Content management system (CMS) – Components

The system which is used to manage the content of a web site is referred as Content Management System (CMS). A Content Management System has the ability to manage the appearance of the published pages, the structure of the site and the navigation provided to the users. The idea behind the CMS is to make available the image media, computer files, electronic documents, audio files and web content to inter-office as well as over the web. In the preliminary stage a content management system helps to design, build, write and upload all the necessary content to owner’s new website, intranet or extranet. In the second stage, hand over the control to organization to continue with ongoing maintenance.

A typical Content Management System contains the elements content management application (CMA) and the content delivery application (CDA). The Content Management Application helps the content manager to administer the creation, modification, and removal of content from a web site without involving the expertise of a webmaster. But the CDA component uses and compiles that information to update the web site. Even if features of CMS systems vary, some common factors existing like format management, web-based publishing, revision control, and search, indexing and retrieval.

The major components used in a typical Content Management System are Website, Homepage, standard content page, Link to Page, Listings / Products, Guestbook, Online forms, Automated Sitemap, website Search, E-Commerce Shopping Basket - Integrated with Virtual Card Services, Newsletter / Mailing Lists, 404 - "File not found" Manager, Press Releases, Event / Booking / Meeting Calendar, Blog / News, Property listings, Online Quote / Invoice and secure payment, Site RSS Feed and more.
While using different components in Content Management System, it should have the qualities like most optimal re-use of content, best quality of publications, least time and resources needed for managing content, least time and resources needed for producing publications out of re-usable content and highest level of accessibility of content.

When choosing a Content Management System, organizations should careful about the services provided by the system. Suppose if you want to upload images, videos and sounds to your website or remove photos, videos and blogs, the system contain these facilities and should have the capability to manage it effectively.

The web 2.0 style site shows all the new trends in web development and design. This technology carries a crucial role in the Content Management System and widely adopted across the Internet.
The components of Content Management System (CMS) is very helpful to get some business benefits like reduced site maintenance costs, streamlined authoring process, greater consistency,  faster turnaround time for new pages and changes, improved site navigation, support for decentralized authoring, increased site flexibility, increased security, greater capacity for growth,  reduced duplication of information and more.