Imagine a CMS that saves content management time and delivers an increment in ROI without much hassle. That’s the impact of headless CMS, and it’s no longer just an imagination.
In fact, the existing decade can belong to this unique type of content management system. How?
Well, experts predict an impressive CAGR of 22.1% (2022 to 2032) in the headless CMS market. This number reflects the improved scalability, security, and performance experienced by companies adopting the headless option over monolithic platforms.
If you aren’t aware of this content management system, read ahead. You will find a simple explanation of this CMS platform and practical reasons to choose/avoid it for your organization.
Table of Contents
What is Headless CMS?
Traditionally, content management systems have a tightly coupled architecture. This means the backend has close integration with the front end.
Here, the backend implies content storage, management, and organization.
On the other hand, the front end is the part that facilitates interaction.
In a headless CMS, both sections are separate. This implies the backend content management doesn’t have tight integration with the front-end presentation layer.
Consider the following points:
Head: Front-end consisting of the UI and content display
Body: Back-end storing, editing, and sorting the content
So, what is headless CMS?
It is a platform where the head and body are distinct. What does this mean to you?
With this type of platform, you can update the content without affecting the presentation layer (front-end).
Definition: A headless CMS is a system that segregates the back end, which manages content, from the front end, which presents it.
To understand how headless CMS works, you should first familiarize yourself with the functioning of traditional platforms like WordPress.
Here’s how a traditional or conventional CMS works:
The system has a tightly coupled architecture that integrates the backend and the frontend
You create/edit content in an editor (backend)
The frontend has templates with placeholders that include text, images, links, and other components
When a user visits your webpage, the system replaces placeholders with your created content
Now, a headless CMS works the following way:
The decoupled architecture separates the backend from the frontend
You create/edit content within the backend
The CMS provides tools for organization, categorization, and content management
A dedicated application programming interface (API) allows the frontend to access the content
The frontend requests the API for displaying content to various channels like websites, mobiles, or IoT devices
So, the crux of a headless CMS is simple.
You can create and deliver content to multiple channels without changing the core CMS. Developers can also build the front end using any technology.
Benefits of Using a Headless CMS
The monolithic architecture of a conventional CMS like Drupal or Magento can make it difficult to scale and maintain your content. On the contrary, a headless CMS offers the following key advantages:
Flexibility
Scalability
Improved SEO
Performance
Let’s break down these positives one by one.
1. Flexibility and Scalability
The headless CMS option allows you to deliver content on any channel, portraying a consistent brand experience across different devices.
Also, developers can leverage the decoupled architecture and customize the presentation to create a unique experience. Regarding scalability, it’s possible to meet the increased traffic by scaling the front end without impacting the back end.
2. Improved SEO
With a headless CMS, you can create and deliver dynamic content at any time. In addition, such a system helps generate SEO-friendly URLs to improve organic ranking. However, you need the assistance of skilled developers for this purpose.
An experienced developer can use responsive design frameworks to ensure your content looks engaging on mobile devices as well. All these factors lead to better SEO performance.
Looking for skilled developers using traditional CMS instead? Hire our WordPress developers who understand the nuances of both content management technologies.
Independent scaling and optimized content delivery drastically improve your website’s overall performance. With a headless CMS, you can cache content at the front end. Furthermore, it is possible to integrate such platforms with content delivery networks without hassle.
API optimization is another factor that helps reduce latency and optimize content performance. Together, these factors contribute to superior performance.
4. Cost Effectiveness
The best headless CMS options enable faster development and reusable components. These aspects reduce expenses.
In addition, you don’t need to change your infrastructure to accommodate future growth. As the front and back end are distinct, developers can change one section without impacting the overall system. Also, easier updates lead to heightened cost-effectiveness in the long run.
When to Use a Headless CMS?
Generally, companies use headless CMS to gain more control over content delivery. Still, there are multiple use cases and applications that find the utility of this system useful.
The following table explains some popular conditions for using this content management system.
Feature
Utility
Multi-channel content delivery
Websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, social media
Complex content structures
Highly structured content, custom content models
Frequent content updates
Rapid changes to content
Developer-centric projects
Developers with control over the frontend
Large-scale projects
High traffic, complex requirements
E-commerce
Product information, content delivery to multiple channels
So far, you are aware of the concept, benefits, and use cases of this type of content management system. However, similar to all technologies, headless CMS has its limitations.
Here are some of the major challenges that you should know before choosing a headless CMS:
Increased complexity: The decoupled architecture of headless CMS can present additional complexity. This aspect is true for teams with limited experience in frontend development or API integration
Steeper learning curve: Learning to work with a headless CMS may require a steeper learning curve compared to traditional CMS
Integration challenges: Integrating a headless CMS with your existing systems or third-party tools can be challenging
Cost: While headless CMS is cost-effective in the long run, the initial investment may be higher than for its conventional counterpart
Limited template support: Some headless CMS platforms have limited support for pre-built templates. So, your developers need to create custom templates from scratch
Now, the following table puts forth specific conditions when you should refrain from using a headless content management system:
Feature
Explanation
Simple websites
Basic websites with limited content and features
Tightly coupled systems
Projects where the content and presentation are tightly integrated
Limited technical resources
Teams with limited experience in frontend development or API integration
Legacy systems
Projects that rely heavily on existing legacy systems that may not be compatible with a headless architecture
Short-term projects
Projects with a short timeline and limited budget
Content-heavy websites
Websites with a large amount of content that may require complex content management tools
Interested in expanding your knowledge of CMS? We have a comparative blog that differentiates two popular names – Statamic and WordPress.
You can find many headless CMS platforms on the market. However, some options stand out for their features, ease of use, and pricing. In this section, you can find some top names with a brief explanation.
Strapi
This open-source content management system puts customization at the forefront. Here are some main points of Strapi to consider:
It’s an open-source CMS
The CMS is GDPR compliant
Strapi has a community of 72K active developers
It’s useful for building content-driven apps
The self-hosted model offers a free plan with REST and GraphQL API. You can also explore the enterprise model and cloud-based plans as per your requirements.
Contentful
This name is another prominent option that focuses on content modeling and delivery. Contentful has the following main aspects to consider:
AI-driven intelligent automation
Visually engaging interface
Claims to have 100+ apps and integrations
A composable content platform
Notably, this headless CMS is free to use for individual projects. However, if you want to leverage a multichannel experience, the basic plan of USD 300 per month can prove useful. For more information about its pricing, you can explore the official website.
Directus
If you want a headless CMS built on existing databases, Directus can be a good choice. It has an intuitive admin UI and the following main USPs:
Robust backend capabilities
13K community members
Policy-based RBAC
Access to instant APIs
Similar to other content management systems, Directus offers self-hosted and cloud options. Contact them for more details about the pricing.
Headless CMS vs Traditional CMS
The following table summarizes the main differences between the two content management system types.
Feature
Headless CMS
Traditional CMS
Architecture
Decoupled (backend and frontend separated)
Tightly coupled (backend and frontend integrated)
Content Delivery
Flexible, can be delivered to multiple channels
Primarily designed for websites
Frontend Development
Independent, using various technologies
Limited to CMS templates
Scalability
Highly scalable
Can be challenging for high-traffic or multi-channel scenarios
Developer Control
More control over frontend
Less control over frontend
Content Management
Focus on content creation and management
Handles both content management and presentation
SEO
Can be optimized for SEO
SEO can be challenging, especially for complex websites
Performance
Generally better performance due to decoupled architecture
Can be slower, especially for complex websites
Cost
Can be more cost-effective in the long run
Can be less expensive upfront but may have higher long-term costs
Use Cases
Suitable for multi-channel content delivery, complex content structures, frequent updates, developer-centric projects, large-scale projects, e-commerce, and digital marketing
Suitable for simpler websites and projects with limited customization needs
In a Nutshell
A headless CMS solves many problems you can face with the conventional counterparts. In this content management system, the front end and back end are separate. So, developers can change the content without disturbing the display layer.
Most companies prefer using a headless CMS platform for its scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. This CMS is also useful if you want to offer your target audience a multichannel experience.
Ensure you hire the best developers to capitalize on this platform’s advantages. Furthermore, vetted programmers can overcome the challenges and ensure the best implementation of the best headless CMS options. You can always contact us for more guidance and get a prompt resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is headless CMS just an API?
No. A headless content management system consists of a backend and a front end. The front end connects to the platform’s backend using an API. So, this system is a comprehensive technology comprising the two well-known segments and using API as the bridge.
2. Who uses a headless CMS?
Generally, content creators, developers, marketing teams, and e-commerce businesses use headless CMS. Due to several advantages over the traditional system, many startups and enterprises are investing in such platforms.
Nitin has over 20 years of IT experience and 3+ years of experience in on-site work in Arizona, USA. In all these years, he has held the positions of delivery manager, module lead, and senior consultant. Expert in advocating product life cycle phases while using self-motivational skills and problem-solving abilities. He works on the principle of “Always Deliver More than Expected.”
