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What is a content management system?

A content management system (abbreviation: CMS) is a software for creating and managing content on websites and other media formats. In the content management system, there is a distinction between layout and actual editorial content which may include text, images and multimedia documents.


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Definition of content management system

Content management systems provide a graphical user interface that allows users to create and edit entire websites. Programming knowledge is not usually required for CMS. Content management systems can either be installed locally on your own server or run on a provider’s server. Almost always, the user can assign different access and user rights via the CMS and thus regulate access to different areas.

Features of a content management system

Many content management systems have a similar structure and differ only slightly in terms of their features. In this way, individual content modules can usually be defined and flexibly arranged against a selected background. An HTML editor often provides further design options. In addition, many systems can be expanded by a large number of modules, add-ons or components, which also increases the scope of features.

Areas of application of content management systems

A content management system can be divided into three areas of application: the editorial system, the content repository and the publishing system. Content can be managed in the editorial system and stored in the content repository. The publishing system of the CMS enables publication of the content.

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FAQ: More questions about content management systems

What content management systems are there?

There is a long list of content management systems. The best-known open source CMS programs include WordPress, TYPO3, Joomla, Drupal and Contao.

What is the difference between a CMS and a CCMS?

A CMS (content management system) offers multiple users with different access levels the possibility to manage content between which there is no relevant connection. With CCMS (component content management system), content is related to each other and managed on a higher level. This means that as much content as possible can be reused without having to duplicate it.

What must a good content management system be able to do?

A good CMS offers the possibility to create, edit and publish web content without having to rewrite the code. The software should meet current security standards and provide access to workflow and authorisation management. A responsive design ensures the correct display of the website on different end devices. It also makes sense to have web reporting integrated into the CMS.

What is the purpose of a content management system?

A content management system (CMS) is used to manage the digital content of a website – without the knowledge of a programmer. Several users can work on the content at the same time via the graphical user interface in the backend.

What advantages does a content management system offer?

A content management system has many advantages, first and foremost the easy maintenance of the website: After only a short training period, users can update texts or exchange images. Another advantage of the CMS is that it can be used from several workstations. The software can be expanded by various modules, add-ons or components with little effort. The separation of content and layout in the CMS is also practical.

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