Over the years, many frontend and backend developers utilized traditional Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress, but most are moving towards the advanced solution - the headless CMS. A CMS is utilized in creating and managing digital content. It separates the backend, content creation and management, and the database from the frontend and presentation level. Many fear decoupling their ecommerce architecture for fear of not knowing how to manage it. However, the good news is that managing headless architecture has never been this easy, given the benefits of using Headless CMS to manage it, which the article covers.

Why And When To Use A Headless CMS

Managing headless architecture is not problematic, as you can do it through a headless content management system (headless CMS). Being a backend CMS, the headless CMS facilitates easy management and storage of content without requiring a frontend website, which is a typical description of a headless architecture. However, you may be wondering, what is a headless architecture, and how does it apply in real life? Headless architecture describes a decoupled technique for creating applications. The frontend portion of the application, the area dictating user experience, is separated from the backend, the application’s server-side that dictates structure, defines logic and stores data.

For small companies with single websites, a traditional CMS would suffice. However, a headless CMS would be ideal if you ran a big organization with complex needs, especially if your company’s website employs JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React, or VueJS. Moreover, headless CMS is the best alternative if you are running an e-commerce site, planning on making a native application, or planning on starting a project requiring simultaneous publication of content across numerous platforms.

The Functioning Of Headless CMS

The headless CMS employs a cloud-based database to store your data. The content is then made accessible through an Application Programming Interface (API), often employed in presenting the content through any device or platform. The presentation interface is separate from the body.

Benefits Of Utilizing A Headless CMS

Large organizations employ headless CMS to manage business content. Small companies have followed suit, as they have discovered the benefits of headless CMS.

1. Ease in effecting changes to your website or app

Headless CMSs facilitate easy implementation of changes to your business website or application, meaning you can alter your website’s content without excessive focus on the code. Moreover, the headless CMS combines all your content into a centralized point, thus, eradicating the need for unnecessary copying and pasting. You can implement changes on your images or text from a single area, and the alterations will automatically reflect where the images and texts are located.

Furthermore, headless CMS facilitates team collaboration by swapping the traditional waterfall development procedure with an active framework. It does facilitate the recycling of content and makes content accessible through various platforms.

2. Seamless scaling of your website or app

Another benefit of a headless CMS is scalability. A headless CMS is more scalable than traditional CMS because it is easily deployable to numerous servers and utilizable across multiple devices. That implies it is an excellent idea for companies that are thinking of creating dynamic and responsive websites.

In essence, a headless CMS provides more flexibility and enables you to alter developer tools and utilize the tools of your choice.

3. Utilization of any supported frontend system

Utilizing a headless CMS sets you apart as you stop being attached to particular platforms. On the contrary, users can easily access your content via an API. This feature makes it possible to utilize it via various forms of gadgets or platforms.

Also, the headless CMS is served over API, giving you the advantage of selecting your frontend structure. Moreover, developers can employ PHP over JavaScript, and vice versa since interchanging the frontend’s frameworks does not affect the backend’s CMS.

Choosing A Headless CMS

Having discussed the benefits of employing headless CMS, we should discuss how you can choose a headless CMS. If you decide to employ modern headless CMSs, you can start by taking your time doing interface and API testing to get the platform that suits your preferences.

Some factors that will influence your headless CMS choice are content type, content application, parties responsible for creating the content, your budget for headless CMS, and your technical expertise level.

Moreover, you must conduct in-depth research on the multiple headless CMS alternatives in the market and go through customer reviews to pick the best for your business needs. Numerous headless CMSs exist as SaaS solutions, whereas others allow you to control and handle the hosting, database, and servers. Hence, take your time to understand them before taking that bold step of picking one.

Most Popular Headless CMS

Choosing the best headless CMS is crucial in settling on the best for your business. We can briefly discuss the most popular headless CMSs, including the following:

Contentful

It is API-driven and provides a centralized hub, allowing users to perform content editing from wherever. Moreover, it boasts a user-friendly UI, making navigation simple for beginners.

Strapi

It is a popular, highly customizable open-source headless CSM, most popular with JavaScript, and is self-hosted.

WordPress

It is the most common, powerful, and flexible CMS. It commenced as a traditional CMS but is now employed as a headless system since it is open-source and provides a restful API.

Conclusion

Having focused on managing headless architecture with the CMS, you may now realize that managing headless architecture is not difficult. Understand why you need one and survey the market well before settling on one.

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