# What is Page builder?

> A page builder is a drag-and-drop tool for laying out web pages visually without code, such as Elementor or Divi for WordPress, or the editors in Wix and Squarespace.

- Source: https://nerdsharks.com/glossary/page-builder
- Publisher: Nerdsharks (Exeter, Devon, UK)
- Updated: 2026-09-26

Also called: drag-and-drop builder, visual builder, Elementor, Divi, website builder.

Page builders let you design a page by dragging in blocks such as headings, pictures, buttons and columns, and seeing roughly what it will look like as you go. They are popular with DIY builders and many agencies.

The convenience has costs. Page builders often add a lot of extra code behind the scenes, which can make pages slower, especially on phones. They can also make it hard to move the site away later, because the layout only works inside that builder.

Used carefully, they are fine for simple sites. Used carelessly, they are a common reason small business websites fail speed tests.

## Why it matters for a small business

If you are quoted for a ‘custom’ website, ask whether it is built with a page builder and what that means for speed and for moving it later. A slow site on a phone costs you enquiries, and being locked into one tool limits your options.

**Example:** A cleaner's site built with a heavy page builder takes a long time to show anything on a 4G signal. Rebuilding the same design leanly makes it load far faster.