What is a CMS?

A Content Management System or CMS, is simply a software package that cleverly divides the process of creating and building websites and web pages into separate yet mutually supportive components.

• First, a CMS provides a method of on-line entry forms to let you (and potentially other users you designate) easily enter, edit, and delete content.

Content = pages of text, pictures, calendar events, downloadable files (like mp3 or PDF files), news, in short, just about anything digital.

• Secondly, a CMS provides a secure storage system or database, where all the content is locked up in one place and then fed out as web pages on a website. The website and web pages are standard looking, just like any other site on the Internet.

There is no HTML coding or programming required with a CMS = CMS is easy for non-technical authors and editors of creative material.

• Thirdly, a CMS keeps track of a thing called a site skin, which is a folder that holds all the customizations you make to control what the entire site looks like to everyone on the web.

The skin is very easily modified by you to change things like the logo image, font sizes and colors, web site layout, menu styles, etc. You make the skin changes through on-line forms, and these instantly transform how your visitors experience your content.

The most important thing to remember is that the content and the skin are not dependent on each other. You can change the skin, even provide multiple skins for users to select from, and your content does not change. It just looks different.