CMS stands for Content Management System and it is a software application used to create, manage, and modify content on a website without writing code. The website you are on right now is powered by WordPress which is technically a blogging platform but it can be used as a CMS, and that’s what I’m doing with it!
I use WordPress because it is quick and easy. I could build an entire site using custom code and connect it to a database on my own but it isn’t efficient in this particular case. The purpose of my personal website is to display my knowledge to potential employers and teach people about things. It’s basically a side project so I need to be able to quickly and easily edit it.
Examples of Content Management Systems
There are many content management systems out there. Here is a list of some of the more popular CMS’s in use today.
- WordPress
- Joomla
- Drupal
- Magento
- Grav
- Kentico CMS
- Sitecore
- Agility CMS
- Concrete CMS
- Squarespace
- Wix
- Shopify
- Adobe Experience Manager
- Optimizely DXP
I have used all of these at various times during my career and have even built custom add-ons and themes for many of them. Even if you do know how to write code, a CMS can be beneficial. The CMS provides a solid foundation that a developer can extend with custom plugins and themes. A CMS can even be easily integrated with other sites via APIs.
Enterprise Level CMS
An enterprise level CMS is a content management system built to handle the demands and security requirements of a large organization (a large “enterprise”). Personally, when I hear the word “enterprise” when referencing any software application, I immediately think expensive.
An example of an enterprise level CMS would be Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
AEM is very expensive but it does all kinds of things, it’s secure and, in my opinion, it’s easy to use. If you can afford it, I think it’s a good investment.
Optimizely Digital Experience Manager is another good example of an enterprise level CMS. It’s also expensive, secure and does a lot of things. I also think it is easy to use and a good investment but I prefer AEM out of the two.
Do all big organizations use enterprise level content management systems? No, a lot of large companies and colleges use WordPress and Drupal. It’s best to use the CMS that fits your needs.
What Is A Learning Management System?
There is a close relative of the CMS called the LMS or Learning Management System. It’s basically the same thing as a content management system but designed specifically for learning purposes. An LMS makes it possible to create, manage, and modify content for courses without writing code.
The LMS contains tools an educator would use to build a course and the tools a student would use to complete that course. Grades and communication tools can also be found inside an LMS.
Examples of a Learning Management System
- Moodle
- Blackboard Learn
- Canvas
There are a lot of learning management systems out there and even some that are built right on top of the content management systems listed above.
So that is what a CMS is and also an explanation of the closely related LMS. The best way to learn how these work is to set up a WordPress, Drupal or Joomla website on your own server and hack around. The free and for a fee applications all share many common functions and features so if you learn how the free work you should be able to quickly figure out the enterprise level options!