What is a 'Headless CMS'? Let's talk about working principles and advantages

A content management system (CMS) is a software application or set of related programs used to create and manage digital content. For years, the focus has been on traditional CMS like WordPress or Drupal. However, many backend and frontend developers are moving to more modern solutions, namely headless CMSs.

This so-called "headless CMS" separates the backend (content creation and management) and database from the frontend and presentation layer. This means that the CMS can be used to support any type of front-end application, ultimately providing greater flexibility and scalability.

In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of headless CMS. Discusses its origins, benefits, problems it solves, and common implementations.

1. What is a headless CMS?

Headless CMS is a back-end CMS that allows you to easily manage and store content without the need for a front-end website. This means you can use any platform or device to access and edit your content without worrying about how it's rendered.

To fully understand what a headless CMS is, you must first understand its origins. So let’s take a look at traditional CMS architecture and how it has evolved.

2. How does Headless CMS differ from traditional CMS

Traditional CMS, also known as "coupled" CMS, was originally developed in Started in the early days. They are represented by popular platforms such as WordPress and Drupal as a way to store and display various types of content such as text and images.

With a traditional CMS, all elements are in one place, including HTML, CSS, text, images, etc. It uses web frameworks to organize website content and connect the front-end to the back-end.

2.1 Main features of traditional CMS:

• Internal hosting and delivery

• Support limited Simultaneous Devices

• Monolithic Backend System

• Scheduled Updates

Traditional CMS has many benefits . For example, it serves the entire site from a single system, making it easy to manage content. It also allows developers to control the design of the website through templates and themes.

However, as web development advances and becomes more complex, our need for scalable and flexible solutions also increases. For example, many developers want to create content that can be served on devices other than the website. This is where a headless CMS comes in.

Headless content management system is a decoupled CMS. A decoupled CMS is a back-end system that stores and manages content but does not render it on the front-end site. This means they can be used with any supported front-end system, whether it's a traditional website, a mobile app, or even a voice assistant.

2.2 Key Features of Headless CMS

• Cloud hosting and delivery

• Unlimited support Equipment

• Microservices backend system

• Continuous updates

Headless CMS and traditional CMS The main difference between them is that headless CMS does not have a built-in templating system for rendering content on the front-end. This means you need to use a separate front-end system to render content from your headless CMS. Additionally, headless architecture is typically more scalable than traditional architecture because it can be used with multiple servers and devices.

3. How Headless CMS Works

Headless CMS stores your content in a cloud-based database. This content can then be accessed through an application programming interface (API), which can be used to render the content on any type of device or platform.

The content repository, called the "body", is decoupled from the "head" (also called the presentation layer). That’s why it’s called a headless CMS. The presentation layer is separated from the body (content).

Headless infrastructure creates a custom framework for organizing your content types and how they relate to each other. This includes breaking down individual elements. In other words, you don’t use pre-programmed models like you would with a traditional CMS.

To use a headless CMS, you first need to create content in your backend system. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor, markdown, or even directly through the API. Once content is created, it is stored in a cloud-based database.

It’s important to note that a headless CMS does not connect directly to the front-end of the website. It only handles content. Then publish the content through the API.

When you want to display this content on your website or app, you simply send a request to the API and the API will return the content from the database. The front-end system will then render this content using various methods such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

4. Benefits of Using Headless CMS

Large companies are using headless CMS to manage their content. However, small businesses are also discovering the benefits of using a headless approach.

Headless CMS is ideal for businesses that want to create dynamic and responsive websites or businesses that want to be able to easily update their content without having to rely on a web developer. It also gives you the freedom to choose any platform or device to access your content, making it versatile. There are many other benefits to using a headless CMS solution. Let's take a look at some of them.

4.1 You can use any supported front-end system

With a headless CMS, you are not tied to a specific platform. Instead, your content is easily accessible through APIs, making it easy to use with multiple types of devices or platforms.

Serving via API means you can choose your front-end system. Developers can also use PHP via JavaScript or Ruby (and vice versa). Switching frameworks on the frontend does not affect the CMS on the backend.

4.2 You can easily change your website or application

Headless CMS allows you to easily change your website or application. You can edit your content without focusing on the code.

Content Infrastructure eliminates the need for redundant copy and paste as it unifies all your content in one place. You can change images or text from this centralized center and the changes will automatically be applied wherever it goes.

Headless CMS also helps teams collaborate because it replaces the traditional waterfall development process with an agile framework. Additionally, it helps you reuse your content and make it accessible on different platforms.

4.3 You can scale your website or application seamlessly

A headless CMS is generally more scalable than a traditional CMS because it can be deployed to multiple server and used on multiple devices. Therefore, it is ideal for businesses who want to create dynamic and responsive websites.

Basically, a headless CMS gives you more flexibility. It allows you to change developer tools and use your favorite tools.

5. When to use a headless CMS

While a headless CMS offers many benefits, it may not always be necessary to use them . A traditional CMS is still a very solid solution.

For example, if you are creating a website for yourself or a small business, a traditional CMS may be enough. You'll be able to manage everything from one place and have your website up and running in no time.

On the other hand, if you have more complex needs, a headless CMS may be a better choice. More specifically, it may be ideal if your website or application uses a JavaScript framework such as Angular, VueJS, or React.

It is also advisable if you plan to make native mobile apps and any projects that require you to publish content across multiple platforms simultaneously. Headless CMS is also useful for e-commerce websites.

If you are considering a headless CMS for your business, consider the following questions:

• Do you need a front-end website?

• Do you want to be able to easily update your content?

• Do you want the freedom to choose any platform or device to access your content?

• Do you like working with code?

• Do you have the budget to hire a web developer?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then a headless CMS could be a solid solution.

6. How to Choose a Headless CMS

If you decide to use a headless CMS, there are some important factors to keep in mind. In most cases, you may need to spend some time testing interfaces and APIs to find the platform you are most comfortable with. When deciding to use a headless CMS, you may want to consider the following questions:

• What type of content do you need to manage?

• How will this content be used?

• Who will be responsible for creating and managing content?

• What is your budget for a headless CMS?

• What level of technical expertise do you have?

You will also want to research the different headless CMS options available and read reviews from other users to see which one best suits your needs. Again, there are many options available, so it's important to take the time to fully understand the use cases and capabilities of each platform.

Many headless CMSs are available as software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. Others let you handle hosting, databases, and servers yourself. For example, you can use a DreamHost Virtual Private Server (VPS) environment.

Reference materials

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https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/433173175

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