A content management system, or CMS, is software for storing, editing and publishing information. CMSs are usually web applications, although they can also be used on an intranet.
They allow large numbers of people to access and communicate through the internet without technical knowledge such as programming skills.
CMSs emerged in the late 1990s as the internet became popular, meeting the new needs it created. Major print publishers began launching web editions and soon realised that they needed systems for updating content continuously.
The boom arrived with Php Nuke4. More people gained internet access, low-cost hosting plans appeared, and everyone wanted to communicate and establish an online presence.
Although newspaper and magazine publishers pioneered the first CMSs, their use has spread across every sector. These tools are now a pillar of the internet.
They are used worldwide by all kinds of companies, individuals, universities, public bodies and NGOs.
There are hundreds of varieties. Many, including the most popular, are free, while others are proprietary. They include sector-specific, standardised and bespoke CMSs, using different technologies for different purposes.
