
Server-Driven UI framework on the Web: Examples, Benefits & Use Cases
29 Oct 2022
Astro is a modern front-end web framework for building fast, lightweight, content-first websites like blogs, marketing pages, documentation sites, and more. It lets you build “on the fly” websites with your favorite tech stack!
Why do developers love Astro? Because it delivers on the promise:
“Load only the content your users need and nothing else!”
The result? Lightning-fast websites, better user experience, and SEO performance that’s hard to beat.
In this article, I’ll show you some of the most impressive Astro examples websites in the wild and why Astro + a good CMS = the perfect match.
Ship 0kb JavaScript: By default, Astro only renders HTML at build time and does not send unnecessary JavaScript to the browser. If you need interactive components (like button clicks), you can optionally load JavaScript.
Support multiple framework components: You can use components from React, Vue, Svelte, Solid, and other frameworks at the same time in your Astro project; mixing them on the page is no problem!
File-based routing (plain and simple): As soon as you put an .astro file in the src/pages/
directory, it automatically becomes a routing page. Next.js made file-based routing popular, and now every other major framework is using it. For example:
src/pages/about.astro → /about src/pages/blog/post1.astro → /blog/post1
Ultra-fast build speed + easy deployment: Astro components support Static Site Generation (SSG) to generate pure HTML pages that can be deployed to any CDN, such as Vercel, Netlify, or Firebase Hosting. Astro also offers Server-Side Rendering (SSR) through official adapters for platforms like Cloudflare, Netlify, Vercel, Node, and Deno. SSR can be helpful for large websites with thousands of pages, where full static generation might lead to long build times, allowing pages to be rendered on demand instead.
With Astro Islands, your website loads faster because only the parts that need interactivity use JavaScript. The rest stays clean and lightweight. This makes your site quicker, easier to maintain, and more user-friendly, especially on slower devices or networks. You get the best of both worlds: speed and dynamic features, without the bloat.
In a web ecosystem obsessed with speed, Astro is quietly powering some of the fastest, most elegant websites out there. From indie devs to global brands, more creators are turning to Astro for its unmatched performance, flexibility, and simplicity.
Let’s take a look at some standout sites built with Astro that truly shine. Here's the astro examples list:
Use case: Developer documentation
Why it’s inspiring: If a performance-focused company like Cloudflare chooses Astro for their docs, you know it's serious. The site is fast, easy to navigate, and scales beautifully for heavy content.d
Use case: Marie Curie is a non-profit website
Why it’s inspiring: Simple, respectful design. Calming colors and accessible layout match the emotional tone of the cause without overloading users.
Use case: E-commerce
What's inspiring: The use of professional and visually appealing photography and video elevates the user experience and effectively communicates the brand's essence.
Use case: Product website
What's inspiring: Label Studio cleanly explains a complex product. Content is focused, functional, and easy to digest.
Use case: Developer portfolio
Why it’s inspiring: Okio has super snappy view transitions and minimal UI. This is a masterclass in speed and elegance.
Use case: Interactive product microsite
Why it’s inspiring: Solid Toast shows off Astro’s capability to support animated, JavaScript-powered features without bloating the site.
Use case: Product website
Why it’s inspiring: Current's bright visuals, content collections, high-quality animations, and modern design make it feel cutting-edge but approachable.
Use case: Small business site
Why it’s inspiring: Personal, relatable, and culturally inclusive imagery that builds trust and warmth.
Use case: Creative portfolio
Why it’s inspiring: The website showcases powerful personal branding, unique typography, and a bold layout, making this portfolio unforgettable. This clear sense of identity is inspiring for individuals looking to establish their own unique online presence.
Use case: Photography portfolio
Why it’s inspiring: The website is structured to effectively highlight Danielle Levitt's skill and versatility across different genres of photography (e.g., portraiture, documentary, fashion).
Use case: Agency website
Why it’s inspiring: Great example of how a digital agency can flex creativity and structure using Astro.
Use case: Minimalist portfolio
Why it’s inspiring: Jan's website embraces a clean and minimalist design aesthetic. This uncluttered approach inspires a focus on the content itself without unnecessary distractions.
After seeing what’s possible with Astro in the wild, from lightning-fast landing pages to beautifully crafted developer blogs, you’re probably wondering:
"Astro makes my website fast, but what about editing content? "
The secret behind many of these modern web experiences isn't just Astro’s raw speed or developer-friendliness but also the ability to keep content in sync.
That’s where BCMS comes in, a content-first, headless CMS that works seamlessly with Astro:
Deliver content dynamically through powerful APIs
Integrate seamlessly with your Astro front-end
Empower teams to edit and update with no technical knowledge
Together, Astro + BCMS gives you the perfect balance: Astro handles performance and UI with precision, while BCMS manages content like a breeze.
Speed and flexibility are increasingly important in modern websites. Traditional CMS platforms like WordPress slow you down with bulky templates and rigid workflows.
BCMS changes the game.
As a powerful, open-source headless CMS, BCMS gives you total control over your content and complete freedom on the front end. Pair it with cutting-edge frameworks like Astro, and you get:
Blazing-fast Astro static sites
Fully customizable content APIs
Effortless collaboration between developers and content teams
No bloat. No limits. Just content delivered your way — faster than ever.
Features include:
Custom content models: Fully flexible schemas
Multi-language support: Go global with ease
Granular permissions: Manage roles across teams
Cloud or self-hosted: Your infrastructure, your choice
There is a set of official BCMS code starters (Astro templates) that allow you to quickly combine Astro and BCMS to launch a website for your business in no time.
Here is a list of starter kits you can start customizing:
How it helps: Agency code starter provides a good starting point for showcasing services, portfolios, and teams, attracting potential clients, and building credibility. The centralized BCMS dashboard allows easy updates to case studies, testimonials, and service offerings.
How it helps: Astro js Blog starter enables individuals or businesses to easily create and manage written content, sharing expertise, engaging audiences, and building authority in their niche. Centralized management simplifies publishing and organization of articles.
How it helps: Conference starter offers a dedicated platform to promote events, manage speaker information, schedules, and ticket sales. Easy content updates keep attendees informed and engaged before, during, and after the conference.
How it helps: Provides the foundation for an online store, allowing businesses to manage product listings, descriptions, and images. Centralized product information ensures consistency and simplifies inventory management.
How it helps: With Job Board Starter, you can create a platform for employers to post job openings and for candidates to browse and apply. Centralized management allows for easy listing, categorization, and management of job vacancies.
How it helps: Offers individuals a space to showcase their skills, experiences, and interests, acting as an online resume or personal portfolio. Easy content updates allow for keeping information current and relevant.
Learn more: Crafting a Modern Astro Portfolio website with BCMS
How it helps: Provides a website to host and promote podcast episodes, show notes, and guest information. The BCMS dashboard simplifies the process of publishing new episodes and related content.
How it helps: Allows food bloggers or businesses to easily create and manage recipes with ingredients, instructions, and images. With a centralized dashboard, BCMS makes it simple to add a new recipe.
How it helps: Offers a professional website to display menus, operating hours, location, events, and potentially take online reservations. Easy content updates ensure menu and other important information are always accurate.
How it helps: This template provides a functional blog structure out of the box, significantly reducing the initial setup time compared to building everything from scratch.
Each starter includes:
Preconfigured Astro front-end project
Connected BCMS backend
Sample content (blog posts, authors, etc.)
Data pull (fetch) logic
Let’s be honest, choosing the right CMS for Astro is not just about speed; it's about efficiency, maintainability, and freedom. You need a solution that's high-performing, easy to manage, flexible, and scalable.
That's where the Astro + BCMS combination shines.
This combo offers the best of both worlds:
Static or dynamic: Fetch content at build or run time
Fast front-end: Astro generates blazing-fast HTML
Flexible content: BCMS handles editing, localization, and collaboration
Scalable setup: Works for portfolios and enterprise apps
Effortless deployment: Deploy Astro anywhere. BCMS runs on your terms.
If you want to build a superfast, editable, and scalable site, Astro + BCMS is the stack to bet on.
From hobby blogs to corporate docs, this combo powers some of the cleanest, fastest websites on the web. Now it's your turn.
If you're looking to kickstart your next project, we've got you covered. Every website listed above comes with its own GitHub repository that you can clone, fork, or explore.
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There are many actionable insights in this blog post. Learn more: