There are 3 main types of web design – static, dynamic and responsive. Understanding the difference between them can help you determine what kind of website your business needs.

A web page’s layout is controlled by HTML and CSS. Each stylesheet contains styling instructions for how the document should look in a web browser.

Static

Static websites are made up of pages that don’t change and display the same content to all visitors. Each page is written using HTML, CSS and Javascript (the same languages you’d use to build a web app).

When you browse a website, your browser sends a request to the server that hosts it, asking for a specific file that represents the page. The server responds by sending back that file to your browser.

As a result, static websites appear the same for all users and only change when a developer edits the source files.

This type of design is a good choice for simple, one-page sites (like company marketing websites), and sites with a lot of pages that all share a similar structure. They also load very fast – an important factor in SEO.

Dynamic

A dynamic website is a type of web design that provides content that changes regularly. This is important for businesses, as it keeps users and search engines updated with new information.

Dynamic websites use a Content Management System (CMS), which stores information about all of the pages on the site in a database. This allows for changes to be made without having to make individual page modifications.

A dynamic website also allows for a personalized user experience, as content can change based on the user’s interests and previous actions. This can increase engagement, keep visitors on the site, and lead to higher conversions.

Responsive

Responsive web design is a technique that allows your website to adapt to different screen sizes. The result is a better user experience and higher conversions for your business.

Responsive sites change their layout based on different screen size and resolutions, using CSS media queries. This makes it possible to have a single codebase that works for wide-screen monitors, desktops, laptops, tablets and phones of all shapes and sizes.

In responsive designs, all assets such as images resize to fit different screen sizes. This means that you don’t have to hardcode image dimensions or change the srcset of each image you include in your site.

While designing a mobile-responsive layout, you should check your visual hierarchy and prioritize what needs to be seen first. You can also use progressive disclosure and navigation drawers to give users what they need while hiding less important content.

Single Page

Single page web design is a website layout where all the content is presented on one page. This type of design is a great choice for businesses that have focused goals like acquiring leads or promoting app downloads, as it offers less clutter and is easy to navigate on mobile devices.

Single-page designs are responsive and have an average conversion rate that is higher than multi-page sites. This is due to the linear navigation that makes it easier for visitors to scroll down a page rather than clicking through menus or links.

Because content is displayed in one place, it allows designers more space for creative elements like parallax effects and interactive transitions. These are essential in capturing users’ attention and keeping them engaged on a single page.