Common CMS for managing websites

A Content Management System (CMS) gives users access to a user-friendly interface where they can update content, create new pages, or publish blog posts without ever touching the underlying code.

What Is a CMS?

A CMS—short for Content Management System—is software designed to manage digital content quickly and efficiently. It’s especially useful for businesses, organizations, and individuals who want to keep a professional, up-to-date website without spending endless hours on development.

Some of the most popular CMSs include WordPress—which powers roughly 500 million sites (about 44% of the web)—and Umbraco. WordPress combines beginner-friendly simplicity with advanced features for power users.

Core CMS Features

A full-featured CMS combines two main components:

1. Content Management Application (CMA)

   • The intuitive, WYSIWYG editor where you add text, images, video, etc., without writing code.

   • Lets both technical users and beginners create and edit content easily.

2. Content Delivery Application (CDA)

   • The backend engine that stores everything created in the CMA.

   • Automatically publishes and serves your content quickly and correctly to every visitor, on any device.

Together, CMA + CDA give you complete control over both content creation and delivery.

Types of CMS

• Headless CMS
  Separates content storage (backend) from presentation (frontend), so you can deliver the same content via web, mobile apps, IoT devices, etc.

• Licensed (Proprietary) CMS
  Closed source systems (e.g. Adobe Experience Manager, Sitecore) requiring a license—offer strong security, dedicated support, and turnkey features.

• Open Source CMS
  Free to use and modify (e.g. WordPress, Joomla, Drupal), with large communities providing themes, plugins, and support.

• E-commerce CMS
  Specialized for online stores (e.g. Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce), including product catalogs, payment gateways, and order management.

• SaaS CMS
  Fully hosted solutions (e.g. Wix, Squarespace, Webflow) where the provider handles hosting, updates, and security—ideal for users who want a hands-off setup.

How a CMS Works

1. Create/Edit (CMA)
   Use a drag-and-drop or WYSIWYG interface to write copy, upload media, and build pages—all without coding.

2. Publish/Serve (CDA)
   Once you hit “Publish,” the CDA retrieves your content from the database and displays it live on your site.

What Can You Build with a CMS?

• Business Websites
  Showcase services, news, events, and contact info—easily updated whenever you need.

• Online Stores
  Manage products, inventory, payments, and shipping all within your CMS.

• Blogs
  Post articles, handle comments, and organize posts by category—all in minutes.

Benefits of Using a CMS

• Saves Time
  Launch and update sites quickly without coding or hiring developers.

• User-Friendly
  Intuitive editors and drag-and-drop tools let anyone manage content.

• Flexible & Scalable
  Thousands of themes and plugins let you add features as you grow.

• Collaboration
  Assign roles (editor, author, admin) so teams can work together securely.

• Cost-Effective
  Especially open-source CMSs, which are free and supported by extensive plugin ecosystems.

Five Popular CMS Platforms

1. WordPress
   The world’s most widely used CMS—easy for beginners, extensible for pros.

2. Drupal
   Highly secure and scalable, ideal for complex sites—best for those with technical expertise.

3. Joomla
   Powerful and customizable, but with a steeper learning curve.

4. Magento
   Open-source e-commerce powerhouse—great for large product catalogs, but technically demanding.

5. Umbraco
   .NET-based, open-source CMS favored in Microsoft environments for both simple and complex builds.

With a CMS, you get a complete solution (CMA + CDA) for creating, managing, and delivering digital content—whether you’re running a small blog or a large corporate site. Choose the type and platform that best fit your technical skills, project requirements, and budget.