Originally, websites were purely for informational purposes. Originally, the web was for educational and research institutions and goverment agencies to make information available to each other, via text-only websites. The web was then opened to the general public (you and I). Now that we have the World Wide Web (www), there are more types of websites than you can shake a stick at.
Below are the main types of websites you may come accross. Each one serving it's own purpose.
A Brochure site, generally, is a single paged website. It allows your company or product to have a Web presence and acts as an online version of a business card.
Brochure sites convey a sense of permanence and credibility to your customers, and also provides them with valuable information, such as contact details, opening times and a way to contact you.
Due to only being a single page, information about your business, services or products can be limitted.
A static web page is a web page that is delivered to the user exactly as it is stored on the server. This information will be exactly the same for all users and the information does not change unless it is editted directly.
Static web pages are suitable for the contents that never or rarely need to be updated. Updating is carried out through the webdesign.
A dynamic website is a site where the data or content can change 'dynamically'.
The content, the text and/or images, are usually obtained from a database or Content Management System (CMS). When the data is changed, the content on the website is also updated. This opens up a lot of options on the flexibility and functionality of your website.
Shopping carts (Ecommerce Websites) and information sites work this way as their content changes frequently and needs to be kept up to date. The additional functionality allows for user interactivity so that they see the information that they require.
A CMS quite literally allows you to control and manage the content displayed on your web site - without requiring any technical training.
Using a CMS you can very easily add, delete images and edit text in your web site. Editing of the website is done through a password protected adminstration panel.
Simply, an Ecommerce website is a site that allows the user to view and purchase a product or service from the person who owns the website.
These websites are usually dynamic and CMS driven. The items are stored within an online database and can be add, editted and removed by the websites owner. Many Ecommerce websites impliment a PayPal checkout and payment system.