Usually, website content management (WCMS) is a system implemented as a web application, so that HTML content can be created more easily. It is a subcategory of content management system software, suing to manage and control large amounts of frequently changing web material. A WCMS contains added features specifically designed to make it easier to change and to publish content on any web sites that you want to use.

CMS is a facilitator for content creation, control, editing, as well other as various other essential maintenance functions. The software is usually provided with certain tools designed to aid users with little or no understanding of programming or markup languages. These languages are utilized to both create and manage web content with relative ease. CMS are used primarily for use interactively by large numbers of contributors.

Website content management systems are designed to have many functions. These include storing, verifying, and publishing documentation for specific uses and industries. Such a content management system will usually support multimedia materials and documents. It can identify the content management roles of key personnel, and make it easier to assign responsibilities to employees. It also makes it easier to manage and track multiple versions of documents.

Most systems utilize a database for content storage, metadata, and artifacts that may be necessary to the system. Often content will be stored as XML, as this eases reuse, and enables more flexible options for presentation. A presentation layer is used to display content to visitors to the site based on a template set. These templates are often XSLT files, and while administration is generally done through interfaces that are browser based, some systems do require a fat client.

The content of the system is actually very easy to edit. It becomes easier and more efficient to edit and manipulate the content once you separate it from the visual presentation of the site itself. It also includes scalable feature sets, the web standard upgrades, work flow and document management.

Website content management systems can allow for individual users to work within a virtual framework of the entire website, document set, and code base. Multiple interdependent resources can be changed and those changes can be viewed and/or executed in their own contexts before final submission.

This is clearly helpful in ecommerce since businesses will be able to vary their products marketing in whatever ways they choose to do so. It also comes in handy for education facilities because they will be able to change things on their website without consulting a professional.

Website content management systems (WCMS) allow people to publish on the web easily. Such systems include features to help users create content, control editing, and facilitate updates without requiring knowledge of web programming or HTML. Instead, WCMS often rely on databases or XML files to store content and information about approved users. Typically, systems are role-based, allowing differing levels and sections of access to different users. These systems also include previewing features and version control to minimize error. WCMS make management of large or frequently updated sites more efficient, which is especially useful in sites for ecommerce or education.