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I get asked once in a while whether WordPress is “static or dynamic.”
Tough question.
On one hand, the Apache, MySQL, PHP system dynamically renders every web page served by WordPress.
On the other hand, the WordPress system allows for the of notion “static” and “dynamic” websites. Static websites consist of webpages that don’t change, while dynamic websites, like blogs, change all the time.
In short:
The meaning of static and dynamic depends on the context of your discussion.
Let’s clear this up once and for all.
- Operational: When you’re discussing operation on the server side, it’s all dynamic. (Unless you’re caching, but that’s a long discussion for another article.)
- Informational: When you’re discussing information on the client side, whether it’s static or dynamic depends on the purpose of the web page. Dynamic may mean “rapidly changing content” like a WordPress blog. Dynamic may also mean “content influenced by rapidly changing data,” perhaps a weather page or stock market page displaying prices.
Note that both WordPress Posts and WordPress Pages are both web pages.
- Interactional: When your website allow user interaction. WordPress commenting system is a limited example. Color Scheme Designer is an even better example. Color Sceme Designer is served as a static web page, but user interaction occurs only in the browser.
Yes, it’s a mess. Without keeping the context in mind, it’s really easy to miscommunicate. If you’re hiring someone to program for you, learn these simple definitions. Insist your contractor read them as well, so you will both be reading from the same page.
Examples welcome, leave a comment. If you have a beef with any definition, leave a comment about that as well.
These are really good definitions, especially when working on collaboration with someone else to realize a project. *I* alwyas know what I mean, but someone else may not.
.-= Deacon´s last blog ..Christmas Comes Early =-.
It can be a real problem. These words “static” and “dynamic” are overloaded with contextual meaning.
I have a couple more articles in the works on this topic.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Blog World Recap: How to Attract a Large and Loyal Audience =-.
When people ask, I’m thinking in many cases they’re not even sure they know what they’re asking.
How about just a simple response like “If you’re asking if WP is web 2.0, one that encourages interaction, then yes, it’s dynamic.”
.-= Gabe | freebloghelp.com´s last blog ..Meet the FTC disclosure requirement in under a minute =-.
Gabe, sometimes it’s worse. Sometimes they’re sure they know what they’re asking, except they don’t actually know. Those are the situations where I try to get more information from them. Typically, the real question is different.
I like your response.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..DIY WordPress: your “gateway” drug into programming =-.
For some techies, my answer isn’t good enough but luckily, I deal with mostly business peeps.
.-= Gabe | freebloghelp.com´s last blog ..Meet the FTC disclosure requirement in under a minute =-.
Great info. I believe Most of the three, if not all are dynamic websites.. I think the era of static websites is already over.
Melvin, operationally static sites have some huge advantages over operationally dynamic sites: very hard to crack for one.
I haven’t discussed it yet, but back end tools such as Webby allow developing sites that are static on the server, but are dynamically built from templates offline before uploading.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..Blog World Recap: How to Attract a Large and Loyal Audience =-.
I here a lot of people talk about pseudo-static on wordpress.i still can’t figure out what does it mean.
Darni, I’m pretty sure “pseudo-static” means there is a blog, but it’s tucked away behind the main page. I’m working on a post on just that right now.
.-= Dr WordPress!´s last blog ..DIY WordPress: your “gateway” drug into programming =-.
I much prefer dynamic websites
.-= mugs´s last blog ..Wake Up With Me =-.