What is a CMS?
A CMS, in its simplest form, is a tool to create, update, maintain, and present content. This was historically for websites, but now, they’re commonly used for digital experiences given the rise of omnichannel content delivery. The foundations of the web started with servers delivering static HTML files over the internet. Tools that abstracted technical complexities in building HTML, such as Macromedia Dreamweaver, allowed non-technical audiences to author websites without knowing how to code. HTML files would be modified on someone’s personal computer and subsequently pushed up to a web server through protocols such as FTP or SFTP. A CMS abstracts both the coding and the file-based operations to enhance the capabilities of a system. Many CMSs also handle content delivery given that managing content has evolved to address more complex use cases with specific access controls, editorial reviews, and more.
The modern CMS has evolved to serve several popular use cases. Many eCommerce websites manage products, pricing, and promotions through a CMS where the system manages shopping carts, users, and payment transactions. Social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, harness content management capabilities to deliver user-specific, innovative digital experiences.
Enterprise CMS systems must account for much more than just browser-based content delivery, which explains Drupal’s evolution. Omnichannel capabilities often allow a CMS to serve as a central content store while allowing the same content to be served across any channel from a website, app on your phone, a notification stream, and more. A CMS is now viewed as a major enabler for an effective digital strategy spanning simple websites for small businesses to a highly integrated content store for major corporations. Over time, Drupal has added the features and extensibility necessary to be a platform that enterprises adopt.
CMS systems began by managing content published on basic websites. Today, applications such as Drupal have evolved to be able to dynamically deliver content through many channels and manage data across a vast amount of enterprise capabilities. Recognizing this evolution helps explain Drupal’s position in the space of CMS solutions as an enabler not just for simple website use cases, but far more.