| Defination:-
A Site definition is core definition of a site. Site Definitions are stored on the hard drive of the SharePoint front end servers. They are used by the SharePoint application to generate the sites. Each site definition emerges through a combination of files that are placed in the 12 hive of WFE during installation of SharePoint.
Site Templates are created by users as a copy of a site they have configured and modified so that they do not have to recreate lists, libraries, views and columns every time they need a new instance of a site.
Files Storage
In Site Definitions Files are on disk so perfoemance is better performance.
In Site Template Files are in databaseand less efficient.
Web
have provision for multiple webs (Site Definitions)
Can only provision for only one web(SIte template)
Complexity
Site Definitions are very complex to create.
Site Tempaltes are easy to create.
Deployment
Requires admin access to server for deploying.(Site Definitions)
Installable from a Web UI by site owners.(SIte Template)
Flexible
Site Definitions are highly customizable and extensible for example this use XML and .NET that are very flexible than UI
Less flexible
Modification
Modifying the site definition after provisioning at least one site from it is not supported and might break existing sites.
Custom templates can be modified without affecting existing sites that have been created from the templates(**). | | |