Is Database-driven Websites Future of Web Development?

Designing and developing database driven websites are one of the toughest challenges faced by our web designers. Database driven websites can be easily updated as they are directly connected with databases.

Banking sites are the best example of database driven websites. Person ‘A’ has an account, so every time he does a transaction and anytime if he checks his account online, the change should reflect there. This is possible because the website is connected directly to the database, where all the activities will be recorded. It’s same even for an e-commerce website.

Now is database driven website the standalone web design format?

No, there is a static website and dynamic website, and we will learn about each of them in the next section.

Static Website & Dynamic Website

STATIC WEBSITE –

Simple to develop and written in plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, static websites support only one form of interactivity, which is through hyperlinks.

Usually, a static website consists of 3 pages or less and thus represents a very simple structure. The best thing about developing a static website, you need not know core programming languages but if you have to update, then you should definitely have knowledge about web development.

DYNAMIC WEBSITE –  

In dynamic websites, the web page content changes every time they are loaded. The reason, the dynamic websites are connected to databases. So every time the database is updated, it will automatically reflect on the website.

Relationship between Dynamic Website & Database Driven Website

Database driven websites are the best example of dynamic websites.

And the actual difference between a database driven website and a static website is the extended functionality the former provides over the other. Also, it is quite necessary as the data or content that needs to be maintained is huge and hence the data will not be stored in a server on HTML files, but rather in rows and columns in a database.

The main subject of this blog is whether database driven websites the future of website development.

Yes, of course.

When I say huge data, it is not feasible to maintain the same through a static website. You definitely need a much better option, where you would have access to unlimited functionalities to keep clear of any complications.

If you are a web developer, nobody better than you would understand the predicament of maintaining huge data through a simple static website.

Types of Database Driven Websites

• CMS/Content Management System

A software application, CMS helps to create and manage digital content. To use a CMS you need not be a web developer nor have knowledge of web technologies. You can perform web-based publishing, history editing, format management, indexing, search, and version control.

WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, Shopify, and etc are some of the popular CMS preferred by web developers.

• E-commerce Website

One can be expected to handle a lot of dynamic data in an e-commerce business. And E-commerce business website marks one of the best examples of database-driven websites. Website owners can easily add hundreds of products without much effort.

• Blogs & Community Forums

If you are blogging your website may have a lot of visitors. And with a lot of visitors, you may get to receive lots of comments for your blogs. With a database driven website, it is easier to make those tiny changes reflect.

It’s understood that most of the websites today are database driven even though the other half prefer static. Still, there are a lot of factors that would make a website owner think before he decides to go with one.

It’s the cost. And the cost fluctuates exponentially for numerous reasons.

The more luxury you want, greater the price you have to pay.

• Custom Database Design

Sit and have a talk with your web developer, and you will get to know that the word ‘custom’ carries a lot of weight.

Creating top-quality custom databases require you to spend more. Designing databases for a wealth of data require your developer to meet the custom requisites efficiently. However, if the database design stresses more on efficient data structure and enhanced functionality, the cost will be greater.

• Database Connectivity

There is more to be done once a database has been created. You should create and add more codes to allow your website to communicate with the database. The cost to optimize a database performance definitely increases the cost.

• Initial Database Population

‘Set it, forget it’, this doesn’t work if you are setting up a database; you need to manage it efficiently.

To do that you need to have a good knowledge of RDMS or keep a professional database administrator to do that. Since initial database population is a mandatory process, the requirement may prove expensive for you.

• Backups

One of the exclusive requirements of maintaining a dynamic website is the need to create a complete backup. You can utilize both offline media storage and cloud storage simultaneously to maintain good operational status. Nevertheless, you will be paying more.

On the positive note, if you leave the cost factor your business will perform with efficiency and in case, if you are a web designer, you should recommend your clients to for a database driven website for their business.