sends the HTML document as it is. | Server processes the script code if required before sending the document to the client. |
| Setup | It is easy to setup a static website using any website builder tools. | It is difficult to setup a dynamic site since the setting up of content management system is more time consuming. |
| Some Examples | Any fixed content site can be a static site. | 1. Simple form validations using JavaScript. 2. Complex server side activities like login, session id tracking and payment gateway for credit card processing. |
| Source Code | 1. Source code of a static page will show the HTML content along with embedded client side scripts if any. 2. Right click on any webpage to see the source code. | 1. Source code of a dynamic page will only show the HTML content and does not show any server side script code. 2. For example, check the source code of any .php page and you will not find any PHP codes. |
| Suitablility | 1. More suitable for distributing fixed information created and maintained by the site owner. | Suitable for sites providing more interactive and customized features based on user login or other inputs. |
| User Friendliness | Less user friendly due to the fixed content. | More user friendly by providing customized content. |
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