How to Deploy a Simple Static Website Using Netlify

In our previous article, we introduced how to deploy a simple website project using GitHub Pages. As a leading free static website hosting platform, Netlify offers a simpler and faster deployment experience. In this article, we’ll walk you through the entire process. Deploying a Static Website with Netlify End-to-end.

Deploying a static website consisting solely of HTML, CSS, and JS on Netlify is very simple,Permanently free, built-in CDN, automatic HTTPS, I’ve put together two of the most practical methods for you: drag-and-drop uploads with Xiaobai and automatic Git deployment—taking you from zero to live in one go.

Step 1: Preparations Before Deployment

1. Sign up for a Netlify account

Go to the Netlify website:https://www.netlify.com

Click the top-right corner Sign Up，We recommend using your GitHub account for one-click registration.(You can skip the authorization step for subsequent Git deployments), or you can register with your email address.

After logging in, you'll be taken directly to the project management dashboard.

2. Prepare the static website files

You'll need to set up a folder for your website project,The root directory must contain the index.html homepage file., otherwise a 404 error will occur after deployment.

Step 2: Two Methods for Deploying to Netlify

Method 1: Direct Upload via Drag-and-Drop (Beginners Can Get Started in 10 Seconds)

Go to the Netlify dashboard homepage and click "Add a New Project."

A will appear in the center of the pageUpload your project filesthe upload area.

将The entire website folder (do not compress)Drag it directly into this area.

Please wait a few seconds for the automatic deployment to complete; the system will then generate xxx.netlify.app Free domain—click to visit the website.

Method 2: Automatic Deployment from a GitHub Repository (Suitable for Long-Term Maintenance)

Host your code on GitHub. After making changes locally and pushing them,Netlify Automatic Redeployment, suitable for websites that require frequent content updates.

Step 1: Upload the website code to GitHub

Create a new GitHub repository (public or private), and upload index.html Once all the website files have been placed inRepository Root Directory。

Step 2: Link GitHub to Netlify for Automatic Deployment

Netlify Dashboard → Click Add a new site

在 Import a repository Select from the options below GitHub Grant access, then select your website repository.

Static Website Deployment Configuration (Leave at default):

• Deployment Branch:main
• Build command: Leave blank
• Publish directory:.

Click Deploy site, wait 10 seconds for the deployment to complete.

After that, all you need to do is update the code on GitHub, and Netlify willAutomatic Redeployment。

Step 3 (Optional): Link a Custom Domain

Go to the website's admin panel → Domain Management → Add domainHere, you can choose from various options to purchase a domain or enter your own custom domain directly.

Once the binding is successful, Netlify willAutomatic, Free SSL Certificate Configuration, supports secure HTTPS access.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)