Specialized people using specialized HTML development tools
A traditional static web page typically originates as an idea in someone's head. The originator has a product, a service, or something else of interest, and wants to describe it via a web site. The originator then works with a web designer (and possibly a graphic designer and a copywriter) to come up with the overall web design and content. The web designer then blends together words, images, headings, and web navigation (moving from one page to another) into one or more web pages, using specialized web page development software (such as Microsoft Front Page, HoTMetaL, or many other packages). The resulting web pages are known as HTML files because they contain HTML code which looks like:
Obviously HTML looks pretty messy unless you're a programmer who deals with it frequently. And of course this traditional method is somewhat slow and expensive in that it involves multiple people and specialized development software.
Traditional web page uploading
Specialized people using specialized FTP communications packages
Once the HTML files for a web site have all been developed, they must be uploaded onto the web server. This is typically done via specialized communications software by establishing an ftp connection through the Internet. Once someone has the right software and learns it, ftp is fairly straight-forward. However, it still remains that appropriate ftp software must be obtained and learned, and that it won't be readily available in all locations (such as while traveling).
Traditional web page maintenance
Specialized people using specialized tools to modify, recreate, and upload the HTML files
If the owner of a website has new information (such as information on a new product), he or she typically works once again with a web designer (and perhaps others) who then makes the necessary modifications to the original web site, and then again uploads the resulting web pages. This is true even if the addition is quite simple such as a text-only press release.
