What is a content management system (CMS)?

A content management system (CMS) is a vital part of website management. It is the tool that enables users, whether running a personal website or business site, to effectively control, organise and publish content without intricate technical expertise.

For anyone working on a website that isn’t a developer, the CMS is likely to be the part of your website that you look at most.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what a CMS is, what features it contains, and how it can benefit users.

What is a CMS?

A content management system is a software application or platform that allows uers to create, edit, organise and publish digital content.

It serves as a portal between the people creating the content and managing the site, and the site itself. Effectively, it streamlines the everyday processes involved in running a site, while reducing the need for development experience or expertise.

CMS platforms come in a range of forms, ranging from open-source solutions, such as WordPress, to proprietary systems. The difference between the two is that an open-source CMS is open to the public eye, in terms of how it’s built, whereas a proprietary system is not.

WordPress being open-source is exactly the reason that so many plugins are created to work with it.

As well as the options above, content management systems are also used in the best website builders, including in platforms such as Wix and Squarespace.

CMS features

Typically, a CMS will offer a range of common features. You can find out more about some of them below.

Content organisation

A CMS will offer a range of organisational features, including content categorisation and tagging.

These features allow users to classify content into topical structures, helping both users and search engines to navigate your website for specific information.

User management

CMS platforms support user authentification and authorisation tools. This allows site administrators or owners to define the roles, permissions and access levels of people using the website.

This range of features makes sure that only authorised users can create, edit or publish content, improving site security and lowering the risk of user error.

Version control

Typically, CMS systems make use of version control tools that track revisions and changes made to content over time.

This functionality will allow users to review changes and revert them if necessary. It also provides the option to compare different versions of content.

Overall, this allows for a greater level of collaboration between website users, while also reducing the risk of data loss or performance drops.

Publishing workflows

As well as being able to create, edit and review content using a CMS, users can also make use of the publishing workflow tools offered by a content management system.

These workflow tools allow users to schedule the publication of upcoming content, preview it before setting live to check its appearance, and to automate deployments.

These features allow a greater level of autonomy for users. For example, if you only work Monday to Friday but need to publish over the weekends, you can schedule content to go live without needing to be working on the day.

Customisation

Many CMS platforms allow for a huge range of customisation using plugins, themes and extensions.

With these tools, users can improve the functionality and appearance of their website by installing third-party plugins created by other users, or by developing their own custom solutions to use on-site.

For many businesses, access to this range of plugins means that a huge range of features can be added to a website, without the need for technical expertise. It is worth noting though, that many of these third-party plugins or themes require a licence with the person or business that created them.

Popular CMS options

There are several popular CMS options to choose from, with many offering benefits to suit different sorts of website.

WordPress

One of the most widely used open-source CMS platforms on the market, WordPress is probably also the best-known around the world.

It offers a user-friendly interface, an enormous plugin ecosystem along with community support through a range of forums and other tools.

Drupal

Drupal is a flexible and scalable CMS known for its advanced features, security options and customisation.

It is often favoured by enterprise businesses and government agencies looking for a robust and customisable content management system.

Joomla

Joomla is another open-source CMS known for its simplicity, versatility and customisation. It is useful for a wide range of websites, including corporate portals, ecommerce stores and online communities.

What is a CMS? Final thoughts

Content management systems play a vital role in web development, providing individual users and organisations of any size to create, manage and publish content efficiently.

Using user-friendly interfaces, robust organisational features and flexible publishing workflows, CMS platforms make it easier for content to be managed. They provide a high level of customisation and support the collaborative needs of website owners.

Bryn Glover

Bryn is the founder and editor of WebsiteJumpStart. He has worked in the digital field for over a decade and was editor for Startups.co.uk - the UK's leading small business website - and for NerdWallet UK before launching WebsiteJumpStart to help people and businesses get online with ease.

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