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A web content management system (WCM or WCMS) is a software content management system (CMS) specifically for web content.^[1] It provides website authoring, collaboration, and administration tools that help users with little knowledge of web programming languages or markup languages create and manage website content. A WCMS provides the foundation for collaboration, providing users the ability to manage documents and output for multiple author editing and participation. Most systems use a content repository or a database to store page content, metadata, and other information assets the system needs.

A presentation layer (template engine) displays the content to website visitors based on a set of templates, which are sometimes XSLT files.^[1]

Most systems use server side caching to improve performance. This works best when the WCMS is not changed often but visits happen frequently. Administration is also typically done through browser-based interfaces, but some systems require the use of a fat client.

Capabilities

A web content management system controls a dynamic collection of web material, including HTML documents, images, and other forms of media.^[2] A WCMS facilitates document control, auditing, editing, and timeline management. A WCMS typically has the following features:^[3]^[4]

Automated templates: Create standard templates (usually HTML and XML) that users can apply to new and existing content, changing the appearance of all content from one central place.
Access control: Some WCMS systems support user groups, which control how registered users interact with the site. A page on the site can be restricted to one or more groups. This means an anonymous user (someone not logged-on), or a logged on user who is not a member of the group a page is restricted to, is denied access.
Scalable expansion: Available in most modern WCMSs.is the ability to expand a single implementation (one installation on one server) across multiple domains, depending on the server's settings. WCMS sites may be able to create microsites/web portals within a main site as well.
Easily editable content: Once content is separated from the visual presentation of a site, it usually becomes much easier and quicker to edit and manipulate. Most WCMS software includes WYSIWYG editing tools allowing non-technical users to create and edit content.
Scalable feature sets: Most WCMS software includes plug-ins or modules that can be easily installed to extend an existing site's functionality.
Web standards upgrades: Active WCMS software usually receives regular updates that include new feature sets and keep the system up to current web standards.
Workflow management: Workflow management is the process of creating cycles of sequential and parallel tasks that must be accomplished in the WCMS. For example, one or many content creators can submit a story, but it is not published until the copy editor cleans it up and the editor-in-chief approves it.
Collaboration: WCMS software may act as a collaboration platform where many users retrieve and work on content. Changes can be tracked and authorized for publication or ignored reverting to old versions. Other advanced forms of collaboration allow multiple users to modify (or comment) a page at the same time in a collaboration session.
Delegation: Some WCMS software allows for various user groups to have limited privileges over specific content on the website, spreading out the responsibility of content management.^[5]
Document management: WCMS software may provide a means of collaboratively managing the life cycle of a document from initial creation time, through revisions, publication, archive, and document destruction.
Content virtualization: WCMS software may provide a means of allowing each user to work within a virtual copy of the entire website, document set, and/or code base. This enables viewing changes to multiple interdependent resources in context before submission.
Content syndication: WCMS software often helps distribute content by generating RSS and Atom data feeds to other systems. They may also e-mail users when updates become available.
Multilingual: Many WCMSs can display content in multiple languages.
Versioning: Like document management systems, WCMS software may implement version control, by which users check pages in and out of the WCMS. Authorized editors can retrieve previous versions and work from a selected point. Versioning is useful for content that changes and requires updating, but it may be necessary to start from or reference a previous version.

Types

A WCMS can use one of three approaches: offline processing, online processing, and hybrid processing. These terms describe the deployment pattern for the WCMS in terms of when it applies presentation templates to render web pages from structured content.

Offline processing

These systems, sometimes referred to as "static site generators",^[6] pre-process all content, applying templates before publication to generate web pages. Since pre-processing systems do not require a server to apply the templates at request time, they may also exist purely as design-time tools.

Online processing

These systems apply templates on-demand. They may generate HTML when a user visits the page, or the user might receive pre-generated HTML from a web cache. Most open source WCMSs support add-ons that extended the system's capabilities. These include features like forums, blogs, wikis, web stores, photo galleries, and contact management. These are variously called modules, nodes, widgets, add-ons, or extensions.

Hybrid processing

JavaServer Pages|Some systems combine the offline and online approaches. Some systems write out executable code (e.g., JSP, ASP, PHP, ColdFusion, or Perl pages) rather than just static HTML. That way, personnel don't have to deploy the WCMS itself on every web server. Other hybrids operate in either an online or offline mode.

Advantages

Low cost: Some content management systems are free, such as Drupal, eZ Publish, TYPO3, Joomla, Zesty.io, and WordPress. Others may be affordable based on size subscriptions.^[7] Although subscriptions can be expensive, overall the cost of not having to hire full-time developers can lower the total costs. Plus software can be bought based on need for many WCMSs.

Easy customization: A universal layout is created, making pages have a similar theme and design without much code. Many WCMS tools use a drag and drop AJAX system for their design modes. It makes it easy for beginner users to create custom front-ends.^[8]

Easy to use: WCMSs accommodate non-technical people. Simplicity in design of the admin UI lets website content managers and other users update content without much training in coding or system maintenance.^{[citation needed]}

Workflow management: WCMSs provide the facility to control how content is published, when it is published, and who publishes it. Some WCMSs allow administrators to set up rules for workflow management, guiding content managers through a series of steps required for each of their tasks.^{[citation needed]}

Good For SEO: WCMS websites also accommodate search engine optimization (SEO). Content freshness helps, as some search engines prefer websites with newer content. Social media plugins help build a community around content. RSS feeds automatically generated by blogs, or WCMS websites can increase the number of subscribers and readers to a site. URL rewriting can be implemented easily—clean URLs without parameters further help in SEO.^{[citation needed]}Some plugins specifically help with website SEO.^{[citation needed]}

Disadvantages

Cost of implementations: Larger scale implementations may require training, planning, and certifications. Certain WCMSs may require hardware installation. Commitment to the software is required on bigger investments. Commitment to training, developing, and upkeep are costs incurred in any enterprise system.^[9]

Cost of maintenance: Maintaining WCMSs may require license updates, upgrades, and hardware maintenance.

Latency issues: Larger WCMSs can experience latency if hardware infrastructure is not up-to-date, databases are used incorrectly, or web cache files that reload every time data updates grow too large. Load balancing issues may also impair caching files.

Tool mixing: Because the URLs of many WCMSs are dynamically generated with internal parameters and reference information, they are often not stable enough for static pages and other web tools, particularly search engines, to rely on them.

Security: WCMS's are often forgotten about when hardware, software, and operating systems are patched for security threats. Due to lack of patching by the user, a hacker can use unpatched WCMS software to exploit vulnerabilities to enter an otherwise secure environment. WCMS's should be part of an overall, holistic security patch management program to maintain the highest possible security standards.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b Mike Johnston (7 September 2011). "CMS or WCM - Which is Which?". cmscritic.com. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
^ Mike Johnston (2009). "What is a CMS?". CMS Critic. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
^ Multiple (wiki). "Content management system". Docforge. Archived from the original on 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
^ "Everything you need to know about WordPress". QualiThemes. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
^ Jovia Web Studio (2009). "Is a Content Management System Right for You". Jovia Web Studio Blog. Archived from the original on 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
^ Hall, Chris (1 May 2014). "The updated big list of static website generators for your site, blog or wiki".
^ "SharePoint". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^ "AJAX - WordPress Codex". Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^ "The 5 hidden costs of running a CMS". Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
^ "Content Management Systems Security and Associated Risks - US-CERT". 19 October 2016.

[:0-1] Mike Johnston (7 September 2011). "CMS or WCM - Which is Which?". cmscritic.com. Retrieved 2011-09-07.

[2] Mike Johnston (2009). "What is a CMS?". CMS Critic. Retrieved 2009-02-13.

[3] Multiple (wiki). "Content management system". Docforge. Archived from the original on 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2010-01-19.

[4] "Everything you need to know about WordPress". QualiThemes. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.

[5] Jovia Web Studio (2009). "Is a Content Management System Right for You". Jovia Web Studio Blog. Archived from the original on 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2009-02-13.

[6] Hall, Chris (1 May 2014). "The updated big list of static website generators for your site, blog or wiki".

[7] "SharePoint". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2011.

[8] "AJAX - WordPress Codex". Retrieved 17 March 2011.

[9] "The 5 hidden costs of running a CMS". Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.

[10] "Content Management Systems Security and Associated Risks - US-CERT". 19 October 2016.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Content management system specifically for web content}}
+{{refimprove|date=August 2024}}
-{{See also|Content management system|Enterprise content management}}
+{{broader|Content management system}}
-A '''web content management system''' ('''WCM''' or '''WCMS''')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmscritic.com/cms-or-wcm-which-is-which/ |author=Mike Johnston |title=CMS or WCM - Which is Which? |publisher=cmscritic.com |access-date=2011-09-07}}</ref> is a software [[content management system]] (CMS) specifically for [[web content]].  It provides [[website]] authoring, collaboration, and administration tools that help users with little knowledge of web [[programming language]]s or [[markup language]]s create and manage website content.  A WCMS provides the foundation for collaboration, providing users the ability to manage documents and output for multiple author editing and participation.  Most systems use a [[content repository]] or a [[database]] to store page content, [[metadata]], and other information assets the system needs.
+A '''web content management system''' ('''WCM''' or '''WCMS''') is a software [[content management system]] (CMS) specifically for [[web content]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.cmscritic.com/cms-or-wcm-which-is-which/ |author=Mike Johnston |title=CMS or WCM - Which is Which? |date=7 September 2011 |publisher=cmscritic.com |access-date=2011-09-07}}</ref> It provides [[website]] authoring, collaboration, and administration tools that help users with little knowledge of web [[programming language]]s or [[markup language]]s create and manage website content.  A WCMS provides the foundation for collaboration, providing users the ability to manage documents and output for multiple author editing and participation.  Most systems use a [[content repository]] or a [[database]] to store page content, [[metadata]], and other information assets the system needs.
-A [[Separation of presentation and content|presentation]] layer ([[Template engine (web)|template engine]]) displays the content to website visitors based on a set of [[Web template|template]]s, which are sometimes [[XSL Transformations|XSLT]] files.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://woric.net/wsg_presentation/Part1_using_xslt.xf |author=Woric Faithfull |title=Using XSLT to Make Websites |publisher=woric.net |access-date=2007-11-08}}</ref>
+A [[separation of content and presentation|presentation]] layer ([[Template engine (web)|template engine]]) displays the content to website visitors based on a set of [[Web template|template]]s, which are sometimes [[XSL Transformations|XSLT]] files.<ref name=":0" />
 Most systems use [[cache (computing)|server side caching]] to improve performance.  This works best when the WCMS is not changed often but visits happen frequently.  Administration is also typically done through browser-based interfaces, but some systems require the use of a [[fat client]].
 ==Capabilities==
-A web content management system controls a dynamic collection of web material, including [[HTML]] documents, [[image]]s, and other forms of media.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-cms | title=What is a CMS? | author=Mike Johnston | journal=CMS Critic | year=2009 | access-date=2009-02-13 }}</ref>  A WCMS facilitates document control, auditing, editing, and timeline management. A WCMS typically has the following features:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://docforge.com/wiki/Content_management_system | title=Content management system | author=Multiple (wiki) | work=Docforge | access-date=2010-01-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qualithemes.com/everything-about-wordpress/|title=Everything you need to know about WordPress|publisher=QualiThemes|access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref>
+A web content management system controls a dynamic collection of web material, including [[HTML]] documents, [[image]]s, and other forms of media.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://cmscritic.com/what-is-a-cms | title=What is a CMS? | author=Mike Johnston | journal=CMS Critic | year=2009 | access-date=2009-02-13 }}</ref>  A WCMS facilitates document control, auditing, editing, and timeline management. A WCMS typically has the following features:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://docforge.com/wiki/Content_management_system | title=Content management system | author=Multiple (wiki) | work=Docforge | access-date=2010-01-19 | archive-date=2012-12-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230162058/http://docforge.com/wiki/Content_management_system | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qualithemes.com/everything-about-wordpress/|title=Everything you need to know about WordPress|publisher=QualiThemes|access-date=20 October 2011|archive-date=9 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109160957/http://www.qualithemes.com/everything-about-wordpress/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 ;Automated templates: Create standard templates (usually HTML and [[XML]]) that users can apply to new and existing content, changing the appearance of all content from one central place.
-;Access control: Some WCMS systems support user groups, which control how registered users interact with the site. A page on the site can be restricted to one or more groups. This means an anonymous user (someone not logged on), or a logged on user who is not a member of the group a page is restricted to, is denied access.
+;Access control: Some WCMS systems support user groups, which control how registered users interact with the site. A page on the site can be restricted to one or more groups. This means an anonymous user (someone not logged-on), or a logged on user who is not a member of the group a page is restricted to, is denied access.
-;Scalable expansion: Available in [[List of content management systems|most modern WCMSs]] is the ability to expand a single implementation (one installation on one server) across multiple domains, depending on the server's settings.  WCMS sites may be able to create [[microsite]]s/[[web portal]]s within a main site as well.
+;Scalable expansion: Available in [[List of content management systems|most modern WCMSs]].is the ability to expand a single implementation (one installation on one server) across multiple domains, depending on the server's settings. WCMS sites may be able to create [[microsite]]s/[[web portal]]s within a main site as well.
 ;Easily editable content: Once content is separated from the visual presentation of a site, it usually becomes much easier and quicker to edit and manipulate. Most WCMS software includes [[WYSIWYG]] editing tools allowing non-technical users to create and edit content.
 ;Scalable feature sets: Most WCMS software includes plug-ins or modules that can be easily installed to extend an existing site's functionality.
@@ Line 19: / Line 20: @@
 ;Workflow management: [[Workflow]] management is the process of creating cycles of sequential and parallel tasks that must be accomplished in the WCMS. For example, one or many content creators can submit a story, but it is not published until the copy editor cleans it up and the editor-in-chief approves it.
 ;Collaboration: WCMS software may act as a [[collaboration platform]] where many users retrieve and work on content. Changes can be tracked and authorized for publication or ignored reverting to old versions. Other advanced forms of collaboration allow multiple users to modify (or comment) a page at the same time in a collaboration session.
-;Delegation: Some WCMS software allows for various user groups to have limited privileges over specific content on the website, spreading out the responsibility of content management.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.joviawebstudio.com/index.php/blog/is_a_content_management_system_right_for_you/ | title=Is a Content Management System Right for You | author=Jovia Web Studio | journal=Jovia Web Studio Blog | year=2009 | access-date=2009-02-13 }}</ref>
+;Delegation: Some WCMS software allows for various user groups to have limited privileges over specific content on the website, spreading out the responsibility of content management.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.joviawebstudio.com/index.php/blog/is_a_content_management_system_right_for_you/ | title=Is a Content Management System Right for You | author=Jovia Web Studio | journal=Jovia Web Studio Blog | year=2009 | access-date=2009-02-13 | archive-date=2013-05-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521095342/http://www.joviawebstudio.com/index.php/blog/is_a_content_management_system_right_for_you/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
 ;Document management: WCMS software may provide a means of collaboratively managing the life cycle of a document from initial creation time, through revisions, publication, archive, and document destruction.
-;Content virtualization: WCMS software may provide a means of allowing each user to work within a virtual copy of the entire web site, document set, and/or code base.  This enables viewing changes to multiple interdependent resources in context prior to submission.
+;Content virtualization: WCMS software may provide a means of allowing each user to work within a virtual copy of the entire website, document set, and/or code base. This enables viewing changes to multiple interdependent resources in context before submission.
 ;Content syndication: WCMS software often helps distribute content by generating [[RSS]] and [[Atom (standard)|Atom]] data feeds to other systems. They may also e-mail users when updates become available.
 ;Multilingual: Many WCMSs can display content in multiple languages.
@@ Line 30: / Line 31: @@
 ===Offline processing===
-These systems, sometimes referred to as "static site generators",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iwantmyname.com/blog/2011/02/list-static-website-generators.html|title=The updated big list of static website generators for your site, blog or wiki|first=Chris|last=Hall|date=1 May 2014}}</ref> pre-process all content, applying templates before publication to generate web pages. Since pre-processing systems do not require a server to apply the templates at request time, they may also exist purely as design-time tools.
+These systems, sometimes referred to as "static site generators",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iwantmyname.com/blog/the-updated-big-list-of-static-website-generators-for-your-site-blog-or-wiki|title=The updated big list of static website generators for your site, blog or wiki|first=Chris|last=Hall|date=1 May 2014}}</ref> pre-process all content, applying templates before publication to generate web pages. Since pre-processing systems do not require a server to apply the templates at request time, they may also exist purely as design-time tools.
 ===Online processing===
@@ Line 36: / Line 37: @@
 ===Hybrid processing===
-Some systems combine the offline and online approaches. Some systems write out executable code (e.g., [[JavaServer Pages|JSP]], [[Active Server Pages|ASP]], [[PHP]], [[ColdFusion]], or [[Perl]] pages) rather than just static [[HTML]]. That way, personnel don't have to deploy the WCMS itself on every web server. Other hybrids operate in either an online or offline mode.
+JavaServer Pages|Some systems combine the offline and online approaches. Some systems write out executable code (e.g., [[JavaServer Pages|JSP]], ASP, PHP, ColdFusion, or Perl pages) rather than just static HTML. That way, personnel don't have to deploy the WCMS itself on every web server. Other hybrids operate in either an online or offline mode.
 ==Advantages==
@@ Line 43: / Line 44: @@
 ;Easy customization: A universal layout is created, making pages have a similar theme and design without much code. Many WCMS tools use a drag and drop [[AJAX]] system for their design modes. It makes it easy for beginner users to create custom front-ends.<ref>{{cite web|title=AJAX - WordPress Codex|url=http://codex.wordpress.org/AJAX|access-date=17 March 2011}}</ref>
-;Easy to use: WCMSs accommodate non-technical people. Simplicity in design of the admin [[User interface|UI]] lets website content managers and other users update content without much training in coding or system maintenance.
+;Easy to use: WCMSs accommodate non-technical people. Simplicity in design of the admin [[User interface|UI]] lets website content managers and other users update content without much training in coding or system maintenance.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
-;[[Workflow]] management: WCMSs provide the facility to control how content is published, when it is published, and who publishes it. Some WCMSs allow administrators to set up rules for [[workflow]] management, guiding content managers through a series of steps required for each of their tasks.
+;[[Workflow]] management: WCMSs provide the facility to control how content is published, when it is published, and who publishes it. Some WCMSs allow administrators to set up rules for [[workflow]] management, guiding content managers through a series of steps required for each of their tasks.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
-;Good For [[SEO]]: WCMS websites also accommodate [[search engine optimization]] (SEO). Content freshness helps, as some search engines prefer websites with newer content. Social media plugins help build a community around content. RSS feeds automatically generated by blogs, or WCMS websites can increase the number of subscribers and readers to a site. URL rewriting can be implemented easily—clean URLs without parameters further help in SEO. Some plugins specifically help with website SEO.
+;Good For [[SEO]]: WCMS websites also accommodate [[search engine optimization]] (SEO). Content freshness helps, as some search engines prefer websites with newer content. Social media plugins help build a community around content. RSS feeds automatically generated by blogs, or WCMS websites can increase the number of subscribers and readers to a site. URL rewriting can be implemented easily—clean URLs without parameters further help in SEO.{{cn|date=August 2024}}Some plugins specifically help with website SEO.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
 ==Disadvantages==
-;Cost of implementations: Larger scale implementations may require training, planning, and certifications. Certain WCMSs may require hardware installation. Commitment to the software is required on bigger investments. Commitment to training, developing, and upkeep are costs incurred in any enterprise system.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 5 hidden costs of running a CMS|url=http://thinkvitamin.com/web-industry/the-5-hidden-costs-of-running-a-cms/|access-date=17 March 2011}}</ref>
+;Cost of implementations: Larger scale implementations may require training, planning, and certifications. Certain WCMSs may require hardware installation. Commitment to the software is required on bigger investments. Commitment to training, developing, and upkeep are costs incurred in any enterprise system.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 5 hidden costs of running a CMS|url=http://thinkvitamin.com/web-industry/the-5-hidden-costs-of-running-a-cms/|access-date=17 March 2011|archive-date=26 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426204613/http://thinkvitamin.com/web-industry/the-5-hidden-costs-of-running-a-cms/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 ;Cost of maintenance: Maintaining WCMSs may require license updates, upgrades, and hardware maintenance.
-;Latency issues: Larger WCMSs can experience latency if hardware infrastructure is not up to date, databases are used incorrectly, or [[web cache]] files that reload every time data updates grow too large. [[Load balancing (computing)|Load balancing]] issues may also impair caching files.
+;Latency issues: Larger WCMSs can experience latency if hardware infrastructure is not up-to-date, databases are used incorrectly, or [[web cache]] files that reload every time data updates grow too large. [[Load balancing (computing)|Load balancing]] issues may also impair caching files.
 ;Tool mixing: Because the URLs of many WCMSs are dynamically generated with internal parameters and reference information, they are often not stable enough for static pages and other web tools, particularly search engines, to rely on them.
-;Security:  WCMS's are often forgotten about when hardware, software, and operating systems are patched for security threats.  Due to lack of patching by the user, a hacker can use unpatched WCMS software to exploit vulnerabilities to enter an otherwise secure environment. WCMS's should be part of an overall, holistic security patch management program to maintain the highest possible security standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-024A|title=Content Management Systems Security and Associated Risks - US-CERT}}</ref>
+;Security:  WCMS's are often forgotten about when hardware, software, and operating systems are patched for security threats.  Due to lack of patching by the user, a hacker can use unpatched WCMS software to exploit vulnerabilities to enter an otherwise secure environment. WCMS's should be part of an overall, holistic security [[patch management]] program to maintain the highest possible security standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-024A|title=Content Management Systems Security and Associated Risks - US-CERT|date=19 October 2016 }}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 66: / Line 67: @@
 *[[Content management system]]
 *[[Dynamic web page]]
+*[[Enterprise content management]]
 *[[Headless content management system]]
 *[[HTML]]
@@ Line 72: / Line 74: @@
 *[[Web portal]]
 *[[Website builder]]
+*[[Web content development]]
 *[[Wiki]]
 {{div col end}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 84: / Line 86: @@
 [[Category:Content management systems]]
 [[Category:Website management]]
-[[Category:Drupal]]
+[[Category:Web content]]
-[[Category:WordPress]]