Headless CMS and how it’s differentiated with other CMS.
What is a Headless CMS?
Headless CMS is only back-end CMS, it is an architecture of separate back-end functions for creating/updating/publishing from front end side developing. Its content is accessible via an API for display on any devices like desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphones.
The term “Headless” comes from the concept of “head” (the front end, i.e. Website) different from the “body” (the back end, i.e. Content repository). A headless CMS remains with an interface to add content and an API like JSON to deliver content where you need it. Due to this approach, a headless CMS does not care about how and where your contents have displayed. It has only one focus to store and deliver content.
- The application can be creating/editing/publishing content using Headless CMS
- Create an API that enables front-end developers to get the content from a CMS into their projects
Here you can also say that CMS tool that can manage contents on websites or applications that do not need a server and it can be hosted on a content delivery network (CDN)
Key Concepts:
- Use of Headless CMS
- Advantages of Headless CMS
- Differentiate Headless CMS & Traditional CMS
Use of Headless CMS
There are many types of Headless CMSs for e.g.,
Strapi, Ghost, Netlify CMS, Directus, Keystone 5, TinaCMS, Cockpit, Publi, ponzu and many more.
As we have discussed above Headless CMS is a back-end only so it is useful for creating API and it can be used in any device. For example use of Strapi Headless CMS here is creating API this is not a designing part this performs only back-end. Here created an API that will store the hotel’s details and it will differentiate with many categories.
In the below chart we can show how Headless CMS works. First of all, using this we can create/update/publish our content using Headless CMS and it is also provide Admin in Headless CMS. Now create content and manage it by front-end side apps and websites. From the front-end side, we can fetch that content and request to change or update that content to backend via third-party API.
What cases do I need to use headless CMS?
The answer to this question is simple. It depends on your requirements. There are use cases where one CMS outstands the other and vice versa. To help you decide, let’s have a look at the benefits really quickly.
Advantages of Headless CMS
- Headless CMS is easier to use, publish and deploy.
- Headless CMS is allowed to innovate and experiment, developers can modify the front end without modifying the back end of the application.
- Headless CMS has the ability to easily integrate new content.
- It improves security due to the divide responsibilities of authors and delivery, delivery can be differently scaled, and the author's part could be completely hidden and it will not accessible to the outside world behind firewalls.
- It allows you to choose the front end or any technology of your choice.
Differentiate Headless CMS & Traditional CMS
Headless CMS:
- Without front-end, a headless CMS provides the greatest flexibility to publish content on different platforms or devices. Also, unlike traditional, headless allows you to publish dynamic content to any device.
- In both CMS architectures, headless CMS offers the most control about how and where your content shows.
- Fast delivery provides complete control over secure third-party integrations allows developers to use their favorite tools and frameworks future-proof.
Traditional CMS:
- Traditional CMS is mainly used for blogs, personal websites, and very basic and small company websites. Because all are together, it is easy to create, manage, develop and publish.
- Design is also simple in a traditional CMS, with built-in themes and templates and a front-end that can be edited and customized as needed.
- It is simply ideal for text-based content built-in themes and templates customizable front end development.
So That’s it for now, feel free to share your review.
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