MPA
Multi-Page Application
ELI5 — The Vibe Check
An MPA is the old-school way — every link click loads a completely new HTML page from the server. Think Wikipedia. Each page is its own thing. Simpler to build, great for SEO, but every click causes a full page reload which can feel slower.
Real Talk
An MPA is a traditional web architecture where each URL corresponds to a separate HTML page rendered and served by the server. Navigation triggers full page reloads. MPAs are simpler architecturally and SEO-friendly by default. Modern MPAs often use techniques like Turbo or HTMX to add SPA-like speed.
Show Me The Code
<!-- Traditional MPA navigation: full reload -->
<a href="/about">About Us</a>
<!-- vs SPA: no reload, JS handles it -->
When You'll Hear This
"Our WordPress site is a classic MPA — every page is a full reload." / "Astro ships an MPA by default with optional island hydration."
Related Terms
Framework
A framework is like a pre-built house structure — the walls, floors, and roof are done, you just decorate it your way.
SPA (Single Page Application)
A SPA is a website that loads ONE HTML page and then never does a full page reload again.
SSG (Static Site Generation)
SSG builds all your pages ahead of time — before anyone visits. You get a folder of plain HTML files that are blazing fast to serve from a CDN.
SSR (Server-Side Rendering)
SSR means the server builds your HTML before sending it to the user's browser.