A website is a collection of information that we access on a daily basis. For webmasters and people who have just started to build websites, understanding what a website is and what it consists of is the first step in positioning, selecting technology and subsequent maintenance. This article is a common, practical way to disassemble the core elements of the site, common types and build options to help you from zero to one to grasp the key points of the site (the article will appear many times in the concept of "website" and combined with examples).
H2: the essence of the website and common misconceptions
Many people understand the website simply as a collection of web pages, which is not wrong, but does not touch the core of the website operation. In fact, the site contains a front-end interface, back-end logic, data storage, network services and operation and maintenance of multi-layer elements. Common misconceptions include:
- Mistakenly believe that as long as there is a page there is a website: the lack of background and domain name, hosting, database and other support, functionality will be limited.
- Thinking that building a website is aesthetics: visual is important, but performance, security, stability and SEO are more determinative of user experience and results.
- Blanket pursuit of functional complexity: the introductory stage to the core objective first, premature expansion is easy to bring the maintenance burden.
H3: four-layer perspective of a website (quick understanding of the framework)
From a functional perspective, a website can usually be split into four layers:
- Presentation layer (front-end): the pages that users see and interact with.
- Application layer (back-end): processing business logic, user requests.
- Data layer: database or file storage.
- Infrastructure layer: domain name, hosting/server, network and security configuration.
H2: Core components of a website (broken down item by item)
H3: Domain name (Domain)
Domain name is the "door number" of the website. Selection should consider branding, memorability and suffix (.com, .cn, .net, etc.). After purchase, you need to configure DNS to point the domain name to the host.
H3: Hosting / Infrastructure
Website needs to be hosted on a server, common options:
- Web Hosting / Shared Hosting: Cheap and suitable for low traffic sites.
- VPS / cloud hosting: controlled performance, suitable for growing projects.
- Dedicated server: exclusive resources, suitable for high traffic or special configuration.
- Hosting platform (such as GitHub Pages, Netlify): suitable for static sites or front-end projects.
(Later, we will analyze the comparison of "static site vs dynamic site")
H3: Front-end (HTML/CSS/JS and frameworks)
Front-end is responsible for display and interaction, such as HTML (structure), CSS (style), JavaScript (interaction). Common tools and frameworks: React, Vue, Angular, and so on. For beginners, mastering basic HTML/CSS/JS is enough to build a personal site.
H4: Responsive Design and Performance Optimization (Sample)
- Use media queries for mobile adaptation.
- Images use WebP or load on demand to reduce the size of the first screen.
- Use caching and CDNs to speed up static resources.
H3: Backend (server-side languages and frameworks)
Back-end processing logic, authentication, data reading and writing. Common technology stack: PHP (WordPress), Node.js, Python (Django/Flask), Java, Ruby and so on. Selection basis: team familiarity, ecology and deployment costs.
H3: Database and Storage
Relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL) are suitable for transactional and relational data, and non-relational databases (MongoDB, Redis) are suitable for caching and document data. Static files (images, downloads) are usually placed in object storage (e.g. S3) or CDN.
H3: Security and Certificates (HTTPS)
SSL/TLS certificates (HTTPS) are the base security requirement. Attention also needs to be paid to firewalls, login flow restriction, code injection protection (e.g., against SQL injection, XSS), and regular backups.
H3: Monitoring, Logging and Backup
After building the site, we should set up access monitoring (such as Google Analytics), error logs, performance monitoring (APM) and regular backup strategies to ensure that problems can be traced back and quickly recovered.
H2: static website vs dynamic website (comparative analysis)
H3: Definition in Brief
- Static website: pages are pre-generated or served directly from static files, and the content is not dynamically calculated by the server.
- Dynamic website: the page is generated by the back-end at the time of request, user interaction, personalized content and background management can be achieved.
H3: Comparison of advantages and disadvantages (key points)
- Performance: static sites are usually faster and less costly; dynamic site responsiveness is affected by the back-end and database.
- Functionality: dynamic site to support login, form, user center and other complex functions; static site suitable for blogs, product pages, documents station.
- Operation and maintenance: static simplify operation and maintenance; dynamic need database, back-end services, more security measures.
- Scalability: Dynamic is easier to expand complex business, static can be enhanced through Jamstack and API combination.
H2: Comparison and summarization (table)
| Project | Static website | Dynamic website | Applicable Scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| Response Speed | High (CDN friendly) | Depends on the backend | Personal blog, document station |
| Cost | Low (hosting is cheap) | Higher (server, database required) | Small display site vs e-commerce, social platform |
| Functionality | Basic display, good SEO | Login, personalization, complex business | Simple marketing page vs Strong user interaction needs |
| Operation and maintenance complexity | Low | High | Want to go live quickly, less maintenance -> static |
| Security Risk | Relatively low | Wide range of risks | High requirements for data security -> dynamic (need to be strengthened) |
H2: Website building process and practical advice (executable steps)
Here are 7 practical suggestions for webmasters and beginners to build a website, so that you can build a website from scratch and maintain it for a long time.
1. Define the goal and scale: first write down the core objectives of the site (publicity, customer acquisition, content display, transactions), and then decide on the technology selection.
2. Choose a domain name and basic hosting: If the brand is clear, choose an independent domain name, and the traffic is small, you can use shared hosting or hosting platform first.
3. Decide static or dynamic: if only information display or blog, prioritize static site + CMS (e.g. static site generator or Headless CMS); the need for user interaction, then choose a dynamic stack.
4. Use off-the-shelf CMS or templates to get started quickly: WordPress, Ghost, Hugo, Hexo, etc. can be launched quickly with admin backend.
5. Configure HTTPS and basic security: apply for free certificates (e.g. Let's Encrypt), set strong password policy and restrict backend access.
6. Optimize performance before going live: compress images, enable CDN, enable caching and Gzip/ Brotli.
7. Set up backup and monitoring mechanism: automatic backup of database and static files, access and error monitoring, set up alarm notification.
H2: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
H3: Q: I have no programming foundation, can I build a website?
A: Absolutely. With WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or GitHub Pages + Static Site Builder, non-programmers can also build websites that meet their needs.
H3: Q: Which should I buy first, domain name or hosting?
A: It is recommended to think of a domain name and book it first, as good domain names may be grabbed. Hosting can be purchased later and configured with DNS pointers depending on the technology stack you choose.
H3: Q: When do I need a CDN?
A: When you want your website to be globally accessible faster, or when static resources (images, JS, CSS) are large in size, access to a CDN is an effective solution.
H3: Q: What should be the starting point for website SEO?
A: Start with site structure, semantic HTML, page titles and descriptions, URL friendliness, mobile adaptation and page speed. Content quality and external links are also long-term factors.
H2: Conclusion
Understanding the composition of a website helps you make reasonable technical and operational choices: small and fine static sites are suitable for a quick start and low-cost operation; projects that require complex business and user management should choose dynamic architecture and good O&M and security. Step by step, you can not only ensure the speed of launch, but also for the future expansion of space. Start with the principle of "clear goals, first usable and then perfect", and optimize iteratively.
References:
- MDN Web Docs - https://developer.mozilla.org/zh-CN/docs/Learn
- W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) - https://www.w3.org/
- Google Web Fundamentals (Web Performance and Optimization) - https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals?hl=zh-cn
- Let's Encrypt (free SSL certificates) - https://letsencrypt.org/
- AWS Getting Started: What is Web Hosting - https://aws.amazon.com/cn/getting-started/hands-on/host-static-website/