Static vs. Dynamic Sites

What's the difference?

In a static Web site, all content appearing on the page must be coded by a developer, including changes, updates and any other maintenance. Like a newspaper, static sites remain unchanged until the next edition. Static sites are faster and (generally) cheaper to build and are ideal for individuals or businesses with rarely-edited content, such as a restaurant with an established menu or a vendor with a small, consistent inventory.
Example: The Spring Island Trust

Dynamic Web sites use programming to ease the flow of data in and out of a site, making it possible for clients to alter content items without any programming knowledge. Site structure, data and design are contained in three separate areas, allowing changes to made to each area independently. Dynamic sites generally require a greater initial investment of time and money but are often less expensive in the long run, as many content updates can be made without hiring a professional Web developer. Rapidly replacing the static HTML sites of Web 1.0, dynamic sites improve the user experience through interactivity, social networking and fresh content.
Example: The Low Country Institute