A website is a collection of web pages that are accessed through the internet using a web browser. Websites can be broadly categorized into two types – static websites and CMS websites. While both types of websites serve the same purpose of presenting information on the internet, they differ significantly in terms of how they are built and managed.
A static website is a collection of web pages that are built using HTML, CSS, and sometimes JavaScript. These web pages are pre-built and do not change unless they are manually updated by a developer. A static website consists of a set of web pages that are written in HTML and stored on a web server. When a user requests a web page from the server, the server sends the pre-built HTML file to the user’s web browser. The browser then displays the web page to the user.
Static websites are simple, easy to build and maintain, and require no server-side scripting. They are ideal for websites that don’t require frequent updates or dynamic content. However, static websites have several limitations. They are not interactive and cannot handle complex user interactions, such as user registration, login, or comments. Static websites are also not easily scalable, as every page has to be manually updated.
A CMS website, on the other hand, is built using a content management system (CMS). A CMS is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and publish digital content, such as text, images, videos, and documents. CMSs provide a user-friendly interface for creating and managing content, making it easy for non-technical users to add, edit, and remove content from a website.
A CMS website is dynamic and can be updated on the fly, without the need for a developer. Content is stored in a database and is retrieved and displayed dynamically when a user requests a web page. The CMS retrieves the content from the database and generates a web page in real-time, based on the user’s request. This makes CMS websites highly scalable and flexible, as content can be updated and modified easily without the need for technical expertise.
CMS websites are also interactive and can handle complex user interactions, such as user registration, login, and comments. This makes them ideal for websites that require user-generated content or dynamic functionality, such as e-commerce sites, blogs, and social networking sites.
There are several popular CMSs available today, such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and Magento. Each CMS has its own set of features, strengths, and weaknesses. WordPress is the most popular CMS, with over 40% of all websites built using it.
In summary, the key differences between static websites and CMS websites are:
Ultimately, the choice between a static website and a CMS website depends on the requirements of the website. If the website requires frequent updates, dynamic content, and complex user interactions, then a CMS website is the better choice. If the website is simple and does not require frequent updates, then a static website is sufficient.
