The world of web development isn’t all that accessible. There’s plenty of industry language to learn, which of course includes coding and scripting, plus the landscape is constantly changing with newer and newer advancements.

The 3 Types of Website Design

Get to grips with the basic distinctions between certain sites and you’ll have a better indication of which to choose. So here’s our quick read on the types of website design!

What are the 3 Types of Website Design?

Let’s go into some detail about each one type of website is best for you, before thinking about which one is best for you:

  1. Static Website Design

A static website features pages built of HTML, CSS and JavaScript, where every page is contained within a distinct HTML file. This means that changes to the site are done manually and that each page is edited independently. When you need only a few site pages and aren’t concerning with regularly updating the information, a basic static website design is the simplest solution.

As these sites deliver the HTML code directly from server to webpage, every visitor sees identical content, and thus they are exceptionally easy for web crawlers to navigate and categorize. As updating static websites page by page is fairly time-consuming, they are best suited for such examples as personal pages (resume, portfolio), one-off landing pages and read-only information pages.

  1. Dynamic Website Design

When you’re looking for increased functionality and specialist features, a dynamic website proves the better option. Dynamic sites actually provide unique experiences for visitors based on a number of factors, such as user demographics, location, language settings and cookies. Such a process involves:

  • Client-side Script: script that is downloaded, compiled and executed by the client browser, which is either embedded in HTML or stored externally. These scripts are important for user events, such as button clicking and keyboard typing.
  • Server-side Script: script that is processed on the web serve when requested by the user. They are crucial for such things as storing log-in details, though more generally collecting user preferences and characteristics.

Using a content management system (CMS), your site data and content is stored at the backend. Because users request specific information from the server whilst also providing the server with their personal data, dynamic websites allow you to offer a personalized experience from one user to the next. For example, you can change the information displayed on each page based on factors like user location and past actions (cookies).

Dynamic sites are harder to design, but modern CMS provides you with the proper infrastructure along with all sorts of plug-ins and themes. Top examples are WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and Magento. Consider using professional web development services if you aren’t sure which provider to choose or how to best set-up your website.

  1. E-commerce Website Design

While static sites are great for evergreen content and dynamic sites are best for larger sites with much data, E-commerce sites are the go-to choice for individuals and small businesses chiefly concerned with sales. Such websites may still rely on a CMS for backend functionality, with the most popular examples being Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce. Some of these examples have a bit of a learning curve, which is where pro web design services can help out.

On an e-commerce site, users must still be able to move from page to page, meaning that any eCommerce website design should allow for such basic elements as a navigation panel and efficient indexing. On top of this, technical elements like catalogue filters, payment gateways and security protocols must run smoothly if you’re going to make your customers feel comfortable and safe on your site.

Leaning towards server-side script, e-commerce website design is inarguably dynamic, though the truth is that these kinds of sites don’t actually require extensive updating. The information on a product page doesn’t actually need changing very frequently, which means that although e-commerce sites are dynamic, they don’t need to be as adaptable as some other sites.

E-commerce website design isn’t too complex, which makes it a fantastic choice for individuals and small businesses who want to either complement or replace a bricks-and-mortar location. You won’t even have to spend too much to get up and running, though certain CMS feature a lot of premium options.

Which Kind of Website Design to Choose?

As you may have already guessed, the best website design for you depends largely on the kind of website you’re attempting to build. We’ve built a broad spectrum of sites here at Shtudio, so we know that things like budget, time-frame and personal taste also come into play with web development.

  • Static sites don’t require complicated software so they are generally cheaper to create. However, it is a little tedious to scale-up your site once you’ve finalized your structure, which also makes updating your site a very time-consuming task.
  • Dynamic sites can connect with a CMS to give users way more functionality and interactivity, displaying content based on the preferences of individual visitors. Those same added features, however, make a dynamic site more expensive and potentially less secure.

In reality, certain website tricks can’t be supported by a static site. Unless you are looking to build a basic site that will largely stay the same over time, dynamic website design is probably your best bet. Those who are chiefly concerned with sales go the dedicated e-commerce route, although it is also possible to integrate an e-commerce plug-in into an existing dynamic site.

Getting Help with your Website Design

Whichever kind of website design you choose, make your digital space stand out with web development services. Just as in a bricks-and-mortar location, it’s important to make a great impression, provide a comfortable atmosphere and instill customers with confidence in your professionalism.

A responsive, secure and stunning website tells your visitors that you mean business, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us when you’re ready to go!