Development

Static site generation (SSG)

Building every page into ready-made HTML ahead of time so it can be served instantly from a CDN.

By Nick Irmo · Updated

What Static site generation (SSG) means

Static pages are fast, cheap to host and hard to break, because the server does not assemble each page on request. They suit marketing pages, blogs and documentation. The catch is that content changes require a rebuild, which ISR helps solve.

Why it matters for your website

Pre-built pages load very fast and are easy for search engines to crawl, which helps both rankings and conversions. With no database to attack on each page view, static sites also have fewer security weak spots and are usually cheap to host.

Example

A hypothetical accounting firm's service pages and blog are built as static HTML each time content changes, so every visitor gets an instant page from the CDN.

Tips

  • Use static generation for pages that do not change per visitor.
  • Set up automatic rebuilds when someone publishes in your CMS.
  • Use serverless functions for dynamic needs like forms.

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting to rebuild the site, so new content never appears.
  • Choosing static for pages that need real-time data like live inventory.

Questions about Static site generation (SSG)

What is Static site generation (SSG)?
Building every page into ready-made HTML ahead of time so it can be served instantly from a CDN.
Are static sites good for SEO?
Yes, they are fast and serve complete HTML, which search engines handle easily. Content quality and site structure still matter most.
Can a static site have a contact form or blog?
Yes. Forms can be handled by serverless functions or form services, and blogs can be managed in a headless CMS that triggers a rebuild.

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