What Is a Website? Definition, Components, and Types (2024)

Navigating the internet is like exploring a vast, vibrant city, where each website represents a unique neighborhood with its distinct atmosphere, culture, and purpose.

When browsing an ecommerce site, you’ll find a variety of products, descriptions, and reviews to help you make an informed purchase; a travel blog treats you to captivating stories, stunning photos, and insider tips; and social media offers an endless stream of updates, photos, and videos from friends, family, and strangers.

Despite the diversity of websites, they all share commonalities that bind them together. Here’s a deep dive into these essential components and the various types of sites you can create for yourself or your business.

What is a website?

A website is a collection of several web pages and related content that exist under a common domain name (ex. shopify.com). They can include multimedia elements like text, images, and videos, ecommerce functionalities like shopping carts and payment gateways, and interactive features like forms, polls, and chatbots.

Websites are accessed through a web browser, a software to access and view web pages, with a unique uniform resource locator (URL), a web address directing to a specific resource. Websites can serve various purposes, from providing information and entertainment to enabling communication and facilitating online transactions.

How do websites work?

Websites work by storing their content on web servers, or computers that host website files and make them available to users across the internet.

When a user enters a website’s URL into their web browser or clicks on a link to the site, the browser sends a request to the web server hosting the site’s files. The server responds by processing the request, retrieving the necessary files, and sending the requested assets back to the user’s browser, which renders these files into web pages, allowing users to interact with the content.

Website vs. web page vs. web server

A website is made up of multiple web pages, and these web pages are stored on and delivered by a web server. Here’s what each of those terms mean:

Website

A website is a collection of web pages linked together via a common domain name and stored within a web server. The purpose of a website is to provide an easily navigable place for users to explore related content like individual product pages within an online store or articles on a news site.

Web page

A web page is a single document within a website, on the web, that contains text, images, or other multimedia elements. It’s typically written in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and can be accessed by entering its unique URL into a web browser (like Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari).

They are the building blocks of a website, and each single web page serves a specific purpose. For example, an ecommerce website may have multiple individual web pages for each of its products, an About Us page detailing the brand and its mission, an FAQ page, a blog, and a contact form.

Web server

A web server is a computer system that hosts website files and makes them accessible to users over the internet. It stores all of a website’s components, including web pages, images, videos, and databases. When a user requests a specific web page by entering its URL into a browser or clicking on a link, the web server processes the request and delivers the appropriate content to the user’s device.

Components of websites

Whether you’re building an online portfolio that serves as a digital business card or a personal blog to publish articles, websites share many of the same fundamental components. Here are the essential elements that make up a website:

• Homepage. The main page that serves as the starting point for visitors, a homepage provides an overview of the website’s purpose and guides users to other relevant pages.

• Web pages. These are the individual documents that make up a website; all the web pages are typically linked together through a navigation structure to create a cohesive browsing experience.

• Web address. A web address, also known as a URL, is a website page’s unique identifier on the Internet. Users can access specific pages by entering a URL into their web browser or by following a link from a search result on a web service like Bing or Google.

• Domain name. A domain name is the human-readable part of a web address that identifies a website, such as “shopify.com.”

• Domain extension. A domain extension, also called a top-level domain (TLD), is the suffix at the end of a domain name, such as “.com,” “.org,” or “.net.” Domain extensions can indicate the website’s purpose, region, or type of organization.

• Web host. A web host is a service that stores website files on servers, making them accessible to users online.

• Navigation. Navigation features help users get from one page to another on a website, and they can look like a navigation bar, drop-down menu, or breadcrumbs that connect and organize different pages.

• Content. Content refers to all the information, text, images, videos, and other media presented on a website.

Static vs. dynamic websites

Static websites display the same content for every user, regardless of their interactions or preferences. Each page of a static website is a separate HTML file and remains unchanged unless manually modified by the website owner or developer. Examples of static websites include personal websites and blogs, or informational websites that don’t offer ecommerce functionalities or require frequent updates.

On the other hand, dynamic sites display content that can change based on user interactions, preferences, or sources. A dynamic website relies on server-side scripting languages like PHP, Python, or Ruby to generate content on the fly, pulling information from databases or external application programming interfaces (APIs).

An example of a dynamic website is an ecommerce website where product prices and availability are updated in real time based on user actions and stock levels.

Types of websites

Here are some of the most popular types of websites:

News

A news website covers current events, politics, entertainment, sports, and other topics of interest. Major news outlets like BBC, NPR, CNN, and Fox News all have large websites (and often mobile apps as well). News sites are often regularly updated throughout the day to keep readers informed. While many news websites are freely accessible, some content and articles may be hidden behind a paywall that requires readers to pay for a monthly or annual subscription.

Social networking

LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are all examples of social networking sites that allow users to share content and communicate with friends, family, colleagues, and users with similar interests. While these platforms are accessible through web browsers, many users primarily interact with social networks through dedicated mobile phone applications for convenience and added features.

Ecommerce

Ecommerce websites, hosted on platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, allow businesses to sell products or services online. They provide features such as secure payment gateways, product catalogs, and shopping carts. Customers can browse, purchase, and receive goods or services without visiting a brick-and-mortar store, making shopping more convenient and accessible.

Blog

Blogs are websites or sections of websites where individuals or organizations post content on various topics such as film reviews, recipes, fitness tips, or personal experiences. While many blogs are standalone personal sites, businesses also incorporate blogs into their websites to share industry insights, engage with customers, and establish thought leadership in their respective fields.

Blogs are frequently incorporated into a website’s search engine optimization (SEO) strategy to attract site visitors. By providing valuable content that targets relevant keywords, SEO blogs can improve the website’s ranking on search engines.

Portfolio

Portfolio websites serve as a digital showcase for professionals such as product designers, content writers, and wedding photographers to present their best work to potential clients or employers. Having your own website allows you to curate and display your projects, skills, and achievements in a personalized and visually appealing way.

Education

Educational websites provide users with informative content, resources, and learning materials on various subjects—often through interlinked web pages that are easy to navigate and explore. Educational websites cater to a wide range of learners, from students and educators to professionals seeking to expand their knowledge or acquire new skills. They often include features like online courses, interactive tutorials, and discussion forums.

Wiki

Wikis are collaborative websites that allow users to create, edit, and contribute content collectively. The most well-known example is Wikipedia, but there are countless wikis dedicated to popular fandoms of TV shows, computer games, and books. On these wikis, fans can explore and contribute to the lore, characters, and history of their favorite fictional universes.

Government

Government websites, which end with the .gov domain extension in the US, give people access to official information, services, and resources related to various government agencies and departments. These publicly accessible websites often include online forms, public records, and information about laws, regulations, and government programs, serving as a digital bridge between citizens and their government.

Nonprofit

Nonprofit organization websites serve as a platform for these organizations to showcase their mission, goals, and initiatives, and to engage with supporters and potential donors. These websites often include features like donation portals, event calendars, and informational resources.

Personal

Personal websites are digital spaces where individuals can express themselves, share their thoughts, and showcase their skills or experiences. These are often static websites made using simple content management systems (CMS) that eliminate the need to code.