Dynamic websites
Dynamic websites call upon
a database, while using a programming language. The main benefit of a dynamic
website is the separation of form and contents. A template page is build
to define the design of a certain section of a website and this template
contains empty fields for the textual and pictorial contents. Then a programming
language fetches the necessary contents from a database when a visitor
wants to see a certain page of this section.
This technology is interesting to build sections of a website that are regularly updated and for pages that have an identical structure. For instance, a catalogue that contains on every page the name, the picture, the description and the price of an item.
A first advantage of this technology is the simplicity to change the design of a website. Only the templates have to be changed to update the whole site.
The second advantage is the simplicity to update the contents: If you want to add, modify or delete a page of a dynamic website, all you have to do is to change the relevant entry in the database. Moreover, those changes can be made by anyone by means of a simple web browser. An administration section allows someone to add, modify or delete contents by completing internet forms and without the need to have any knowledge of web design or programming.
A third benefit is the possibility to use certain functions related
to databases, like the implementation of a search engine.
It is also possible to use a database in combination with a Flash site.
So a website can combine interactive animations and easy management of
the contents.