Website builder
Encyclopedia
Website builders are tools that allow the construction of websites without manual code editing. They fall into two categories: on-line proprietary tools provided by web hosting companies, typically intended for users to build their private site; and software which runs on a computer, creating pages off-line and which can then publish these pages on any host. (The latter are often considered to be "website design software" rather than "website builders".)
Later software was written to help design web pages and by 1998 Dreamweaver had been established as the industry leader; however some have criticized the quality of the code produced by such software as being overblown and reliant on tables. As the industry moved towards W3C
standards, Dreamweaver and others were criticized for not being compliant. Compliance has improved over time, but many professionals still prefer to write optimized markup by hand.
Open source tools were typically developed to the standards, and made fewer exceptions for the then dominant Internet Explorer's deviations from the standards.
The W3C
started Amaya
in 1996 to showcase Web technologies in a fully featured Web client. This was to provide a framework that integrated lots of W3C technologies in a single, consistent environment. Amaya started as an HTML and CSS editor and now supports XML
, XHTML
, MathML
, and SVG
.
content (Widgets) to making complete business/e-commerce websites, either template based or - on the more flexible platforms - totally design free.
The main advantage of an online website builder is that it is quick and easy to use, and does not require any experience. Often a website can be built and be up and running live on the Internet quickly. Technical support is usually provided, as are how to video and help files. This makes online website builders ideal for the beginner.
Sites are generally created using either HTML
or Adobe Flash
. HTML is a standard format supported by all browsers. Flash has a growing popularity, mainly since it has overcome some limitations such as not being seen by web crawlers such as Google and Yahoo, and thus being indexed. Flash is more resource intensive that HTML.
HTML tools are divided into those that allow editing of the source code and those who only have a WYSIWYG
mode.
Off-line web builders cater to professional web designers who need to create pages for more than one client or web host. Modern off-line web builders are usually both WYSIWYG and allow direct editing of source code and cascading style sheets
(CSS) styling. They generally require at least a basic understanding of HTML and CSS code. They are more flexible than on-line builders, but may be expensive to buy. There are some open source web builders which may be downloaded free of charge.
Online website builders =
Website builder comparison =
Summary
Website builders are tools that allow the construction of websites without manual code editing. They fall into two categories: on-line proprietary tools provided by web hosting companies, typically intended for users to build their private site; and software which runs on a computer, creating pages off-line and which can then publish these pages on any host. (The latter are often considered to be "website design software" rather than "website builders".) The majority of people who use website builders do so to make business websites.History
The first websites were created in the early 1990s. These sites were hand written in a HTML.Later software was written to help design web pages and by 1998 Dreamweaver had been established as the industry leader; however some have criticized the quality of the code produced by such software as being overblown and reliant on tables. As the industry moved towards W3C
World Wide Web Consortium
The World Wide Web Consortium is the main international standards organization for the World Wide Web .Founded and headed by Tim Berners-Lee, the consortium is made up of member organizations which maintain full-time staff for the purpose of working together in the development of standards for the...
standards, Dreamweaver and others were criticized for not being compliant. Compliance has improved over time, but many professionals still prefer to write optimized markup by hand.
Open source tools were typically developed to the standards, and made fewer exceptions for the then dominant Internet Explorer's deviations from the standards.
The W3C
World Wide Web Consortium
The World Wide Web Consortium is the main international standards organization for the World Wide Web .Founded and headed by Tim Berners-Lee, the consortium is made up of member organizations which maintain full-time staff for the purpose of working together in the development of standards for the...
started Amaya
Amaya (web browser)
Amaya is a free and open source WYSIWYG web authoring tool with browsing abilities, created by a structured editor project at the INRIA, a French national research institution, and later adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium . Amaya is used as a testbed for web standards and replaced the Arena...
in 1996 to showcase Web technologies in a fully featured Web client. This was to provide a framework that integrated lots of W3C technologies in a single, consistent environment. Amaya started as an HTML and CSS editor and now supports XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
, XHTML
XHTML
XHTML is a family of XML markup languages that mirror or extend versions of the widely-used Hypertext Markup Language , the language in which web pages are written....
, MathML
MathML
Mathematical Markup Language is an application of XML for describing mathematical notations and capturing both its structure and content. It aims at integrating mathematical formulae into World Wide Web pages and other documents...
, and SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics
Scalable Vector Graphics is a family of specifications of an XML-based file format for describing two-dimensional vector graphics, both static and dynamic . The SVG specification is an open standard that has been under development by the World Wide Web Consortium since 1999.SVG images and their...
.
On- and off-line
On-line website builders typically require customers to sign up with the web hosting company. Some companies provide examples of what a fully functional website made with their website builder looks like. The range of services varies anywhere between creating basic personal web pages or social networkSocial network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
content (Widgets) to making complete business/e-commerce websites, either template based or - on the more flexible platforms - totally design free.
The main advantage of an online website builder is that it is quick and easy to use, and does not require any experience. Often a website can be built and be up and running live on the Internet quickly. Technical support is usually provided, as are how to video and help files. This makes online website builders ideal for the beginner.
Sites are generally created using either HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
or Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
. HTML is a standard format supported by all browsers. Flash has a growing popularity, mainly since it has overcome some limitations such as not being seen by web crawlers such as Google and Yahoo, and thus being indexed. Flash is more resource intensive that HTML.
HTML tools are divided into those that allow editing of the source code and those who only have a WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is an acronym for What You See Is What You Get. The term is used in computing to describe a system in which content displayed onscreen during editing appears in a form closely corresponding to its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product...
mode.
Off-line web builders cater to professional web designers who need to create pages for more than one client or web host. Modern off-line web builders are usually both WYSIWYG and allow direct editing of source code and cascading style sheets
Cascading Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation semantics of a document written in a markup language...
(CSS) styling. They generally require at least a basic understanding of HTML and CSS code. They are more flexible than on-line builders, but may be expensive to buy. There are some open source web builders which may be downloaded free of charge.
Online website builders =
- WebMaker CMSWebMaker CMSWebMakerWebMaker CMS is a UK-based company which markets an online website builder package called WebMaker CMS, a website builder that makes website creation straightforward for people who do not have the technical knowledge required to develop a website using technical code and want to focus on...
- YolaYola (webhost)Yola is a website builder and website hosting company headquartered in San Francisco. People without programming skills and a limited knowledge of HTML and graphic design can make web sites using Yola. Its drag and drop system allows users to incorporate widgets without knowing HTML. Yola also...
- uCozUCozuCoz is a free web hosting with built-in content management system. The modules of uCoz CMS can be used together to build a fully featured website, or separately, e.g. as a blog platform, webforum etc. As of July 10, 2010, there are more than one million websites created in uCoz systems...
- JimdoJimdoJimdo is a WYSIWYG web hosting service. Jimdo offers JimdoFree, a free web hosting service, JimdoPro and JimdoBusiness, both premium services. Jimdo is operated by Jimdo GmbH, a Hamburg, Germany-based company...
- MoonfruitMoonfruitMoonfruit is a UK-based web hosting company. They employ a website construction tool called SiteMaker, which is intended to make website creation simpler for people who do not have a high degree of technical knowledge.- History :...
- SquarespaceSquarespaceSquarespace is a web publishing company that sells a software publishing platform and file server service to individuals and businesses, providing them the tools and assistance to create and maintain well-designed websites...
- WeeblyWeeblyWeebly is an online, free widget-based Web site creator, funded by micro-seed fund Y Combinator. It uses a widget-style format, allowing users to create pages with only a few clicks by dragging and dropping different page elements onto a page and filling in the content...
- DoombyDoombyReleased in 2009, doomby is a free online website builder, CMS and web hosting platform. Its integrated web building tools and interfaces incorporate drag and drop and WYSIWYG editors with HTML code and CSS editing to adapt to users' existing experience with creating websites, thus enabling its...
- WebnodeWebnodeWebnode is an online Website Builder system developed by Westcom, s.r.o, a company based in Brno, Czech Republic. It can be compared with other online systems like Weebly....
- Webs
- WixWix.comWix.com is a free online platform that allows users to create Flash websites, Apple-compatible mobile sites and customized Facebook pages through the use of professionally designed templates and simple drag & drop tools...
Website builder comparison =
| Yola Yola (webhost) Yola is a website builder and website hosting company headquartered in San Francisco. People without programming skills and a limited knowledge of HTML and graphic design can make web sites using Yola. Its drag and drop system allows users to incorporate widgets without knowing HTML. Yola also... |
uCoz UCoz uCoz is a free web hosting with built-in content management system. The modules of uCoz CMS can be used together to build a fully featured website, or separately, e.g. as a blog platform, webforum etc. As of July 10, 2010, there are more than one million websites created in uCoz systems... |
Jimdo Jimdo Jimdo is a WYSIWYG web hosting service. Jimdo offers JimdoFree, a free web hosting service, JimdoPro and JimdoBusiness, both premium services. Jimdo is operated by Jimdo GmbH, a Hamburg, Germany-based company... |
Moonfruit Moonfruit Moonfruit is a UK-based web hosting company. They employ a website construction tool called SiteMaker, which is intended to make website creation simpler for people who do not have a high degree of technical knowledge.- History :... |
Weebly Weebly Weebly is an online, free widget-based Web site creator, funded by micro-seed fund Y Combinator. It uses a widget-style format, allowing users to create pages with only a few clicks by dragging and dropping different page elements onto a page and filling in the content... |
Doomby Doomby Released in 2009, doomby is a free online website builder, CMS and web hosting platform. Its integrated web building tools and interfaces incorporate drag and drop and WYSIWYG editors with HTML code and CSS editing to adapt to users' existing experience with creating websites, thus enabling its... |
Webnode Webnode Webnode is an online Website Builder system developed by Westcom, s.r.o, a company based in Brno, Czech Republic. It can be compared with other online systems like Weebly.... |
Webs | Wix Wix.com Wix.com is a free online platform that allows users to create Flash websites, Apple-compatible mobile sites and customized Facebook pages through the use of professionally designed templates and simple drag & drop tools... |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | HTML | HTML | HTML | HTML | HTML | HTML | HTML | HTML | Flash |
| Disk Space | 1Gb | 400Mb | 500Mb | 20Mb | Unlimited | 10Mb | 100Mb | 40Mb | 2.5GB |
| Max upload file size | 15Mb | 15Mb | 5Mb | 20Mb | 5Mb | 10Mb | 8Mb | 40Mb | 15MB |
| Custom domains | |||||||||
| Number of Templates | 100 | 258 | 77 | 94 | 100 | 71 | 16 X | 300+ | 300+ |
| User management | |||||||||
| Backups | |||||||||
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1Gb | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1Gb | 100Mb | Unlimited |
| Template builder | |||||||||
| Template editor | |||||||||
| Password protection | 1 page | ||||||||
| Blog | |||||||||
| Forum | widget | widget | |||||||
| Email forms | |||||||||
| Photo Albums | 400 Photo | ||||||||
| Comments | Disqus | ||||||||
| Site News | |||||||||
| FTP | |||||||||
| File catalog | |||||||||
| Article catalog | |||||||||
| Site catalog | |||||||||
| Statistic | |||||||||
| Polls | widget | ||||||||
| Online games | |||||||||
| Tests | |||||||||
| FAQ | |||||||||
| Chat | widget | widget | |||||||
| Guestbook | |||||||||
| E-shop | 5 items limit | 5 items limit | |||||||
| Site search | |||||||||
| Portfolio | |||||||||
| Widgets | |||||||||
| Force Ad : Front End | No Ads | No Ads | Banners | ||||||
| User Ad | |||||||||
| Number of pages | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 15 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 8 | 50 |
| Websites per account | 5 | Unlimited | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Unlimited | 1 | Unlimited |
| OpenID | uID | ||||||||
| Meta tags | |||||||||
| Custom logo | |||||||||
| RSS | |||||||||
| RSS import | widget | ||||||||
| Cost | |||||||||
| Support | |||||||||
| Mobile Site | |||||||||
| Gadgets | |||||||||
| Site map | |||||||||
| PHP | |||||||||
| Newsletter | |||||||||
| Multi-language support |