When it comes to content management systems (CMS), WordPress is often one of the first that comes to mind. Its ease of use, customization, and security have made it a go-to platform for years. A traditional CMS like WordPress handles both content management (back end) and the presentation of the content to users (front end).
A headless CMS decouples the front end from the back end, providing content through application programming interfaces (APIs) to any front-end or device you choose. More organizations have been looking for headless CMS solutions to enhance performance and flexibility. Fortunately, WordPress has a way to fit into this configuration so that you get the best of both worlds for your website.
Why go headless?
Why would you want to go headless with WordPress when the traditional CMS model works just fine? This is a great question and is largely dependent upon your business needs. I’ll include a few of the advantages below, so that you can see if they resonate with your organization’s needs.
- Flexibility: Going headless allows you to use modern front-end frameworks like React or Vue, making for a more satisfying user experience and developer implementation. It also enables you to deliver content from a single WordPress back-end to multiple front-ends, such as websites and apps.
- Performance: By separating the front and back ends, you can reduce load times, which can in turn improve search engine optimization (SEO) by decreasing bounce rate and increasing conversions.
- Security: Because the front and back end of your website are decoupled, they can be protected independently, leading to a greater level of security.
Evaluating the technical needs of a website or web application and future-proofing your digital properties can be a daunting process, especially if this isn’t your area of expertise. Our team at Culture Foundry will guide you through this process when engaging in a site build (or rebuild) and come to an informed decision together.
How do you use WordPress as a headless CMS?
Using WordPress as a headless CMS can be enabled in a straightforward way, but it does require skilled software engineers to do so.
WordPress natively provides a REST API that allows users and developers to extend beyond WordPress themes. From a high-level point of the view, the components of a WordPress headless solution are:
- WordPress CMS: Install and configure WordPress as you normally would. You’ll still use WordPress to manage your content, but instead of displaying it through WordPress themes, your content will be accessed via the REST API.
- REST API: As mentioned, WordPress comes with a built-in REST API, allowing you to fetch various forms of data, including posts and media assets. Developers may further tailor a WordPress site’s API settings to expose additional data for connected sites or apps to use, or further enhance security by locking down endpoints as needed.
- Front-end Website/Application: Now that you’re headless, you can use the front-end technology stack that you’re most familiar with, or the tech stack that makes the most sense for your web application, to present your WordPress content to your audience.
- Deployment Pipeline: Since the front and back end have been decoupled, you will host and deploy the front end separately from your WordPress instance.
Conclusion
Using WordPress to construct a headless content management system isn’t for every project. If your site is simple and doesn’t require complex integrations or multi-platform content distribution, a traditional WordPress CMS may be the best option for you. Reach out to us, and we can evaluate your needs to determine the best way forward.
If you determine that a headless CMS is the way forward for your website or application, it’s hard to go wrong with WordPress. It contains a familiar, highly customizable, user-friendly content management experience, along with the built-in ability to transform into a headless implementation. It’s a powerful option for organizations looking to build a robust digital experience.
Need help evaluating a headless CMS for your website?
If you’re considering a headless CMS solution, we can guide you through the process. Connect with us by completing the form below, and a member of our crew will be in touch to help you.