CMS vs Hand-Coding
When it comes to starting a website, it may seem overwhelming for many. You may wonder, “Where do I start?” “How do I go about creating a page?” “How do I make the website look consistent?” Thankfully, there is CMS, also known as a content management system, which is essentially a software that guides a user through creating a website with the use of templates and inbuilt features that users can choose from. When using a CMS, you don’t need a whole lot of web technology knowledge. CMS software includes Wordpress, Squarespace, Wix and more. These tools are great for someone who wants to create a website for blogging, websites or e-commerce platforms.
On the flip side, what if someone who is knowledgeable in web technology wants to create a website that’s more unique and personalized? In this case, they would use hand-coding. Hand-coding is the traditional way to build a website through writing code from scratch and code everything from front to back-end development. Front-end development is designing what users see on a webpage, such as the aesthetics, fonts, layout, features, images, etc. Back-end development involves what is not seen by users, such as the functionality of the website.
Both web development processes have their pros and cons. After reading this blog, you will hopefully be able to decide which method works best for your website needs!
THE PROS OF CMS
With the convenience a CMS provides, it is no wonder many people prefer using a CMS over hand-coding. Some of the functions of CMS include:
- Content Management: create digital content, edit it, and delete it in whole or in part.
- Content Storage: store the content in databases or other simpler means.
- Content Formatting: format the content and give it an appropriate style.
- Content Organizing: organize the content and its parts in a specific structure.
- Content Security: prevent unauthorized access to the content.
The drag and drop method CMS uses along with the pre-made templates makes website building much easier for those who don’t understand web technology.
THE PROS OF HAND-CODING
The biggest difference between CMS and hand-coding is the ability to customize. Hand-coding allows users to create more sophisticated or personalized features a CMS may not offer. The main reason why someone may prefer hand-coding is because they have complete control over the final product. If someone wants to create a website with unique features a CMS doesn’t offer, hand-coding is their only option.
However, it’s important to note that hand-coding can be used in some CMS, such as WordPress, to create features that aren’t offered within the templates.
Coding is done through the use of HTML, which is the standard markup language for web pages according to W3Schools. Through HTML, users can add text, colors, images and more. It is a form of coding that creates the foundation of websites. Sophisticated websites are created through thousands of pages of code.
CONCLUSION
Both CMS and hand-coding are useful tools when creating a website. The simplicity of a CMS is great for people who want to create simple, basic websites for their brand, company, work, business, etc. Meanwhile, hand-coding is great to know for creating more complex projects. Understanding basic code can help bring a CMS website to the next level. However, anyone can make a website with little knowledge of what goes into the backend of the site, thanks to the guidance of CMS.