in menu Main menu move to sidebar hide Navigation Main page Contents Current events Random article About Wikipedia Contact us Contribute Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file Special pages Print/export Download as PDF Printable version In other projects Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item Search Search Appearance Donate Create account Log in Personal tools Donate Create account Log in Contents move to sidebar hide (Top) 1 Structure 2 Installation type 3 Common features 4 Other types of content management systems 5 Widely used CMSs 6 Cross-reference Toggle Cross-reference subsection 6.1 Structure 6.2 Enhancing usability 7 See also 8 References Toggle References subsection 8.1 Bibliography 9 External links Toggle the table of contents Content management system 59 languages العربية Boarisch Беларуская (тарашкевіца) Български বাংলা Bosanski Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Esperanto Español Eesti Euskara فارسی Suomi Français Galego עברית हिन्दी Hrvatski Magyar Հայերեն Bahasa Indonesia Italiano 日本語 Taqbaylit 한국어 Ripoarisch Kurdî Lombard Latviešu Malagasy Македонски മലയാളം Монгол Bahasa Melayu नेपाली Nederlands Norsk bokmål Polski Português Română Русский Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Svenska Тоҷикӣ ไทย Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt 吴语 粵語 中文 Edit links Article Talk English Read Edit View history Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions Read Edit View history General What links here Related changes Upload file Permanent link Page information Cite this page Get shortened URL Print/export Download as PDF Printable version In other projects Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Software for managing digital content A content management system ( CMS ) is a computer software used to manage the creation and modification of digital content ( content management ). [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] It is typically used for enterprise content management (ECM) and web content management (WCM). ECM typically supports multiple users in a collaborative environment, [ 4 ] [ 5 ] by integrating document management , digital asset management , and record retention. [ 4 ] Alternatively, WCM is the collaborative authoring for websites and may include text and embed graphics, photos, video, audio, maps, and program code that display content and interact with the user. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] ECM typically includes a WCM function. Structure [ edit ] A CMS typically has two major components: a content management application (CMA), as the front-end user interface that allows a user, even with limited expertise, to add, modify, and remove content from a website without the intervention of a webmaster ; and a content delivery application (CDA), which compiles the content and updates the website. [ 8 ] Installation type [ edit ] There are two types of CMS installation: on-premises and cloud-based. On-premises installation means that the CMS software can be installed on the server. Notable CMSs which can be installed on-premises are Drupal , Grav , Joomla , ModX , Wordpress.org and others. The cloud-based CMS is hosted in the vendor's cloud environment. Examples of notable cloud-based CMSs are CoreMedia, Adobe Experience Manager , Contentful , Ghost , Optimizely , SquareSpace , Webflow , WIX , Framer, Site.pro and Wordpress.com . [ 9 ] Publishing architectures vary significantly between systems. Traditional coupled CMSs tie the content repository to a single presentation layer, suiting organisations publishing to one channel. Headless CMSs separate the repository from presentation entirely, delivering content via APIs to websites, mobile applications, digital signage, or voice interfaces from a single source, an approach that has grown rapidly alongside the proliferation of digital touchpoints. [ 10 ] Authoring environments typically enforce structured workflows in which content passes through defined review and approval stages before publication, with role-based permissions controlling what each user can create, edit, or publish. Common features [ edit ] The core CMS features are: indexing, search and retrieval, format management, revision control, and management. [ 4 ] Features may vary depending on the system application but will typically include: [ 4 ] Intuitive indexing, search, and retrieval features index all data for easy access through search functions and allow users to search by attributes such as publication dates, keywords or author. Format management facilitates turning scanned paper documents and legacy electronic documents into HTML or PDF documents. Revision features allow content to be updated and edited after initial publication. Revision control also tracks any changes made to files by individuals. Publishing functionality allows individuals to use a template or a set of templates approved by the organization, as well as wizards and other tools to create or modify content. Popular additional features may include: [ 4 ] SEO -friendly URLs Integrated and online help , including discussion boards Group-based permission systems Full template support and customizable templates Easy wizard-based install and versioning procedures Admin panel with multiple language support Content hierarchy with unlimited depth and size Minimal server requirements Integrated file managers Integrated audit logs Support AMP page for Google Support schema markup Designed as per Google quality guidelines for website architecture Availability of plug-ins for additional functionalities. Security precautions such as 2 Factor Authentication Other types of content management systems [ edit ] Digital asset management systems are another type of CMS. They manage content with clearly defined author or ownership, such as documents, movies, pictures, phone numbers, and scientific data. Companies also use CMSs to store, control, revise, and publish documentation. There are also component content management systems (CCMS), which are CMSs that manage content at a modular level rather than as pages or articles. CCMSs are often used in technical communication, where many publications reuse the same content. Headless CMS , which separates content from its delivery layer, offers greater flexibility in content distribution across various platforms. [ 11 ] Widely used CMSs [ edit ] According to W3Techs, the most widely used content management system is WordPress , used by 61.7% of websites as of March 2026. Other commonly used content management systems include Shopify , Wix , and Squarespace . [ 12 ] Cross-reference [ edit ] Structure [ edit ] In a document, especially those authored in a content management system , a cross-reference has two major aspects: A visible form that appears when the document is presented to the reader A technical mechanism that resides within the system The visible form contains text, graphics, and other indications that: Indicate what is being referenced Enable the reader to follow the cross-reference to the referenced content May enable the reader to understand what is being referred to, or what to expect upon following the reference May present to the reader some information from the referenced content The technical mechanism that resides within the system: Identifies what location is being referred to Permits the system to present appropriate referencing text when the location containing the reference is presented to a reader Permits the system to offer a control (such as a link) that a reader can use when the content is presented in electronic form to access the referenced content Enhancing usability [ edit ] If the cross-reference mechanism is well designed, the reader will be able to follow each cross-reference to the referenced content whether the content is presented in print or electronically. An author working in a content management system is responsible for identifying subjects of interest that cross documents, and creating appropriate systems of cross-references to support readers who seek to understand those subjects. [ 13 ] For an individual cross-reference, an author should ensure that location and content of the target of the cross-reference are clearly identified, and the reader can easily determine how to follow the cross-reference in each medium in which publication is supported. Content strategy practitioners (known as content strategists) specialize in planning content to meet business needs, taking into account the processes for creating and maintaining the content, and the systems that support the content. See also [ edit ] Content management Content Management Interface Document management system Dynamic web page Enterprise content management Headless content management system HTML Information management Knowledge management LAMP (software bundle) List of content management systems Personalization management system Revision control Web application framework Web content management system References [ edit ] ^ Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy . Ann Rockley, Pamela Kostur, Steve Manning. New Riders, 2003. ^ The content management handbook . Martin White. Facet Publishing, 2005. ^ Content Management Bible , Bob Boiko. John Wiley & Sons, 2005. ^ a b c d e "What is a Content Management System (CMS)? Definition from WhatIs.com" . SearchContentManagement . Retrieved 2019-09-23 . ^ Moving Media Storage Technologies: Applications & Workflows for Video and Media S2011. Page 381 ^ "What Is a Content Management System (CMS)" . Kinsta . Retrieved 19 August 2019 . ^ Kohan, Bernard. "Content Management System (CMS) and other spin-off terms definition(s)" . Comentum . Retrieved 19 August 2019 . ^ "What is a Content Management System? | Definition from TechTarget" . Search Content Management . Retrieved 2025-02-07 . ^ CMO, The. "27 Best Content Management Software In 2025" . The CMO . Retrieved 2025-09-24 . ^ Gahun, Chuck (August 23, 2023). "Announcing The Forrester Wave: Content Management Systems, Q3 2023" . Forrester Research. ^ "AWS: What is Headless CMS?" . 21 August 2025. ^ "Usage statistics of content management systems" . W3Techs . Retrieved March 18, 2026 . ^ Rockley, Ann; Cooper, Charles (2012). Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy (2nd ed.). New Riders. ISBN   978-0321815361 . Bibliography [ edit ] Andreas Mauthe; Peter Thomas (2004). Professional Content Management Systems: Handling Digital Media Assets . John Wiley & Sons . ISBN   978-0-470-85542-3 . Chock, M.; Cardenas, A. F.; Klinger, A. (July 1984). "Database Structure and Manipulation Capabilities of a Picture Database Management System (PICDMS)". IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence . PAMI-6 (4): 484– 492. doi : 10.1109/TPAMI.1984.4767553 . PMID   21869216 . S2CID   17289079 . External links [ edit ] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Content management systems . v t e Content management systems ( list ) Component content management system (CCMS) Enterprise content management (ECM) Headless content management system (Headless CMS) Web content management system (WCMS) Personalization management system (PMS) v t e Website management Concepts Hosting Clustered Peer-to-peer Self-hosting Virtual Analytics Click analytics Mobile web analytics Web tracking Click tracking Overselling Web document Web content Web content lifecycle Web server Web cache Webmaster Website governance Hosting control panels ( comparison ) AlternC cPanel DirectAdmin Domain Technologie Control Froxlor i-MSCP ISPConfig Kloxo Plesk Usermin Webmin Top-level domain registries AFNIC auDA DNS Belgium CentralNic CIRA CNNIC CZ.NIC DENIC EURid Freenom GoDaddy Google Domains Identity Digital IPM JPRS KISA NIC México Nominet PIR Tucows Verisign Domain name managers, registrars Bluehost Domainz DreamHost Dynadot Enom Epik Gandi GlowHost GMO Internet GoDaddy Google Domains Hover Infomaniak Jimdo Name.com Namecheap Hostinger NameSilo NearlyFreeSpeech Network Solutions OVH Register.com Squarespace Porkbun Tucows UK2 Webcentral Web.com Wix.com Content management system Document management system Wiki software Blog software Authority control databases International GND National Czech Republic Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Content_management_system&oldid=1356611394 " Categories : Content management systems Information systems Website management Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata CS1: long volume value Commons category link is on Wikidata This page was last edited on 28 May 2026, at 20:29  (UTC) . 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