Web Development
FAQ - Ask a Web Development Expert

What's a CMS?

Description: If you're new to the world of website building and updating, it's essential that you know what certain terms mean, and CMS is one abbreviation that is very useful to know about.

CMS stands for Content Management System, and it is an excellent way of staying in control of your website if you have no real knowledge of website building yourself. It is basically a software tool that is designed purely to make life easier for those people with limited knowledge of how websites are put together.

It is particularly useful to have this system if you have paid a professional website designer to create your site, but you will be responsible for updating it whenever necessary. If the designer installs a Content Management System for you, you will be able to take on the responsibility of making changes without having to learn how to alter web pages and so on.

The big advantage of Content Management Systems is that they can be tailored to appeal specifically to the needs of individual businesses and requirements. For example, a large company may need several people to be able to access the system, and they may all have very different reasons for doing so. The system can be designed to accommodate all these needs, without allowing people into areas of the system which they don't need to access. This helps to streamline the whole process and minimizes the risk of any mistakes being made.

In the case of an individual who is running an internet business, the greatest benefits lie elsewhere. That person needs to know that they can make changes quickly and easily without any prior knowledge or training, and they can therefore concentrate on developing their business while still knowing their website is presenting a professional image.

In short, the versatility of a Content Management System means that it is ideal for virtually every webmaster, whatever the focus and scope of their site or business may be.