staticsite

A staticsite, or static site, is a website that serves pre-rendered HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as fixed files rather than generating pages on each request. Such sites are typically produced by static site generators or by manually writing HTML that is compiled into a set of static assets. Content may be written in Markdown or other data formats and combined with templates during a build process. Once generated, the pages are deployed to a static hosting environment and delivered directly to users.

How it works

Static sites are built ahead of time. A build process assembles content, templates, and data into a collection of static pages. After deployment, a content delivery network or simple hosting service serves the files quickly from edge locations. Client-side JavaScript can add interactivity, and dynamic behavior can be achieved through APIs, serverless functions, or headless CMS-backed workflows that supply data at build or run time.

Advantages

Static sites typically offer fast page loads, strong security with a small attack surface, straightforward scaling, and simple hosting requirements. They benefit from reproducible builds, version control, and predictable performance. Their simplicity can lower maintenance costs for sites with stable content.

Limitations

Static sites are less suited to highly dynamic content or personalized experiences that require server-side rendering. Large sites may face longer build times, and handling frequent updates can necessitate incremental builds or rebuild-triggered workflows. Real-time data often requires client-side fetching or backend services.

Ecosystem

Popular tools include static site generators such as Jekyll, Hugo, Eleventy, Gatsby, and Next.js in static export mode. Headless CMS options, as well as hosting platforms like Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages, and cloud storage with CDN, support statically generated websites.