Content Management System (CMS)

With the help of a CMS, the boundaries of a static HTML website can be broken down and dynamic content can be published instead. The application acts as a kind of construction kit in which new content can be constantly managed and published. You can also often make your own adjustments to the design in order to individualize the website. Text templates create a uniform design and ensure that individual content elements, such as blog or glossary articles, are categorized in a meaningful way and that all website content is structured according to the same scheme. Most content management systems also have the option of creating a database with media files in order to insert them into corresponding posts.

Websites that are operated with a CMS are not automatically superior to static HTML pages. When deciding to use a CMS, you should first clarify the extent to which a content management system suits your own knowledge, requirements and the function of the website. If it is a website that is regularly updated with similar editorial content, the use of a content management system makes sense.

If it is a website that does not require any changes and is not constantly revised, the use of a static HTML solution is perfectly adequate. The use of a CMS incurs costs in individual cases, most of which are billed in the form of a subscription model. Minor security vulnerabilities may occur from time to time, but these are counteracted with appropriate updates. This ensures user security.

A basic distinction can be made between two types: There are both cloud-based and local CMS. The former are hosted on the provider's server, while the latter are installed on the user's own server. In addition, there is one area of application that most frequently relies on the features of a CMS - complex corporate websites. These require product and service presentation, a possible connection to other systems and marketing platforms. The multilingualism of the respective website is also often required if the company is to be marketed internationally. There is also another type of content management system - the headless CMS. This only has a backend, but no frontend, and is often used to distribute content across multiple channels. A practical solution if content is to be managed centrally.

A second area is e-commerce, which often uses CMS elements in dedicated store solutions and also has more complex demands on the functionality of the software. For websites that operate a blog or a regularly published online magazine, the requirements for a CMS are less extensive. In most cases, different categories of articles are required, which can be entered into a standardized template.

There is now an almost limitless selection of different CMSs, all of which have individual advantages and disadvantages. The best-known and most frequently used CMSs are currently WordPress, TYPO3, Joomla!, Ibexa and Drupal.

The costs due for content management systems vary greatly, particularly with regard to the industry in which they are used. Many applications are freely accessible, while complex platforms can cost over 1,000 euros per month. These are often store solutions in e-commerce, and the most popular platforms include specialized providers such as Magento or Shopware. Meanwhile, costs are also incurred for the corresponding extensions and additional software that are not part of the basic scope of open source software such as WordPress, although these are not absolutely necessary in most cases.