Differences between Deleting, Inactivating, and Taking a Website Offline
Your reasons for making a website inaccessible should determine whether you delete, inactivate, or take it offline for maintenance. The following table describes the differences:
|
Offline Website |
Inactive Website |
Deleted Website |
---|---|---|---|
Purpose |
Takes website offline temporarily for maintenance |
Makes website inactive permanently (reactivation is possible with restrictions) |
Removes website permanently and irrecoverably |
Feasibility |
No restrictions |
No restrictions |
Possible only if there are no dependant records |
Website record |
Retains website record together with all internal references |
Retains website record together with all internal references |
Deletes website record |
Cache (CDN and internal cache) |
Retains cache |
Deletes cache |
Deletes cache |
Search Index |
Retains search index |
Deletes search index |
Deletes search index |
Alternative page |
Displays custom maintenance page or default maintenance message |
Displays “Site not found” error |
Displays “Site not found” error |
Site licence |
Uses a site licence |
Does not use a site licence |
Does not use a site licence |
Displayed in lists |
Displayed in website lists, dropdowns etc. |
Not displayed in most website lists, dropdowns etc. |
Not displayed in any website lists, dropdowns, etc. |
Included in search results and reports |
Included in searches and reports |
Included in searches and reports. Can be filtered out. |
Not included in searches and reports |
Reactivation |
Can be brought back online at any time |
Can be reactivated but the following restrictions apply:
|
Cannot be reactivated |