Choosing a Content Management System

There is a wide range of Content Management Systems and packages available, and the following is a brief guide to the pros and cons of the most popular. The technologies described fall broadly into the categories of database management software and 'broker' software which mediates between the database and the web pages:       

* ColdFusion - A programming system which uses active templates to define how information is extracted from the database and displayed onscreen. Database queries are embedded into the template pages, and are 'activated' when the user opens the page. Websites created using ColdFusion will have page names ending in '.cfm';

* Active Server Pages (ASP) - A programming language created by Microsoft. It allows web designers to manage the way information is extracted from a database and presented to the user dynamically. It is a powerful and flexible language which can also manage interactive functionality within a website. Websites generated using ASP will have pages names ending in '.asp';

* PHP - Similarly to ASP, PHP is a simple programming language which manages the way information is inserted into HTML templates and displayed via the web. An important aspect of PHP is that it uses 'server-side' scripting. This means that all of the work of page generation is handled by the central 'server' computer, placing minimal demands on the 'client' or user's computer. PHP provides a range of useful functions including processing information from online forms, identifying different browsers and tailoring content accordingly, and allowing users to register or 'login' to the site. Websites created using PHP will have page names ending in '.htm' or '.cfm';
      
* MySQL - A tool for managing information stored in a relational database (for further information, see the fact sheet on Web Databases). The software for MySQL is 'open source', which means that it is freely available for anyone to use or rewrite. It has been developed over the past few years to create a powerful, stable and scalable way of managing all kinds of databases;

How Does it Work?

A Content manager usually consists of several pieces of software which work together to manage the various processes of creating and delivering content over the Web. These are:

 * An interface which allows you to enter, edit and delete content, manage the functions of your website and define levels of access for contributors and editors;

 * The database which holds the information. As with any database, this will consist of a series of named fields each of which contain a specific type of information;

 * Template pages, usually created using a combination of HTML tags and elements which are specific to the type of CMS you are using;

 * A scripting language which manages the way in which the information is extracted from the database and inserted into the template.

If you are looking for CMS developers or customized CMS Solutions, please contact us. We specialise in CMS systems that are customized according to client requirements, giving them the best CMS solution technology can offer.