Website builders are tools which generally enable the building of dynamic web sites without too much manual coding. They generally fall into two general categories: WYSIWYG and DIY. While both have their own advantages and disadvantages, it is WYSIWYG which has become more popular in recent years due to its simplicity and functionality.
The term “web-based” indicates that a website builder can be used on a browser, including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Google Chrome, and many more. On the other hand, WYSIWYG means “what you see is what you get” which means that you have the opportunity to view and edit your website through a graphical user interface, or GUI (head-mounted display) tool. This tool enables you to build a site using just a mouse, keyboard and a Windows-oriented graphic interface tool. Most good website builders offer a simple and easy to use graphical user interface, and some even support a Java-based GUI. For instance, Dreamweaver offers a Java-based GUI with a WYSIWYG-like visual editor.
Another aspect where WYSIWYG differs from DIY is that they do not come with pre-made templates, but instead offer a wide range of templates to choose from according to your custom needs. The best website builders offer numerous themes to choose from as well as several different color schemes and header options. They also allow you to customize your menus and sidebars, and generally allow for flexible template management. You also have the option of creating search engines, and custom error pages, besides a wide range of additional features, such as shopping carts, contact forms, calendars, RSS feeds, and many more.