Briefly define what we mean by “content management system.” Is it just for websites?
A content management system or CMS is a tool to create and manage a website without the hassle of coding everything from scratch. Instead of having to write all your own code and then inputting the format you’d like, a CMS like WordPress, would act like an interface for you to easily input content and pick a format or template that works for you. It enables users to create, publish, edit, collaborate and store digital content. Most CMS platforms are typically only used for websites because of the ease they offer users.
Compare and contrast building a website using a CMS and coding a website by hand using HTML/CSS. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each? What is the current best practice when it comes to making a website?
With HTML/CSS coding you have complete freedom and control of how your website looks, what functions it has and everything else but with a CMS you only have the flexibility and freedom of what they provide. Some benefits of CMS are the ease and speed of their platform, you can quickly type content and post it immediately, whereas coding is a lot more time-consuming and difficult to work with especially for beginners. The best option is to decide what works for you and offers what you need because no one option will be best for everyone.
How do CMSs impact the web design industry? Are they taking away jobs from web developers?
CMS makes it easier for entrepreneurs to create a website for their products without all the extra time or money spent with a web design company. It has made things easier and more accessible for those who would never have the ability to hire a company to create a website or the skill to do it on their own. Web developers may look like they are becoming obsolete, but they have just found a new area to be creative and innovative. Although we the users may no longer be using web developers as before, the CMS we rely on does need web developers to stay relevant, and create more templates and functions, to maintain the sites and keep everything secure. Without the web developers behind the CMS, the CMS would no longer be useful and all websites would look the same and become stagnant.
Sources:
https://bemarketing.com/websites-pros-cons-building-html-vs-cms-platforms/