To understand headless CMS, let's first grasp the concept of traditional CMS. A traditional CMS is a comprehensive software solution that combines both the back-end content management capabilities and the front-end presentation layer. It provides a monolithic system where content creators and developers interact and manage the entire content lifecycle.
Traditional CMS platforms typically offer a user-friendly interface for content creation, editing, and publishing, along with pre-built templates and themes for designing the front-end user interface. In a traditional CMS, the front-end and back-end are tightly coupled, meaning the presentation layer relies on the CMS's architecture and templates. This coupling can limit flexibility, as any changes to the front-end often require modifications in the back-end system. It can also restrict scalability, as the CMS must handle both content management and presentation responsibilities.
Headless CMS, on the other hand, decouples the front-end presentation layer from the back-end content storage and management. It focuses solely on content creation, organisation, and delivery, providing content creators with an intuitive interface to manage and structure content.
With a headless CMS, the content is stored and managed separately from the presentation layer. The content is then delivered to various platforms and devices, such as websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, or any other digital touchpoint, through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Developers consume the content via APIs and leverage modern technologies and frameworks to build the front-end experience.