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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIn advertising, a website is the collection of related web pages maintained together for a purpose; it may be the publisher property where ads appear. The specific page someone reaches after clicking an ad is the ad’s landing page, also called its final URL. A website is therefore broader than a single ad destination, and it does not have to carry ads.
What does “website” mean?
NIST defines a website as “A set of related web pages that are prepared and maintained as a collection in support of a single purpose.” In everyday use, those pages are often linked under a common domain name, such as example.com. The definition describes a collection, not just its home page or any one page within it. NIST’s glossary attributes this definition to NISTIR 7693 and cautions that it applies in that document’s context.
A website can also be a web-based application, not just a set of articles or static pages. Section508.gov describes a website and web-based application as many pages linked under a common domain. Its page-counting convention for an annual Section 508 assessment treats dynamic or customizable views within a single-page application as one page; that is a measurement rule for that assessment, not a change to the general meaning of website. Section508.gov’s glossary, reviewed and updated in August 2026, also defines a web page in terms of a resource obtained over HTTP and the resources used to render and present it.
Website vs. landing page: what is the difference?
| Term | What it refers to | Role in advertising |
|---|---|---|
| Website | A related collection of pages maintained together for a purpose | May be the publisher’s property that displays ads, or the advertiser’s broader online property |
| Landing page / final URL | The particular web page a person reaches after clicking an ad | The ad destination a visitor arrives at |
Google Ads calls the destination a final URL and says it is also known as the landing page. Google’s definition is specific: “A final URL is the URL address of the web page in your website that people reach after they click your ad and is also known as the ‘landing page’.” Google says the landing page and display URL must share the same domain. See Google Ads Help’s final URL definition.
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For example, a news website may publish many articles and show ads across its pages. One advertiser’s ad could send a visitor to a particular product or sign-up page on the advertiser’s website. The news site is the publisher website; the advertiser’s destination page is that ad’s landing page. Neither term means the same thing as the ad itself.
How does a website relate to ads?
Publisher websites can carry ads
News sites and blogs are examples of websites that may partner with Google to display advertising. Ads can appear in different formats and locations across a site. The IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report defines interstitials as between-the-page ad units shown as a user navigates from one web page to another. This describes one ad format, not a requirement for a website. The IAB/PwC report for full-year 2025 was published in April 2026.
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Ads are separate from organic search results
A website can be found through paid ads, unpaid search results, direct visits, or other routes. Google says Search ads appear in clearly marked sections and that buying ads does not purchase a higher organic Search ranking. The ad placement and a website’s organic ranking are distinct. See Google’s explanation of ads on Search.
Does every website need advertising?
No. Advertising is one possible way to support a website, not part of the definition. A site may display ads, sell products or services, provide information, support an application, or serve another purpose. Calling something a website does not by itself say whether it is monetized or who owns it.
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Can the audience affect advertising requirements?
In the United States, a site or online service that may be directed to children can raise COPPA compliance questions. The FTC says its assessment considers multiple factors, including subject matter, visual content, language, advertising, evidence about audience composition, and the intended audience. No single listed factor alone determines the result. This is a specific US legal context, separate from the general definition of website. See the FTC’s COPPA FAQ.
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