Copying localhost website to live server?

Hello,

I’m just wondering, if it’s best to develop the website locally, and then copy it to the host’s server?

Or is it better to clean install WordPress on the host’s server and then manually adjust the settings and copy/paste the articles?

I’m asking this, just to be sure, that there won’t be any performance/stability issues. I hope this is not the same as upgrading your OS – clean installs always work better than upgrades.

Thanks!