UX for Beginners

Chapter 41. Static and Dynamic Pages

Some pages are always the same. Some pages are different for every user. Two different types of layout means two different types of design thinking.

What Is a Static Page?

A static page (or screen) is the most basic form of a digital layout. It will look precisely the same every time, for every user. It is hardcoded.

A real-life example might be that website you made when you were 13 that had a bunch of random animated GIFs in a chaotic layout beside a photo of your celebrity role-model and a slightly-too-honest-yet-vaguely-intriguing introduction of your super mature 13-year-old self.

Or, you know, images in your portfolio.

But static pages aren’t worse. They’re just simpler. Many product pages on apple.com have been static, because they were just pictures and text. Why over-complicate it?

What Is a Dynamic Page?

A dynamic page is a page that isn’t always the same. It changes. For example:

• A dynamic page might react to your choices. When you choose more expensive shipping during the checkout flow, the total price changes automatically without leaving the page.

• A dynamic page might look different depending on the user. Every person’s Facebook profile can show different content in the same page design because the page is dynamic.

• A dynamic page might act as a template for lots of content. Every article on the New York Times site might use the same page as a template, but the page fills itself with the article you have chosen each time.

Things versus Containers ...