What is a content management system (CMS)?

Think of a CMS as a two-part system:

1. Content management application (CMA) —  This is your user-friendly dashboard. It acts like a visual editor, allowing you to add text, images, videos, and more to your website with a simple drag-and-drop interface. No coding knowledge required. 
2. Content delivery application (CDA) — Once you create content in the CMA, the CDA takes over behind the scenes. It acts like a powerful engine, storing your content securely and delivering it to visitors when they access your website.

Here's a breakdown of how a CMS works:

• Content creation — Users with editing permissions can create new content using a web interface. This typically involves a user-friendly editor that resembles a word processing program.
• Content storage — The CMS securely stores all content, including text, images, and other media files, in a central database.
• Content presentation — It retrieves content from the database and displays it on the website's frontend according to predefined templates. These templates define the overall layout and design of the website's pages.
• User management — The CMS allows for user management with different permission levels. For instance, an editor can create and publish content, while an administrator might have additional rights to manage users and website settings.

Content management systems (CMS) offer a powerful way to manage website content, especially for those who don't have coding experience. With a CMS, multiple people can work together on creating and scheduling content. The user-friendly interface allows access from any device with a web browser, making collaboration a breeze.

Another major benefit is the ease of use. Even people without programming knowledge can create and edit content using drag-and-drop editors. There's no need to learn HTML or CSS, allowing anyone to contribute and update the website.

CMS systems also reduce reliance on web developers for website changes. This means companies can publish new content faster and improve the user experience more quickly. On top of websites, some CMS options can even manage content distribution across social media, mobile apps, and e-commerce platforms. This can significantly reduce the development time and effort required to get content out on various channels.

Some examples of popular CMS are WordPress, Wix, Joomla and Drupal.

In the article, we provided a list of leading free and open-source CMS platforms and shared our personal experience using CMS for Mad Devs’ website.

Remember, the best CMS for you depends on your specific needs and technical expertise. Consider factors like ease of use, scalability, desired features, and budget when making your choice.