Glossary · web
Headless CMS
Definition
Headless CMS is an architecture that separates content management (CMS) from presentation (frontend). The CMS only delivers content via API; the frontend can be Next.js, React Native, mobile app, smart TV, VR — any platform. Sanity, Contentful, Strapi, Storyblok lead.
Detailed explanation
Traditional CMS (WordPress, Wix) couples content + theme + rendering. Headless CMS provides content + API only; the frontend is separate (Next.js, Astro, Gatsby, React Native, etc.).
Pros: one content → many channels (web + mobile + IoT), modern frontend (RSC, edge), independent scaling, developer-friendly (API-first), performance (static + ISR).
2026 options: Sanity (real-time collaboration, GROQ queries, $0-200/month), Contentful (enterprise, $300-2K/month), Strapi (open source, self-host), Storyblok (visual editor), Hygraph (GraphQL native), Payload CMS (TypeScript native, open source).
Headless WP: using WordPress as headless (REST/GraphQL API + Next.js frontend) — legacy content + modern frontend hybrid.
Use cases
→Modern web (Next.js + headless CMS)
→Multi-channel (web + mobile + email + IoT)
→Programmatic SEO (1K+ pages)
→E-commerce (Shopify Storefront + Sanity)
→Enterprise multi-locale + multi-brand
Pros
- +Frontend freedom (any tech)
- +Multi-channel (one content → many places)
- +Performance (static + edge)
- +Developer-friendly (API-first)
Cons
- −Editor UI more complex than WordPress
- −Higher initial setup cost
- −Separate frontend maintenance
- −Preview / draft features need extra dev
Related terms
Related services
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