Dynamic data refers to electronic information that changes as needed or desired. Websites use dynamic data to display content on the fly based on changing conditions, such as inventory levels or personal preferences. Web developers use script coding programming languages and databases to create dynamic data. Time and date can also be displayed dynamically on static websites using simple scripts.
“Data” in the field of information technology is a term that simply refers to information that is in an electronic format and is usually stored in a database. “Dynamic” denotes change, and when the word is used to describe data – as in “dynamic data” – it refers to electronic information that changes as needed or desired. There are many reasons why data should be dynamic. For example, large e-commerce websites that offer many different products for sale almost always have to keep track of their inventory. Product information is stored in a database and is retrieved and updated in real time.
If a visitor purchases the latest of a product, an “out of stock” notice may be programmed to be shown to subsequent visitors. The electronic information displayed would reflect the changes in the database that have been made as a result of the buying activities of the cyberspace customers. This is a great example of dynamic data in the real world.
Most websites are database driven or just plain data driven. This means that content on such sites is created on the fly, based on ever-changing conditions. For example, typing the web address of a site and landing on the home page is a condition for which a web developer could program the display of dynamic data to occur.
The developer may want the home page content to be displayed in a random order so that the page looks different each time it is called. It may also want to do something like display the most recently added content to the database or even allow visitors to personalize their visitor experience to some extent. Each visitor’s personal preferences would determine what content is viewed and how that content appears to them. This is another real-world example of dynamic data generation.
Web developers use script coding programming languages to get dynamic data. If a website is data-driven, the developer will need to work with a database. The developer can write queries to add, update, delete and combine information in the database to create dynamic data that will be displayed for all possible scenarios.
A database isn’t always what’s behind dynamic data. The time changes by the minute and the date changes every day. You can write simple scripts to get the current time and date displayed on a website that consists of static or immutable data.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
