What exactly is a website?

Websites are without doubt the most important element of the internet. The term is often used inconsistently, so to make it clear once and for all, this article answers the question: what is a website?

The central page of a website is called a home page. This is usually the first page you see when you call a website up and can also be called a ‘start page’ or ‘index page’. From here onwards, the user delves into the site’s subpages.

If the aim is for your site to take on the role of a digital business card, then a static website will usually suffice. HTML documents with the desired information are created and are stored under their own URL on the web server. When a user enters the web address, they are presented with a static HTML document that looks exactly like those stored on the server. But what happens when a website needs to regularly add new content? With a static website, the changes need to be manually carried out in the HTML code of each individual subpage of the web project. With dynamic websites, this manual step is avoided since the web server freshly generates the websites each time they are called up. Instead of continuously issuing the static HTML pages unmodified, the server adjusts the page content automatically according to the last update. The dynamic website is based on a strict division of the content and layout. Both aspects are assembled when the site is entered into the browser. Dynamic websites therefore require more high-performance servers than static websites, as well as a database such as MySQL, with which the server can manage the elements of the website. Generally, dynamic websites rely on pre-defined layouts and design templates, which are filled with relevant content. Due to their flexibility, dynamic websites are the more popular choice.

Website construction kits: the starting block for your web presence

You don’t have to be a programming expert to create your own internet site. With the help of a website construction kit you can have your own website up and running in just a few clicks by choosing one of the many ready-made templates and designs. These blocks can be adjusted systematically within the preset options in a ‘what you see is what you get’ editor (WYSIWYG). All changes you make can be seen using the preview function on the screen. Once the layout is ready, the individual web pages can be filled with content such as text, images, or videos. If the website construction kit is used in combination with a web hosting service, the finished website can immediately be put online. Creating a website using a kit offers numerous advantages: they can be designed without programming knowledge. Adjustments can be carried out easily via the editor. A disadvantage, however, is the limited flexibility of the construction kit system since it’s only limited to default design settings and only for static websites. 

Content management systems: web design for the more advanced

If you feel ready to delve a little deeper into creating a website, and you’re not afraid of programming languages such as HTML or PHP, you can use a content management system (CMS) to ensure flexibility. When installed on a webserver, a CMS manages website content separately from the design template in a database and generates a dynamic website with every user access. Content management systems are popular for personal as well as business use since the highly efficient CMS is available as open source software and is therefore generally free. Market leaders include WordPress, Joomla, Drupal and Typo3 for which there are many templates and plugins available online which allow you to customize your website.

Content like texts, images and videos can be updated using an editor, which is similar to a website construction kit. This type of CMS is named ‘front end’. Editorial tasks can be carried out with a CMS, even by those who aren’t the most computer proficient. Secure website operation includes more than just installing software, and therefore a CMS should always be supervised by an administrator. This task involves carrying out software updates and looking after the management system’s performance. The administrator works in the back end and therefore it’s essential to have basic knowledge of the CMS’s relevant programming language.

Self-programmed HTML sites: the professional solution

If you want a complete customization of your website, you have to program the source code of the HTML document or the personal CMS templates yourself from scratch. This option is really only available to private users if they have the necessary knowledge or are willing to acquire it. Many companies outsource the programming of individual websites instead of hiring specialists.

A very simple static website can be created if you have basic knowledge of HTML and CSS (cascading style sheets). Beginners can rely on editors that work on the WYSIWYG principle. This way, you can see at any point the effect that the source code has on the structure, layout, and design element of the website. Since professional websites should correspond to certain security standards as well as optical and functional aspects, it’s recommended to get help from a programmer, web designer, or a relevant agency when it comes to a business website.

Placing content online is easier than ever, but before a website goes online you should check every individual subpage for legal certainty to avoid legal confrontation, which could prove costly.

• Online copyright: Copyright laws also exist online. If you include texts, images, videos or music files on your website without first seeking permission, you make yourself liable to prosecution. You can only use copyright-protected material with the rights holder’s consent. Software also falls under the copyright category and using a template could cause problems if the programmer hasn’t explicitly made it available for free use.