Glossary · Web Development

Static Site Generator (SSG)

A static site generator builds a website into plain HTML, CSS and JavaScript files ahead of time, so servers only need to deliver files.

Updated October 6, 2026

A static site generator (SSG) is a tool that turns templates and content, such as Markdown files or CMS data, into a folder of ready-made HTML pages during a build step. Examples include Hugo, Jekyll and Eleventy.

Why it matters

Static files are fast, cheap to host, easy to cache on a CDN and have little to attack, since there is no database or server code per request. They are well suited to blogs, documentation and marketing sites. Limits appear with frequently changing or highly personalized content, where each change needs a rebuild.

Example

$ hugo
Start building sites ...
                   | EN
-------------------+-----
  Pages            |  42
Total in 150 ms

The generated public/ folder can be uploaded to any web server or object storage bucket and served directly.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming static means no interactivity. JavaScript and external APIs can still add dynamic features.
  • Forgetting to trigger a rebuild after updating content in a headless CMS.
  • Letting build times grow unchecked on very large sites.

Get notified when this term updates

Plus occasional practical tips on uptime and monitoring, nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.

Keep reading

Glossary · Web DevelopmentEdge FunctionsEdge functions are small pieces of server code that run on a CDN's nodes close to the user, enabling low-latency logic before or instead of an origin request.Glossary · Web DevelopmentJamstackJamstack is a web architecture that serves prebuilt pages from a CDN and adds dynamic features through JavaScript and APIs instead of a traditional server.Glossary · Cloud & HostingAmazon CloudFrontAmazon CloudFront is the AWS content delivery network that caches content at edge locations worldwide to reduce latency and origin load.Guide · Hosting & CDNCDN Explained: What It Does, When You Need One, and How Caching WorksUnderstand how a content delivery network works, which headers control caching, what origin shield does, when a CDN helps or hurts, and how to verify it is working.7 min readGuide · Hosting & CDNCloudflare Cache Rules and Purge: What Gets Cached and How to Clear ItHow Cloudflare decides what to cache, how to read cf-cache-status, build cache rules, set TTLs, and purge by URL, tag, prefix or everything without hurting performance.7 min readGuide · PerformanceCore Web Vitals Guide: Improve LCP, INP and CLS Step by StepLearn what LCP, INP and CLS measure, how lab and field data differ, and the practical fixes for images, fonts, JavaScript and layout shifts.9 min read

This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.