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Content management system (CMS) is software that is designed to provide easy access to publishing and editing content including text, images and video. Using a CMS does not require technical knowledge such as programming or web development.
There are two types of CMS depending on their structure:
- Files;
- Files and database.
The use of a content management system, which consists exclusively of files and does not imply the creation and connection to a database allows you to create simple websites - homepages, blogs, consisting of a few or a few dozen pages. Theoretically, such a CMS can be used to manage a complex project, but in practice, it makes no sense.
The database is a repository containing articles, addresses, links, and other information.
Most modern content management systems involve connecting to the database, which is done automatically.
Installation and Management
Content management systems are divided into cloud-based and on-premises:
- On-premises CMS is a set of files that you need to download and install on your home computer or server. Usually, this process is not difficult, but inexperienced users may have questions about the installation of a CMS. One of the important points is to create a database and establish a connection with it. Examples of this type of CMS are WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, PHPBB, Vanilla Forums and others.
- Cloud-based CMS - it allows you to create a website and manage content publishing without direct installation. Users have the same functionality and can also have partial access to code editing, but there are still far fewer editing options. Examples of cloud-based CMSs are Wordpress.org, Blogger.com. Some cloud-based content management systems are free to use only at the initial stage. They may contain promotional links at the bottom of the website or charge for additional features. For example, if a website gets traffic and puts a strain on the web hosting provider's servers, that might be a reason to switch to a paid plan.
Common Features of CMS
Almost all content management systems have the same functions. These include the following:
- Ability to create SEO-friendly URLs, which is useful both for promoting the website in search engines and for users who can understand the content of the page before they visit it;
- Content hierarchy - the administrator can create pages or posts and structure the content differently if necessary;
- Сustomizable templates - to make the website look unique, the user can choose from many templates. But because the number of templates is limited, in many cases it is necessary to additionally modify certain elements of the template design;
- Minimal server requirements - PHP support and the ability to create databases is sufficient to ensure the operation of most CMS. Most web hosting providers offer minimal plans costing a few dollars per month that allow you to host a website with several hundred users per day.
