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Before starting to built your web site, it should be decided which way to go.
There are basically two possible ways:
Static webpages are created one by one and each page is physically present on the web server. Each page contains the source code the web server will send to your visitors to view in their web browser.
Although you can use dynamic templates while creating your static web site, you need to upload and maintain each single file of your web site.
If you are the webmaster yourself and the only one adding and maintaining content this solution should work just fine. It is also our preferred solution for small web sites but can be used also for bigger sites.
As a plus you are totally in control over each single web page.
For an example visit: www.drugrehab.co.uk
They are called dynamic webpages because they get created on the fly and there is no physical file on the web server for the requested web page. Instead the data comes all out of a database and the web page gets put together as the visitor requests it.
In order to make this work dynamic webpages are "programmed". Common programming languages are PHP and ASP.NET. We use ASP.NET based applications as we consider it safer and not as easy to hack.
Dynamic pages are used for eCommerce solutions and Content Management Systems.
Once it is decided how the whole application should work, which functions it should provide a web site with dynamic pages can use content and display it in different "pages". Basically content can be re-used over and over again, without you writing any further line of html code.
Another plus for the dynamic pages is that the maintenance of your web pages and adding new content can be done through any standard web browser by anybody who has permissions to do so from anywhere with a PC with an Internet connection.
Note: One important part of dynamic webpages is that the URLs are displayed in a search engine friendly way and that you have the possibility to create title and description tags for each single page.
The web site you are on now was built with a Content Management System. Every single page is database driven.
For a large scale application example visit: http://haywardsheath.inuklocal.co.uk. The Content Management System used powers 1,500 UK community web sites. Such a project wouldn't be possible with static pages.
If you have any doubt which way to go, why not consult with us?
Call us on 01444 473 427