What are the advantages of Static versus dynamic Web
pages?
The terms "dynamic Web pages" and "dynamic Web sites" can be
used in a number of senses, so it is important to clarify the
meaning.
- The term "dynamic Web page" is
sometimes used to refer to pages which contain moving images or
scrolling text. Such pages may simply use dynamic GIFs, may use
multimedia formats such as Macromedia's Flash technology or may
make use of a language such as ECMAscript (JavaScript) or
Java.
- The term "dynamic Web site" may
also refer to Web sites which provide interfaces to search
facilities or backend databases, in which server-side
technologies (such as CGI) are used to interrogate databases,
file store or legacy systems held on the server and display
results based on a user query; for example a Web site which
provides access to a library OPAC.
- The term "dynamic Web page" may
also be used to refer to pages which may be personalised for the
end user, either by the end user selecting preferred options or
by the system choosing the preferred options based on the end
user profile. An example is the My.Netscape service (which allows
users to select the resources which are displayed, from options
such as weather information, news, horoscopes,
etc.).
- The term "dynamic Web page" may
also be refer to pages which are personalised for the end user's
device or browser. For example, different pages may be sent to
Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers, to users of browsers for
the visually impaired, WebTVs, PDAs or WAP phones.
- The term "dynamic Web page" may
also be refer to pages which will alter based on actions by the
end user. For example a menu may expand as the user moves the
cursor over the menu item. This approach is normally provided by
use of a client-side scripting language such as ECMAscript
(JavaScript) which will manipulate HTML and CSS elements based on
end user actions, such as mouse movements and mouse clicks. The
term "Dynamic HTML" (DHTML) is often used in this
context.
- The term "dynamic Web site" may be
used to refer to a Web site which makes use of a server-side
scripting environment such as PHP or ASP (Active Server Pages) or
a content management system such as Zope or ColdFusion. It should
be noted that such technologies may be used to provide dynamic
Web pages (as defined in 1-5) but they may also be used to
provide static Web pages.
Movement on a Web page (example 1) may be useful in some
cases. However, for accessibility purposes, the end user should
be able to switch off scrolling text or moving images.
Access to search facilities, backend databases and legacy
systems (example 2) is desirable on many Web sites.
Web sites which can be personalised for the end user (example
3) may be desirable in some cases.
Web sites which can be personalised for the end user's client
environment (example 4) may be desirable. However users should
not be disenfranchised if they have an unusual client
environment.
Dynamic Web sites (example 5) may be desirable in some cases.
However users should not be disenfranchised if their browser does
not support ECMAscript, or if ECMAscript is disabled (e.g. for
security purposes).
If you are considering developing a dynamic Web site you
should consider the performance implications and the effect on
caching. Will the performance of your service deteriorate if, for
example, server-side scripting is used, or will the performance
on the end users PC deteriorate if it is not powerful enough to
support Java or ECMAscript? In addition will pages on the Web
site fail to be cached and what will effect will this have on the
performance for the end user?
You should also consider how easy it will be to cite and
bookmark dynamic resources. Will resources have a meaningful URL
which is easy to remember? Will bookmarked URLs return the same
resource at a future date?
Further Information
FAQ Number 14
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