Your FAQ: Our answer

Here you can find our answer to the question “What is a Content Management System?”. You can find many answers to your questions in our FAQs.

What is a Content Management System?

A Content Management System (CMS) is a web application that enables users to publish, edit, delete and otherwise maintain content displayed on a web site from within an interface designed for that purpose. Most CMS systems provide suitable procedures to manage workflow in a collaborative environment. 

In general, there are two parts to a CMS, a management application and a delivery application, which work together to manage and render web site content in accordance with the framework provided by the CMS.

Content Management Application (CMA)

The CMA is the part that a content author or administrator uses to produce, publish, edit and delete content. Most CMAs do not require the author to have extensive knowledge of web standards or languages such as HTML and CSS, as this is driven behind the CMA by the application itself. In fact, CMAs are designed and intended to ensure they can be used by people who do not necessarily have great technical skills and without the need for an expert.

Content Delivery Application (CDA)

The CDA uses the content created in the CMA and displays it on the web site in accordance with the technical and design principles applicable to the CDA. It is the Delivery Application that visitors to the web site will see when they visit a specific page of the CMS website.

 

Depending on the CMS and the particular needs of the organisation that uses it, there may be many additional features within the CMS that enables the automation of the collection and use of data and content on the web site. These features may be included in off-the-shelf plugins or modules that are specifically developed for the organisation or the CMS.