In the current digital age, many businesses are building websites using frameworks like Next.js. While Next.js provides a lot of flexibility, hosting costs can grow quickly if not managed smartly. One effective way to save money is by understanding the nature of your web pages—some are static, and some are dynamic.
In this blog, we will talk about how separating these two types of pages into different applications and using static hosting wisely can help reduce your overall hosting costs.
What Are Static and Dynamic Pages?
Static Pages
Static pages are created during the build time of your website. This means the content is fixed and does not change often. These pages are ready to serve to users without any server-side processing. Examples of static pages include:
- Homepage
- About Us
- Contact Information
- Product Descriptions
- Blog Articles
Because these pages do not change frequently, they can be stored on a Content Delivery Network (CDN) and served very quickly to users.
Dynamic Pages
Dynamic pages are generated in real time when a user requests them. These often include personalized or frequently changing content. Examples are:
- User Profiles
- Shopping Carts
- Dashboards
- Real-time Reports
These pages require access to a server or backend to fetch or process data before showing it to the user.
Why Separate Static and Dynamic Pages?
Reduced Hosting Cost
Static hosting is usually much cheaper than dynamic hosting. By hosting only your static pages on a CDN or static hosting platform, you reduce the need for expensive backend resources. This lowers your monthly hosting bill.
Better Performance
Static pages load faster since they are served directly from the nearest server in a global CDN. This means users across different regions experience quicker load times, improving user satisfaction and search engine ranking.
Easier Scaling
When your website gets a spike in traffic, static pages can handle large numbers of users without needing to scale your backend servers. This is especially useful during marketing campaigns or product launches.
Simpler Maintenance
Static pages do not depend on server-side logic or complex infrastructure. This makes them easier to manage and less prone to errors, helping your development team focus on improvements rather than maintenance.
The Strategy: Separate and Host Smartly
To take advantage of these benefits, it’s important to:
- Identify which of your pages are static and which are dynamic
- Create separate builds or applications for each type
- Use static hosting platforms (like CDNs) for static pages
- Keep dynamic pages on a backend-enabled server or API system
This method allows your business to optimize cost and performance without compromising functionality.
Conclusion
Using Next.js to build modern web applications offers great flexibility, but it's equally important to manage costs wisely. By separating static and dynamic content and hosting them appropriately, businesses can significantly reduce hosting expenses, improve speed, and scale more efficiently.
The key is to make smart architectural decisions early on and take full advantage of what static hosting can offer in a hybrid web environment.
Author - Sulay Sumaria
Sulay Sumaria is a full-stack developer and project manager with a knack for turning complex ideas into scalable, elegant solutions. With a deep love for JavaScript ecosystems and cloud-native tools, he builds AI-driven, user-friendly applications. When he's not coding, you'll find him writing utility tools, exploring new tech, or watching a good sci-fi series.
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