What Is a Website?
A website is an online collection of pages grouped together under a common domain name with links that guide the user through the site’s content. A website consists of web pages that are designed with HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and hosted on a web server, which is a computer that is connected to the Internet round-the-clock and able to serve the webpages that make up the website.
Websites can have many functions, but most provide information about a company or organization’s products and services in some way. They are a powerful tool for businesses and can help them to reach a global audience. In fact, according to research conducted by Think with Google, 53% of shoppers conduct product research online before making a purchase.
The structure of a website is typically based on a home page, an about us page, a services page and an ecommerce page. Other pages may be added, including blogs, forums and news pages. Most websites use a navigation menu at the top to depict the site’s page hierarchy, and they also have a footer with page links, contact information, physical business addresses, a search bar and social media buttons.
There are two main types of websites – static and dynamic. A static website contains web pages that remain the same over time, while a dynamic website changes or updates automatically. Static websites are created using a software application called Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and they can use Cascading Style Sheets to control their appearance beyond the basic HTML. Most static websites use photos or other visual content, and some also contain audio and video.
A dynamic website consists of web pages that are stored on a database and changed or updated automatically. Websites can be built using a variety of applications, but most commonly a content management system is used. These systems allow website owners to change or update their own web pages without the need for technical skills. They can include the use of a database to store information, as well as an editor that allows them to design or edit pages in a text-based format.
There are also websites that have a service as their primary function, such as government and nonprofit organizations. These are typically maintained through a service delivery system that includes the ability to pay for services through the website or via phone or email. Examples of this would be the Department of Motor Vehicles website or an online portal to apply for unemployment or housing benefits.
