What is a CMS?

In this digital world, websites dominate the online space. The number of websites currently active online numbers in the hundreds of millions, and that is not surprising. Websites are a convenient platform to carve yourself a corner of the Internet. Whether it is a blog, an online store, an entertainment service, or anything else in between, a website is the way to go if you want an online presence. Fortunately, it is easier than ever to create a website nowadays with the help of a CMS.

In this article, we will explore what a CMS (Content Management System) is and give examples. A CMS is one of the most convenient ways to create a website, so read on to learn why.

This post includes:

• What is a CMS?
• Types of Content Management Systems
• Benefits of Using a CMS

What is a CMS?

CMS (Content Management System) is software that helps users to create websites without any prior technical or coding knowledge. A CMS eliminates the need to write code from scratch, and the skills required to use one are contained solely to the CMS itself. In other words, all you need to learn is how the CMS works.

A CMS provides all the basic infrastructure and functionality you need to create a website and operate and maintain one. Typically, a CMS offers the fundamentals for a website: a way to create pages and define their appearance, functionalities for managing media, users and posts, and so on. Everything you could need to create a website is in the package.

Such a system is an invaluable tool nowadays. Many people without technical or coding skills do not work in the industry but need a website. Software like this is perfect for such people. Of course, that does not mean it is only used by beginners and non-professionals. Quite the opposite! Professionals often use Content Management Systems to great effect to create stunning websites.

Types of Content Management Systems

Depending on the type of website you are building, you might need a specific type of Content Management System. If you need to create a website quickly, a traditional CMS will be more than sufficient. However, if you want something more sophisticated, with a front-end that involves a lot of custom, moving parts, a headless or decoupled system might be better.

That is why it is important to know what each type of CMS does and how it does it. Ultimately, the differences mainly come down to how each type handles the relationship between the website's front-end (what the user sees and interacts with) and back-end (where the website is managed and content is created). Fortunately, all of that is very easy to explain.

• Traditional CMS - In this type of CMS, the front-end and back-end are typically part of the same software package. This type of CMS allows users to use the same interface (the same back-end) to design their layout and pages, create their content, and perform all website management and maintenance tasks they need. A prime example of such a system is WordPress;
• Decoupled CMS - On the other hand, in this type of CMS, the front-end is separated from the back-end so that when content is created, it can be distributed to various channels via APIs. That way, the creators are not bound to the single front-end like how it is with the previous system. The multiple channels or front-ends are usually far more customizable but often require knowledge in languages such as HTML or CSS. A typical decoupled CMS is Craft CMS;
• Headless CMS - Finally, this type of CMS is similar to the decoupled one. However, it goes one step further by wholly removing any predefined front-end. This type of CMS is solely focused on the back-end, and content is delivered via APIs to any platform that acts as the front-end. That can be anything from a website to a mobile application or even VR environments. This type of CMS has the most flexibility and customization.

Each of these CMS types has its purpose and serves different needs. The traditional CMS is perfect for simpler and self-contained websites. At the same time, the latter two are more fitting for websites that require higher customization and flexibility options and are aimed at a multi-channel audience.

Benefits of Using a CMS

Naturally, a CMS is one of many ways to create a website. You could use a framework or a runtime environment, for example. Any of these methods is perfectly fine, depending on the type of website you need, the skill of the one creating it, and the complexity you are looking for. Each has its benefits, and these are the ones that a CMS has.

• Ease of Use - This is the CMS's most significant advantage over any other website-building method. The whole purpose of a CMS is to make creating websites easy. With its integrated features, a CMS can help you create a great website with little effort. That opens the door to so many more people;
• Easy Content Creation - Most CMSs offer powerful post editors, allowing you to not only create content but also see how it will look. Many also include scheduling, drafting, and revision tools that help control content rollout;
• Adaptable - Most CMSs nowadays are highly adaptable through the use of plugins, modules, and themes. Via those three things, you can create vastly different websites with the same system;
• Streamlined Collaboration - With built-in user roles and permission, CMSs allow multiple users to work on content simultaneously while keeping the website and its content secure. Each user can have a different level of access as necessary;
• SEO Optimization - Many CMSs nowadays come with built-in SEO tools or offer third-party plugins that allow users to optimize metadata, create clean URLs, manage sitemaps, and improve their content for search engines in general;
• Cost-effectiveness - A CMS is good if you want to build a website on a budget because many of the most popular ones are open-source and free. Systems like WordPress and Joomla have great tools for no cost of their own;
• Security - A modern CMS is often armed with an array of security features. If not, they likely offer reliable third-party plugins to secure your website. Additionally, the most popular ones online receive frequent updates to patch any known exploits or vulnerabilities.

Using a CMS is about more than just ease of use. When we said they include everything you might need to launch a website, we meant it! From the infrastructure to the tools necessary for content and media management, a CMS has it all.

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