What is a CMS? Outlining details of the different types

What is a content management system?

A content management system, typically referred to as a CMS, is a program that allows publishing, editing, and modifying content on web sites. The first CMS was developed at the end of the 90s, with the single goal of making website development flexible and dynamic, allowing for manageable workflow in a collaborative environment.

In other words, when you see web sites that are news, dynamic, changing, or are simply blogs, you’re likely looking at a CMS, otherwise, that site would require extensive manual programming, but instead, a CMS is like a template you can add text and images to. Many require professional set up or customization, but operation requires far less tech savviness.

News outlets like AGBeat use a CMS, and with the thousands upon thousands of news stories, imagine the work load it would take to custom program a new page every single time a story hit – what a nightmare. Publications you are familiar with like CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, or heck, even TMZ use a CMS, as does your local Realtor’s blog, your favorite fashion or foodie blogger, or maybe even your religious institution’s digital newsletter.

Most people are familiar with WordPress as the most common CMS, which is the framework you’re looking at right now on AG, and over five million other websites. But is WordPress right for your dynamic website or blog, just because it’s the most common? There are a lot of other options.

Different types of CMSs

Take a look at a visual description of a CMS, different types of CMSs, and what is involved in each. We are particularly interested in the dispelling of the myth that most CMSs are free or overly simple, as that is just not the case – anyone can set up a CMS, but making it look presentable is another story entirely.

Take a look at the graphic below, and tell us in the comments what you didn’t know before reading this story: