CMSs

CMSs, or content management systems, are software platforms designed to create, manage, store, and publish digital content for websites and other channels. They provide a content repository, a user-friendly authoring interface, and tools for organizing workflows, permissions, and presentation. By separating content from presentation, CMSs allow non-technical users to publish and update content without coding.

Core components typically include a content model or schema, a database or file-based storage, user roles and permissions, templates or themes for consistent presentation, and plugins or modules that extend functionality. Many offer built-in media management, version control, and SEO features, as well as multisite and multilingual capabilities.

CMSs can be categorized by architecture. Traditional or coupled CMSs integrate content management with the front-end rendering in a single system. Headless CMSs store and manage content but expose it through APIs (REST or GraphQL) for use by any front-end application, enabling multi-channel delivery. Decoupled or hybrid CMSs provide a middle ground, with a separate front end and back end that communicate via APIs. Flat-file CMSs store content in files rather than a database, offering simplicity and portability but often less scalability.

Common examples include traditional systems such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla; headless options like Contentful, Strapi, and Sanity; and flat-file or static-site builders like Grav, Hugo, and Jekyll. Open source and proprietary licenses are both prevalent, influencing cost, community support, and extensibility.

CMS selection depends on content needs, technical resources, required channels, and desired control over customization and hosting.