Are Static HTML Websites Still Relevant?

These days, dynamic websites are well within the reach of every web designer. We often don’t think twice about using tools such as WordPress or Drupal to power our next great project. Their functionality and flexibility make producing data-driven websites easier than ever before. But it wasn’t always this way.

The web started out as a mostly static affair. Plain old HTML was, and still is, the basis of a site. But back in the day, the ability to dynamically generate content wasn’t widely available to the average designer.

Too Much Static

When my career got started in 1990s, every site I built was static. Granted, I didn’t know a whole lot at the time. Thus, so many of my projects became unwieldy nightmares when it came to maintenance. The task of, say, adding a new item to a navigation bar meant hacking my way through potentially hundreds of HTML files – depending on the size of the website.

As time went on, some conveniences such as server side includes (SSI) made maintenance easier. Instead of changing multiple files to reflect a new navigation item, it was now a matter of editing just one or two. Still, tasks like maintaining a site’s SEO remained painfully manual.

So, when the use of content management systems (CMS) became prevalent, I happily hopped on board – and never wanted to look back. For years, I’ve dismissed static HTML as outdated and no longer useful in most situations.

Lately I’m beginning to think that my dismissal may have been a bit unfair. Sure, those old school sites I worked on were a cause of major frustration when changes needed to be made. But does that mean static HTML no longer has a place on the web?

HTML: Abused and Misused

Part of the problem with using static HTML, for me at least, was the fact that it was forced into duties it should have never had in the first place. The intended use for HTML was as a markup language – not as a means to manage complex arrangements of files. But for websites built on a small budget, it was pretty much the best tool we had at the time.

As you might recall, we used to use HTML for all sorts of things that it wasn’t intended to do. Remember using nested tables to hack your way through a page layout? Through no fault of its own, HTML became a whipping boy for how not to do things.

Even today, I still manage a few really old sites that were built this way. And each time I have to make a change, I’m reminded of the mess I made. It’s no secret that something like WordPress is far better for managing content, just like CSS is far better for creating layouts.

However, I now realize that static HTML sites can still have a place on the web – provided we use it in the right way and under the right circumstances.

Where Static Makes Sense

In modern times, just what is the right circumstance to go with static HTML? I think it largely depends on both the needs of your project and your skills as a developer. But, generally speaking, these might be some instances where it makes sense:

One-Page or “Brochure” Websites
As mentioned earlier, HTML was never adept at (or meant to) help you keep large amounts of content organized – that’s why the CMS exists. But sites that only require a few pages could be a great candidate for static HTML.

Typical CMS Plugin Functionality Isn’t Needed
Not every site needs the same number of bells and whistles. For instance, running a highly-complicated or bloated form plugin may be overkill if you just need to implement one basic contact form. If that’s all your project requires, then maybe you don’t even need to bother with a CMS. As an alternative, many sites can get by with some creative use of JavaScript and PHP for basic functionality.

Few Updates Are Expected
Aside from the content structure limitations, there is another compelling reason that static HTML may be a nice solution for sites that don’t see many updates: Security. If you don’t bother to login to a CMS for six months, your site could be wrought with unpatched security holes. While things could still go wrong with a static site, a compromised plugin or database are two less things to worry about.

Budgets Are Tight
Getting a fully custom WordPress site (one with an original theme) can be out of the price range for some smaller clients. In those cases, a simple static site can cut costs, perform quite well on shared hosting and still look professional.

There’s Still a Little Room for Static Websites

I fully believe that the rise of the CMS has brought the power of the web to the masses. It means that just about anyone can run their own online store or publish their thoughts from anywhere. But, there are still situations where a static website may well be the best option.

Now that we’re surrounded by this data-driven technology, it’s easier to see the contrast of what static HTML has to offer. We know both its strengths and limitations. And we have a clearer understanding of how it’s best implemented.

So, I must apologize. Static HTML, you’ve still got it.

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