Week 5 Content Management Systems

What is a Content Management System (CMS)? Is it just for websites?

A Content Management System (CMS) is software that enables users to create, edit, organize, store, and publish digital content, usually through a user interface, without needing to manually code everything. This includes things like writing or updating text, uploading and organizing media (images, videos), setting layout via templates or themes, managing user roles/permissions, versioning, search, etc.
Erie Institute of Technology
+3
Kinsta®
+3
Wikipedia
+3

While CMSs are most commonly associated with websites — especially those with changing content (blogs, corporate sites, e-commerce) — they are not limited strictly to “web pages.”


Comparing and contrasting:

How CMSs Impact the Web Design Industry & Job Market: Are They Taking Away Developer Jobs?

This is more nuanced. There is concern sometimes that CMSs reduce barriers to entry (non-developers can build simple sites), which could reduce demand for some types of website building work. But in practice:

Many websites still require custom design, custom features, integrations, performance, security, etc., which require developers. A CMS may handle the basics, but to make a site stand out, or scale well, or meet non-standard needs, developers and designers are still needed.

The rise of CMSs has shifted the kinds of skills in demand. Instead of “just HTML/CSS by hand,” many developers work with CMSs (plugins/themes), or build for headless CMSs, do custom integrations, performance optimizations, infrastructure, etc. Designers might need to understand working with CMS templates/themes.

CMSs have also created new roles: theme/plugin development, CMS customization, migrations, maintenance, security auditing. So although some simple “static brochure‐site building” work might decline or be automated, there is still plenty of developer work, often more complex.

Data supports this: The job market for web development/digital design is growing faster than average.
Robert Half
+1

So to sum up: CMSs change what work is done, often reducing demand for very simple coding tasks or static sites, but increasing demand for higher skill in customization, performance, user experience, integrations, security, etc. They don’t eliminate developer jobs; they shift them.

How CMSs Impact the Web Design Industry & Job Market: Are They Taking Away Developer Jobs?

This is more nuanced. There is concern sometimes that CMSs reduce barriers to entry (non-developers can build simple sites), which could reduce demand for some types of website building work. But in practice:

Many websites still require custom design, custom features, integrations, performance, security, etc., which require developers. A CMS may handle the basics, but to make a site stand out, or scale well, or meet non-standard needs, developers and designers are still needed.

The rise of CMSs has shifted the kinds of skills in demand. Instead of “just HTML/CSS by hand,” many developers work with CMSs (plugins/themes), or build for headless CMSs, do custom integrations, performance optimizations, infrastructure, etc. Designers might need to understand working with CMS templates/themes.

CMSs have also created new roles: theme/plugin development, CMS customization, migrations, maintenance, security auditing. So although some simple “static brochure‐site building” work might decline or be automated, there is still plenty of developer work, often more complex.

Data supports this: The job market for web development/digital design is growing faster than average.
Robert Half
+1

So to sum up: CMSs change what work is done, often reducing demand for very simple coding tasks or static sites, but increasing demand for higher skill in customization, performance, user experience, integrations, security, etc. They don’t eliminate developer jobs; they shift them.

Recent Evolution of the Web

1. Today, do more people access the web using computers or mobile devices?

Globally, mobile devices (primarily smartphones) account for over 55–60% of all web traffic, while desktop and laptop computers make up about 35–40%, with the remainder coming from tablets and other devices.

mobiloud.com (2025 estimates): Mobile devices now account for 62.45% of global internet traffic, while desktops make up 35.71%, with tablets contributing the small remainder.
MobiLoud

SOAX (July 2025 data): Reports that 64.35% of global web traffic comes from mobile devices, reinforcing the trend.
soax.com

Wikipedia (February 2025 update): Cites that mobile devices amount to 62% of Internet traffic, desktops at 36%, and tablets at 2%.
Wikipedia

StatCounter Global Stats (Aug 2025 snapshot): Shows mobile with roughly 60.0–60.1% and desktop at 39.9–40.0% of global usage.
StatCounter Global Stats

Visual Capitalist (July 2025): Reports mobile at 60.5%, desktop at 39.5%.
Visual Capitalist

2 . Who controls the World Wide Web? What is it made up of?

The Web was intentionally designed to be open and not under the control of any single entity. Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the Web, emphasized that it “belongs to no one” and was created as an open, free space for information sharing.
WIRED

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers): Although focused on broader internet governance (Domain Name System), ICANN plays a crucial role in managing domain names and addresses, which are foundational to how websites are located and accessed on the Web.
WIRED
CommonPlaces

According to UNESCO and computing references:

URLs (Uniform Resource Locators): The web’s unique addresses that locate content.

HTTP/HTTPS: Communication protocols through which browsers request and receive web pages. HTTPS adds a security layer for sensitive data.
Google Arts & Culture
Kiddle

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): The structure and formatting language used to compose web pages.
Google Arts & Culture
Kiddle

3. Who is Tim Berners Lee? What is he best known for?

Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, born 8 June 1955 in London, is a distinguished British computer scientist widely recognized as the inventor of the World Wide Web.
Encyclopedia Britannica

He is best known for inventing the World Wide Web.

4. What is a blog? What is it used for?

A blog is a type of website (or a section within a website) where content is published in a series of posts, usually displayed in reverse chronological order (newest first). The word “blog” comes from “weblog”, meaning an online log or journal.

It’s used for Personal Expression & Journaling, Education & Knowledge Sharing, Business & Marketing, Community Building, as well as News & Updates.

5. What is a “responsive” website design?

Responsive Web Design (RWD) is an approach to crafting websites that automatically adjust and render well across a variety of device screen sizes and resolutions. The goal is to deliver a seamless user experience—legible text, appropriate navigation, and properly sized media—without requiring users to manually zoom or pan.
Webopedia
MDN Web Docs
Adobe for Business

6. Why are “responsive” website designs necessary?

Responsive sites automatically adjust layout, navigation, and media to different screen sizes, making content easy to read and navigate—no pinching, zooming, or frustration needed.
Uptimia.com
THIS

Responsive design often leads to better performance and quicker page loads, which helps retain visitors and reduces bounce rates.
Uptimia.com
GeeksforGeeks

7. What is SEO, and why should website owners/managers be concerned with SEO?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the strategic process of enhancing a website’s visibility in organic (non-paid) search engine results—primarily on platforms like Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. It involves optimizing content, technical structure, and off-site factors so that a site ranks higher when users perform intent-driven searches.
Forbes
Wikipedia

A prime goal of SEO is to improve your position in search results. The higher your rank, the more likely users will click on your site—especially since the first page often commands the majority of clicks.
SEO.com
Balance SEO
Center for Innovation
Changing search behavior means visibility translates directly to more visitors.
Balance SEO
Center for Innovation

8. What is dynamic content?

Dynamic content refers to website or application elements that change or update automatically based on variables like user behavior, preferences, real-time data, or context.

9. What is a content management system? You work with one, what is it’s name?

A Content Management System (CMS) is software that enables people—often with little to no technical background—to create, edit, organize, and publish digital content, typically on websites, without needing to write code from scratch.

10. What is a youtube channel? Who might want to start one?

A YouTube channel is the home page for a personal account. It’s where you can upload videos, leave comments, and create playlists. Channels can be customized with a unique name, description, and branding elements like banners and profile pictures. For businesses or brands, YouTube offers Brand Accounts, which allow multiple users to manage the channel collaboratively.
Lifewire

Those who might want to start one include; Businesses and Brands, Educators and Trainers, Nonprofits and Activists, and even Aspiring Content Creators such as myself.