What is a dynamic web site?

These days, it is necessary to have up-to-date information on your web site. Users expect it, and they can tell whether the information on a web site is current, or is old and gathering cobwebs. A dynamic web site is fresh, timely, and appealing, because the information is up to date and useful. Users will come back because they know that they can find the information they need on your web site.

What is a 'data-driven' web site?

There are two main parts to every web site: data and appearance. The data is the information you wish to convey to the user. The appearance is the way the site looks and feels to the user. Traditionally, data and appearance were unavoidably linked on a web site. The information was embedded in code, and the site owner had to deal with both. In a data-driven web site, the in formation is separated from the code and stored in a database, where it is easier to maintain. Then a single template page can be created to return the data to the user, depending on the user's actions. Using this technique, a thousand pages of data can be replaced with 5 or 10 template pages.

Why use a database?

Use of a database facilitates easy access to data, and easy maintenance of web sites through web forms. No knowledge of HTML is necessary. With web forms, you can edit your site from any computer that is connected to the Internet. Data-driven web sites download faster, are easier to maintain, allow faster and easier design changes, and require far fewer pages than ordinary static web sites. And as your web site grows, it is far easier to keep track of the information in a database, than in hundreds of separate pages.

Why should I pay more for a dynamic web site?

Certainly, a data-driven web site is more expensive in the beginning, but in the long run you save money on upkeep, maintenance, and redesign. Your web site will be completely under your control, and you can make changes quickly and easily - from any computer that connects to the Internet! And if you decide you want a new look for your site, you don't have to disturb the content just to change the look.