A CMS platform is a computer application which allows publishing, editing, deleting, modifying content, maintenance as well as organizing from a central interface. These systems of content management will provide procedures that manage work flow.
The CMS platforms have the following uses:
1. They are used to run websites containing news, blogs and shopping.
2. They also store and organize files, and provide version-controlled access to their data.
3. Some CMS platforms may serve as a central repository that contains documents, pictures,movies, phone numbers and scientific data.
4. They can be used for storing, revising, controlling, enriching and publishing documentation.
The CMS platforms have two elements:
1. The Content management application (CMA) which is the front-end interface for users and allows a user, even with lack of expertise or limited expertise, to change, add and remove content from a Web site without the Webmaster’s intervention.
2. The Content delivery application (CDA) which compiles information and updates the Web site.
The following are benefits of using CMS platforms:
1. They can facilitate the cost-effective development of business sites.
2. They make it easier to manage websites even without having the technical knowledge of web development.
3. They make it easy to add and manage content on sites like linking web pages to certain domains, editing pages, updating content, multimedia and uploading images.
4. They offer a choice of styles, colors, features and appealing built-in themes. They also offer plug-ins and templates that can help develop a site in lesser time and this greatly enhances the overall user experience.
5. The platforms can support a number of websites at the same time, as well as providing support to multiple users
Some examples of content management system platforms are:
1. WordPress – This is the most accessible and most commonly used, it can be quickly installed and has a massive user and developer community.
2. Joomla – This is very customizable and is suitable for any purpose. It is often used by small and medium businesses, by large organizations and individuals.
3. ModX – This is easy to use and can allow non-technical staff to create content.
4. Drupal – This is one of the first choices when building a new website. It has thousands of modules that can be added to increase functionality.
5. DotNetNuke – This is more suited to Windows servers and it is easy to customise a web application in DotNetNuke.
6. TinyCMS – This is a platform that is ideal for small sites and has no database so, once the pages are cached on the server they open very quickly.
Finally, in choosing a CMS platform you need to consider your own expectations, your aims and the purpose of the website.