Article: Using WordPress as a Headless CMS

The headless cms architecture creates a situation where the content is accessible via an API and end-user experience is delivered by a JavaScript application rendering the output of the API.

• By Mensah Alkebu-Lan
• 24 June 2023

WordPress as a headless CMS using @wpgraphql

Content Creators 🤝 Developers

— JSON Bahl (@jasonbahl) March 15, 2023

Table of Contents

• Overview
• WordPress as a Headless CMS
• References
  
  

Overview

Content Management System (CMS) refers to a software application used to create digital content. Here, we will be specifically talking about the WordPress CMS.

There are a number of reasons organizations, at least initially, find the traditional WordPress an attractive option. To mention a few, WordPress installation is often very easy, and inexpensive WordPress hosting is easy to find.

Also, WordPress offers many themes and plugins to extend its functionality and features. Specifically, a WordPress theme defines the presentation of the content, while a plugin is responsible for some aspect of its features and behavior. If a desired WordPress plugin does not exist, a skilled WordPress developer can create it. Even if a person is not skilled in JavaScript, a typical WordPress user can build websites and publish online easily.

WordPress as a Headless CMS

The WordPress REST API makes it possible to create interactive applications for web, mobile, or existing platforms using the same content. This is how WordPress is used as a headless content management system (CMS).

Specifically, the headless cms architecture creates a situation where the content is accessible via an API and end-user experience is delivered by a JavaScript application rendering the output of the API. This approach is often attractive for teams that are comfortable using JavaScript for web development.

One of the benefits of a headless cms is it enables organizations to nify content into a single content hub. They also enable collaborative workflows. Doing this allows content editors and developers to work in parallel.

A headless cms is not a decoupled cms. The difference is a headless cms does not include a presentation layer at all, while for a decoupled cms, the presentation layer is optional.

Contact us for more information on headless cms architecture.

References

1. Pyykölä, Larisa, and Edina Petróczki. “Design and development of a web application for Vihdin-Nummelan Kylähistoria Ry with WordPress as a Headless CMS and React.” (2020). 
2. Arafath, Yasir. “Content Management Systems: An overview between WordPress and Drupal.” (2021). 
3. Nguyen, Bang. “Improving web development process of MERN stack.” (2021). 
4. Kankaala, Minna. “Enhancing E-Commerce with Modern Web Technologies.” (2019). 
5. Savka, Olga. “Applying hypothetico-deductive reasoning to design, develop and evaluate dynamic website.” (2021). 
6. “Headless CMS explained in one minute.” Contentful. Accessed 20 June 2023.