Content Management Systems (CMS)

 

A content management system (CMS) is a program used to create

a framework for the content of a Web site. With most CMSes, the

framework can be customized with a “skin” that defines the look

& feel. This approach is opposite to defining the look & feel first

then coding the functionality second. Whereas the majority of

cost of a website is in the functionality, the CMS approach is often

significantly more cost effective. . For example, the software for

the website Wikipedia is based on a wiki, which is a particular

type of content management system. Other related forms of

content management are listed below.

 

The content managed includes computer files, image media,

audio files, electronic documents and web content. The idea

behind a CMS is to make these files available inter-office, as well

as over the web. A CMS would most often be used as an archive

as well. Many companies use a CMS to store files in a non-

proprietary form. Companies use a CMS to share files with ease,

as most systems use server-based software, even further

broadening file availability. As shown below, many CMSs include a

feature for Web Content, and some have a feature for

a"workflow process".

 

"Workflow" is the idea of moving an electronic document along

for either approval, or for adding content. Some CMSs will easily

facilitate this process with email notification, and automated

routing. This is ideally a collaborative creation of documents. A

CMS facilitates the organization, control, and publication of a

large body of documents and other content, such as images and

multimedia resources.

A Web content management system is a CMS with additional

features to ease the tasks required to publish web content to web

sites.