A static website is made of ready-made page files that the server hands over as they are, with no PHPPHP is a programming language that builds your web pages on the computer that hosts your site, just before they reach the visitor. WordPress runs on it. code or database working behind the scenes. The server simply hands over the file that was prepared in advance. This is the opposite of a site like WordPressWordPress is free software for building and editing a website in your browser. It is written in PHP, so it builds each page when someone visits., where pages are put together for each visit.
What is a static website?
A static website consists of HTML, CSS and JavaScript files, so no PHP or database runs when a visitor opens a page.
On a dynamic site, a visit triggers code: the server runs PHP, queries a database, assembles the page and sends it. On a static site that work was already done. The pages were created once, in a build step, and stored as files. Opening a page means requesting a file. Because nothing has to be assembled, the same file can be copied to many servers, which is what a CDNA CDN is a network of servers around the world that keeps copies of your website close to your visitors, so pages load fast wherever they are. does.
Static does not mean frozen or plain. The pages can contain animations, scripts, embedded videos and dynamic parts that run in the visitor’s browser. The difference is where the page was built, not how it looks.
What a static website means for your PHP site
If your current site runs on PHP, it depends on your PHP versionA PHP version is a numbered edition of PHP, like 8.3. Each edition is looked after for a limited time, then gets security fixes only, then nothing., on updates, and on all the code that runs for each visit. A static site removes that layer from the server. There is no PHP to keep on a supported version and no database to expose while pages are served. That gives a smaller attack surface, but not an invulnerable site: attackers can still go after your hostingWeb hosting is the service that keeps your website's files on a computer that is always online, so visitors can open your site at any time. login, your build pipeline, forms or third-party scripts.
It also changes costs and effort. A static site usually needs less ongoing maintenance, because there are fewer moving parts on the live server. What you gain in simplicity you give up in live editing: changes go through a build, and anything truly dynamic needs a separate service, such as a serverlessServerless is a way to run code without looking after your own server: the provider runs your small pieces of code when needed and keeps the machinery updated. function.
How to tell if your site can be static
Ask how much of the site changes per visitor. A brochure site, a portfolio, a blog, a landing page or a documentation site can be fully static. A site with logins, a personal dashboard or a large shop with live stock needs an application, though the content pages around it can still be static.
Then look at your forms, search and comments. Each can be handled by a small service or an embedded tool. Finally, count how often content changes. If it is a few times a month, a static site generatorA static site generator, such as Astro or Hugo, is a tool that builds all the pages of a website in advance, so visitors get ready-made files. with a simple editing workflow is plenty.
Moving from PHP to static
The move starts with an inventory of pages, redirects and forms, followed by a build of the site with a static site generator, a test on a stagingA staging environment is a private copy of your website where you try updates first, so any mistakes happen there and not on the live site. address and a switch of the domainA domain name is the address people type to reach your website, such as yourcompany.com. It points visitors to wherever your site is hosted.. We keep the old URLs working so existing links and search results are not lost. Our service to move from WordPress to a static site covers this, and our PHP migration service helps if your next step is a new host or stack instead.
A static site pairs well with the JamstackJamstack is a way of building websites from pages that are made in advance and delivered from servers around the world, with small services for the live parts. approach, where pages are prebuilt and dynamic features come from APIs.
When to act
Act when your PHP version is nearing its end of support, when pluginA WordPress plugin is an add-on you install in WordPress to give your site extra features, such as contact forms, SEO tools or a webshop. updates keep breaking the site, or when you pay for a server application to show pages that rarely change. A static site is a calm answer to those problems, as long as your content really fits.
Frequently asked questions
Is a static website secure?
It has a smaller attack surface, but it is not unhackable. With no PHP or database on the server during a page view, a whole class of attacks does not apply. Your hosting account, build tools, forms and third-party scripts still need protection.
Can a static website have a contact form?
Yes. The form itself is HTML, and the submission is handled by a small service, a serverless function or a form provider. Add a spam check such as TurnstileTurnstile is Cloudflare's privacy-friendly check that tells real people from bots on your forms, without making visitors solve puzzles. so the form does not fill with bot messages.
Can I still edit my pages myself?
Yes, with the right setup. You can edit content in a headless CMS or in simple files, and a build step publishes the changes as new static pages. The workflow differs from WordPress, and we set it up with you.
Is a static website faster?
It often is, because the server only hands over ready files and a CDN can serve them from nearby. Speed still depends on your images, scripts and fonts, so measure your own pages.