To understand dynamic web pages, you have to understand normal or in other words 'static' web pages. Typical non-dynamic web pages do not change every time the page is loaded by the browser, nor do they change if a user clicks on a button. The only change that you will see in static web pages is to see them load and unload, like what happens when you click on a hyperlink. In a nutshell: static web pages (normal pages you build) always look the same and the content never changes unless you load a new page or you change the page yourself and upload the new version of the page to the web server.

Dynamic pages do the opposite, they can change every time they are loaded (without you having to make those changes) and they can change their content based on what user do, like clicking on some text or an image.

One of the most common types of dynamic web pages is the database driven type. This means that you have a web page that grabs information from a database (the web page is connected to the database by programming) and inserts that information into the web page each time it is loaded.

If the information stored in the database changes, the web page connected to the database will also change accordingly (and automatically) without human intervention.

This is commonly seen on online banking sites where you can log in (by entering your user name and password) and check out your bank account balance. Your bank account information is stored in a database and has been connected to the web page with programming thus enabling you to see your banking information. Imagine if the web page holding your banking information had to be built traditionally (that is by hand) every time your bank balance changed! Even a thousand monkeys working 24/7 drinking 5 cups of coffee a day, would not be able to keep up!

Hopefully you are starting to see why you would want a database driven site: you would want it if your information changes very often, just like in a banking site. Database driven sites can be built using several competing technologies, each with its own advantages.

Some of those technologies/tools include:

»	PHP	»	ASP
»	JSP	»	PERL

Cold Fusion Database driven website programming can also be called (or characterized as): ‘server side programming’. The reason it is so called is because the ‘action’ or magic that allows the web pages to connect to the database is actually taking place on the server. This is what happens: each time a dynamic web page is about to be sent to the browser, the server automatically builds the page and sends a standard HTML page to the browser.

The server 'knows' how to build the page by following the instructions provided by the programmer. This is different from say JavaScript (think drop down menus or alert boxes) that runs strictly in the web browser.
Advantages of Database Driven Sites
A database-driven approach is not just a better technical solution, it actually changes the way companies can utilize the web, taking advantage of the true benefits it offers. Having a site’s content stored in a database prepares that site to head in any direction in the future. These overlooked advantages of database-driven sites are important to sites of all sizes. Even when a client’s site is small, or they don’t think they will change much content, at some point they will want to add and upgrade their site. The database approach ensures that past work is not thrown away as a site grows and changes over time.

Benefits
The database driven approach is not just a better technical solution. It actually changes the way companies can utilize the web, taking advantage of the true benefits it offers. Having a site's content stored in a database prepares that site to head in any direction in the future. These overlooked advantages of database-driven sites are important to sites of all sizes. Even when a client's site is small, or they don't think they will change much content, at some point they will want to add and upgrade their site. The database approach ensures that past work is not thrown away as a site grows and changes over time.

Web based applications have evolved significantly over recent years and with improvements in security and technology there are plenty of scenarios where traditional software based applications and systems could be improved by migrating them to a web based application. Web based applications have come a long way and now offer competitive advantages to traditional software based systems allowing businesses to consolidate and streamline their systems and processes and reduce costs.

Below are some of the core benefits of web based applications.

Cross platform compatibility
Most web based applications are far more compatible across platforms than traditional installed software. Typically the minimum requirement would be a web browser of which there are many. (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape to name but a few). These web browsers are available for a multitude of operating systems and so whether you use Windows, Linux or Mac OS you can still run the web application.

More manageable
Web based systems need only be installed on the server placing minimal requirements on the end user workstation. This makes maintaining and updating the system much simpler as usually it can all be done on the server. Any client updates can be deployed via the web server with relative ease.

Highly deployable
Due to the manageability and cross platform support deploying web applications to the end user is far easier. They are also ideal where bandwidth is limited and the system and data is remote to the user. At their most deployable you simply need to send the user a website address to log in to and provide them with internet access. This has huge implications allowing you to widen access to your systems, streamline processes and improve relationships by providing more of your customers, suppliers and third parties with access to your systems.

Secure live data
Typically in larger more complex systems data is stored and moved around separate systems and data sources. In web based systems these systems and processes can often be consolidated reducing the need to move data around.

Web based applications also provide an added layer of security by removing the need for the user to have access to the data and back end servers.

Reduced costs
Web based applications can dramatically lower costs due to reduced support and maintenance, lower requirements on the end user system and simplified architecture. By further streamlining your business operations as a result of your web based application additional savings can often be found.