A content management system (CMS) is a system used to manage the content of a Web site. Content management systems are deployed primarily for interactive use by a potentially large number of contributors. For example, the software for the website Wikipedia is based on a wiki, which is a particular type of content management system. For the purposes of this page, Content Management means Web Content Management. Other related forms of content management are listed below.

The content managed includes computer files, image media, audio files, electronic documents and web content. The idea behind a CMS is to make these files available inter-office, as well as over the web.

A Content Management System would most often be used as an archive as well. Many companies use a CMS to store files in a non-proprietary form. Companies use a CMS to share files with ease, as most systems use server-based software, even further broadening file availability. As shown below, many Content Management Systems include a feature for Web Content, and "workflow processes."

 What are the benefits of using a CMS?

 Speed and ease of content updates

By putting content into a CMS, it becomes possible to make site-wide (global) changes because information is stored in one central location, yet able to be displayed on any number of web pages.

With a CMS, there is a tremendous advantage in the time it takes to react to breaking news or disseminate information via the web. Information can be written, edited and published in a matter of minutes without having to wait for an available web master or programming team.

 "Work flow" is the idea of moving an electronic document along for either approval, or for adding content. Some Content Management Systems will easily facilitate this process with email notification, and automated routing. This is ideally a collaborative creation of documents. A CMS facilitates the organization, control, and publication of a large body of documents and other content, such as images and multimedia resources.
A web content management system is a content management system with additional features to ease the tasks required to publish web content to web sites.