CMS is short for Content Management System. This can mean many different things to different people. It is most easily defined as a set of processes, applications, and databases that help an organization/person create, store, coordinate, and publish information in a useful format, in a timely fashion, and with a consistent method.
Content Management Systems basically support information:
There are several different types & styles of CMS available also:
Web Content Management Systems (WCMS):
Content in the context of a Web site includes elements like images, documents, sound, page content and video clips.
A WCMS is a sophisticated tool that can be used to make the whole process of Web publishing much easier. The design and presentation of content on a Web page is separated from the content creation process. This is because Web pages and links can be dynamically generated from information held in a database.
By making use of technologies such as XML (extensible Mark up Language), a CMS can also allow content that is stored in the database to be repurposed for different devices such as mobile phones, handheld computers, kiosks and Web TV as well as PCs.
The focus of this site is purely WCMS, Web Content Management Systems.
One of the main advantages of a CMS is that it opens up the web to everyone, allowing people without technical Web authoring skills to easily update and maintain a Web site as they like, when they like.
Content providers need only to focus on writing their content without having to worry about design or layout issues, knowing the CMS will take care of all presentation elements.
Content providers can easily update content & keep the site fresh for users & search engines.
A CMS can also be used to manage workflow & ensure content quality by allowing administrator level users to set system permissions & publishing authorization for lower users. So everyone can contribute to the content data, but only one authorized person gets to say what’s published onto the site. Once the content is reviewed & approved it will be published at a single click.