What is "content management system"

n. (context computing English) A computer software system for organizing and facilitating collaborative creation of documents and other content, especially for loading to a website

A 'content management system (CMS') is a computer application that supports the creation and modification of digital content using a simpler interface to abstract away low-level details unless required, usually supporting multiple users working in a collaborative environment. CMSes have been available since the late 1990s.

CMS features vary widely. Most CMSes include Web-based publishing, format management, edit history and version control, indexing, search, and retrieval. By their nature, content management systems support the separation of content and presentation.

A web content management system (WCM or WCMS) is a CMS designed to support the management of the content of Web pages. Most popular CMSes are also WCMSes. Web content includes text and embedded graphics, photos, video, audio, and code (e.g., for applications) that displays content or interacts with the user.

Such a content management system (CMS) typically has two major components:

• A content management application (CMA) is the front-end user interface that allows a user, even with limited expertise, to add, modify and remove content from a Web site without the intervention of a webmaster.
• A content delivery application (CDA) compiles that information and updates the Web site.

Digital asset management systems are another type of CMS. They manage things such as documents, movies, pictures, phone numbers and scientific data. CMSes can also be used for storing, controlling, revising, and publishing documentation.

One of the most popular content management system options is WordPress, used by over 25% of websites on the internet.