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Static web page

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A static web page (sometimes called a flat page or a stationary page) is a web page that is delivered to the user's web browser exactly as stored,[1] in contrast to dynamic web pages which are generated by a web application.[2]

Consequently, a static web page often displays the same information for all users, from all contexts, subject to modern capabilities of a web server to negotiate content-type or language of the document where such versions are available and the server is configured to do so.[3] However, a site's scripts can introduce dynamic functionality, which may make a static web page appear dynamic.

A static web page is a type of web page that is delivered to the user's web browser exactly as it is stored, without any changes or modifications. This is in contrast to dynamic web pages, which are generated by a web application and can change based on user input or other factors. Static web pages are often used to display information that is the same for all users, such as a company's contact information or a product catalog. While static web pages do not have the same level of interactive functionality as dynamic web pages, they can still be made to appear dynamic through the use of scripts.

There are several advantages to using static web pages, including speed, reliability, and performance.

Speed: Static web pages can be faster to load than dynamic web pages because they do not require any server-side processing. This can be especially beneficial for users with slow internet connections or for websites that receive a large amount of traffic.

Reliability: Static web pages are less prone to errors and downtime because they do not rely on server-side processes or databases. This makes them a more reliable option for displaying important information.

Performance: Static web pages can also be more efficient in terms of performance, as they do not require the server to process requests or retrieve data from a database. This can help to reduce the load on the server and improve the overall performance of the website.

Overall, static web pages can be a useful option for displaying simple, static information on a website. However, they may not be suitable for more complex or interactive applications, in which case a dynamic web page may be a better choice.[4]

Overview

Static web pages are often HTML documents[5] stored as files in the file system and made available by the web server over HTTP (nevertheless URLs ending with ".html" are not always static). However, loose interpretations of the term could include web pages stored in a database, and could even include pages formatted using a template and served through an application server, as long as the page served is unchanging and presented essentially as stored.

Static web pages are suitable for content that never or rarely needs to be updated, though modern web template systems are changing this. Maintaining large numbers of static pages as files can be impractical without automated tools, such as static site generators. Any personalization or interactivity has to run client-side, which is restricting.[6]

Advantages of a static website

  • Provide improved security over dynamic websites (dynamic websites are at risk to web shell attacks if a vulnerability is present)[7]
  • Improved performance for end users compared to dynamic websites[8]
  • Fewer or no dependencies on systems such as databases or other application servers [9]
  • Cost savings from utilizing cloud storage, as opposed to a hosted environment[10]
  • Security configurations are easy to setup, which makes it more secure[11]

Disadvantages of a static website

  • Dynamic functionality must be performed on the client side.[6] Static web pages do not have the same level of interactive functionality as dynamic web pages, which can make them less engaging for users.
  • No database integration: Static web pages do not have the ability to connect to a database, which means that they cannot display dynamic or changing information.
  • Limited scalability: Static web pages are not well-suited for sites with a large amount of content or that receive a lot of traffic. This is because each page must be created and maintained individually, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
  • Limited user input: Static web pages do not allow for user input, such as form submissions or comments. This can make it difficult for users to interact with the site or provide feedback.
  • Limited search engine optimization: Static web pages may not be as effective at attracting organic traffic from search engines, as they do not offer the same level of flexibility and control as dynamic web pages.

Static site generators

Main article: Static site generator

Static site generators are applications that compile static websites - typically populating HTML templates in a predefined folder and file structure, with content supplied in a format such as MarkDown or Asciidoc.

Examples of static site generators include:

There are many static site generators available, and new ones are constantly being developed. Some popular static site generators include:

  1. Jekyll: A widely used static site generator that is written in Ruby and designed to be easy to use and customize.
  2. Gatsby: A static site generator built with React that is designed to be fast and scalable.
  3. Hugo: A static site generator written in Go that is known for its speed and simplicity.
  4. Eleventy: A static site generator that is flexible and easy to use, with support for a wide range of template languages.
  5. Hexo: A fast and simple static site generator written in JavaScript.
  6. Next.js: can be used as a static site generator. In fact, one of the main benefits of Next.js is that it allows developers to easily build static websites as well as server-rendered and dynamically-generated web applications. To use Next.js as a static site generator, you can use the next export command to generate a set of static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that can be served by any web server. This allows you to create a fast and scalable static website that is optimized for performance and SEO. Next.js also includes features such as automatic code splitting and automatic optimization of images, which can help to improve the performance of your static website. Additionally, you can use Next.js to add dynamic functionality to your static website through the use of client-side JavaScript or by using APIs to fetch data from a server. Overall, Next.js is a powerful and flexible tool that can be used to build a wide range of web applications, including static websites.
  7. Pelican (Python)

It is worth noting that the best static site generator for your project will depend on your specific needs and preferences. It is often a good idea to try out several different generators to see which one works best for you.

References

  1. ^ Melendez, Steven (10 August 2018). "The Difference Between Dynamic & Static Web Pages". Chron. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019. Static by definition means something that does not change. The first pages on the World Wide Web were largely static and unchanged, delivering the same information about a particular topic to anyone who visited. In some cases, sites may evolve slightly over time but are still largely static, meaning that they only change when manually changed by their creators, not on a regular and automated basis.
  2. ^ "Definition of: dynamic Web page". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2019. A Web page that provides custom content for the user based on the results of a search or some other request.
  3. ^ "Site statique ou dynamique" [Static or dynamic site]. morphenZero (in French). Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2019. Ces pages peuvent présenter toute forme de contenu, animations flash, images, musique, vidéo etc... mais elles sont toujours présentées de la même façon.
  4. ^ "Static Website Design". Web Design Company | Custom Website Development Firm in Pakistan | HOSTRINGS. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  5. ^ "What is a Static Web Page? - Definition from Techopedia". Techopedia.com. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  6. ^ a b Bouças, Eduardo (20 May 2015). "An Introduction to Static Site Generators". Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019. A dangerous solution: There's an easy exit for whenever you're faced with the challenge of dynamically updating content on a static site: "I can do it with JavaScript". Doing processing on the client-side and appending the results to the page after it's been served can be the right approach for some cases, but must not be seen as the magic solution that turns your static site into a full dynamic one.
  7. ^ "Why use a static site generator? - Jekyll Tips". Jekyll Tips. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  8. ^ "Why Static Website Generators Are The Next Big Thing – Smashing Magazine". Smashing Magazine. 2015-11-02. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  9. ^ Bouças, Eduardo (20 May 2015). "An Introduction to Static Site Generators". Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2019. Less hassle with the server: Installing and maintaining the infrastructure required to run a dynamic site can be quite challenging, especially when multiple servers are involved or when something needs to be migrated. There's packages, libraries, modules and frameworks with different versions and dependencies, there's different web servers and database engines in different operating systems.
  10. ^ Vincet, William (9 October 2018). "Static vs Dynamic Websites: Pros and Cons".
  11. ^ "Best Security Practices for Static Websites: The Ultimate Guide". smtechub. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
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