Static vs dynamic websites
Static sites serve pre-built pages for speed and security. Dynamic sites build pages on request for flexibility. Most modern sites blend both.
The difference between a static and a dynamic website is when the page gets built.
Static
A static site serves pages that were built ahead of time. When someone visits, the server hands over a ready-made file. Because the server does not assemble the page on the spot, static sites are fast, secure, and cheap to host. Brochure sites, landing pages and content-led sites work well as static builds.
Dynamic
A dynamic site builds each page on request, pulling from a database for jobs like logged-in dashboards, booking systems and shops showing live stock. Dynamic builds support interaction and personalisation, with more moving parts to host and maintain.
The modern blend
Modern tools blur the line. You can pre-build most of a site for page speed, then add dynamic pieces where the job demands them. This is the approach behind a fast site with a CMS: edit content in one place, serve pages at speed.