What is a Web Content Management System?

A website is a collection of web pages, graphics and other web content that is typically located on the Internet. A web content management system is a computer application that enables the management of web pages and web content. This application makes maintenance and publication of websites easier for the administrator.

A web page is a single page on a website that contains text, graphics, and metadata. These web pages are typically designed with a text editor and require hypertext markup language (HTML) for proper rendering on a website. The web content management system is responsible for managing the work flow of web pages on a website.

Metadata is a computer term for a data element that helps to describe another object or data element. An example of metadata is a comment about a picture or a thread string around a particular subject. Typically a web content management system will provide a mechanism to manage all of the metadata for the web pages on a website.

In computers, the user experience is a term used for describing how a user of a software application interacts with the screens. Web content includes data, videos, music and pictures. Within a web content management system the user can customize the website based on his personal preferences.

Many popular social networking sites enable custom content management for the users of the site. This enriches the user experience by giving control to the user. Within these sites the user can add videos, pictures and personal data. He can also position the web elements and create custom graphics anywhere on the web page.

A web portal is an example of a web content management system. Within a web portal a user can create links to other popular applications or web sites. This portal can be customized to include popular web programs including weather, traffic, and stock tickers.

Business collaboration is the process of sharing relevant information with business partners. This collaboration requires a sophisticated work flow process. This process outlines the steps and procedures for sharing information. Many web content management systems provide a mechanism to create custom work flows within the website.

Portable computer devices are changing the landscape for web content. These devices are quickly enabling the sharing and linking of information with custom work flow processes. This content management explosion is evolving the user experience from standard web pages into robust information-sharing environments.