What Is Strapi CMS and Why Should You Use It?

In the world of content management systems (CMS), Strapi has emerged as a powerful and flexible platform that offers a range of benefits for developers and content creators. With its headless architecture, customizable features, and ease of use, Strapi has quickly gained popularity among professionals seeking a modern CMS solution. In this article, we will delve into the advantages of Strapi CMS and compare it to other popular CMS platforms, highlighting why it stands out as a game-changer in the CMS landscape.

Before we get started let's quickly understand what headless CMS is with some examples.

What is Headless CMS with some examples?

A headless CMS (Content Management System) is a CMS that focuses solely on providing content management functionality without dictating how the content is presented or delivered to end-users. Unlike traditional CMS platforms, which tightly couple the backend and frontend, a headless CMS decouples these components, allowing for greater flexibility and scalability.

Examples of headless CMS:

1. Strapi: Strapi is an open-source headless CMS that offers a flexible content management system with a robust API. It provides an intuitive admin panel for managing content and allows developers to build their frontend using any technology stack.
   
2. Contentful: Contentful is a cloud-based headless CMS that offers a developer-friendly interface for content management. It provides powerful APIs and SDKs to deliver content to various platforms, making it suitable for multi-channel projects.
   
3. Prismic: Prismic is a headless CMS designed for building fast and interactive websites and apps. It offers a visual editing interface and flexible content modeling capabilities. Prismic also provides an easy-to-use API for retrieving content.
4. Sanity: Sanity is a customizable headless CMS that enables developers to structure content using a flexible schema. It offers real-time collaboration and content versioning. Developers can build dynamic websites and apps using Sanity's APIs and SDKs.
   
5. WordPress with REST API: While WordPress is a popular traditional CMS, it also offers headless capabilities through its REST API. Developers can leverage the WordPress backend for content management and use the API to fetch and display content on their chosen frontend technologies.
   

See More: How to create a Font Awesome Icons plugin for Strapi CMS

What is Strapi CMS?

Strapi CMS is an open-source headless content management system that provides developers with a flexible and customizable solution for building API-driven applications. It allows developers to create and manage content using a visual admin panel and offers a robust set of features and tools.

Strapi follows a modular architecture and is built on top of Node.js. It allows developers to define their content structures using a content type builder, which includes various field types such as text, number, boolean, media, and more. This allows for the creation of highly customized content models tailored to specific project requirements.

Why Use Strapi?

The basic advantage of using headless CMS Strapi is that it gives flexibility to easily attach to any of the future technologies. Designers and the creative UX professionals are also able to work to the fullest with Strapi along with the developers as they don't have to rewrite the entire codebase when the technology changes.

Here are some reasons why you might consider using Strapi:

1. Headless CMS

Strapi follows the headless CMS approach, which means it separates the content management backend from the presentation layer. This allows developers to have more control over the frontend technologies they use, such as React, Vue.js, or Angular, while still benefiting from a robust content management system.

2. Easy Content Management

With Strapi, content management becomes intuitive and user-friendly. The built-in administration panel provides a visual interface where non-technical users can create, edit, and organize content without the need for developer assistance. It offers features like content publishing workflows, versioning, and role-based access control.

3. API-First Approach

Strapi is designed with an API-first approach, which means it prioritizes the creation of a robust and scalable API. This makes it easier to deliver content to multiple platforms and devices, including web, mobile, and IoT applications. The API is RESTful by default, but it also supports GraphQL out of the box.

4. Active Community and Ecosystem

Strapi has a thriving and active community of developers, which means you can find support, tutorials, and resources to help you get started and overcome challenges. The ecosystem also includes a marketplace with a wide range of community-built plugins and themes that can enhance your Strapi project.

5. Cost and Licensing

Strapi is an open-source CMS released under the MIT license, which means it is free to use and modify. This can be advantageous for projects with budget constraints or where you want to avoid vendor lock-in.

Features of CMS Strapi

1. Content Authoring

Users can create, update, and manage content within the CMS platform using the robust Content Authoring feature in CMS Strapi. With its user-friendly controls and straightforward UI, it enables content producers to quickly create high-quality material without coding or other specialized knowledge.

Content authoring is one of the core functionalities of Strapi CMS. It enables users to add, update, and manage content inside the platform. It gives content producers and editors a user-friendly interface to deal with a variety of content types, such as articles, blog posts, goods, or any specifically defined content structures.

2. Rich Text Editor

Users can format their material with the Rich Text Editor by using tools like bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough. The editor also provides options for left, right, centre, and justified text alignment.

Strapi provides content producers with a robust rich text editor that allows them to format their text and insert headings, lists, links, and media embeds. The editor offers a comfortable experience analogous to word processing, making it simple to produce visually beautiful and well-structured text.

3. Plugins/Widgets/Apps

Plugins are pre-packaged modules that may be quickly added to the CMS to expand its functionality or add particular features. These plugins can be as straightforward as a picture gallery or rich text editor, or as intricate as social media sharing or e-commerce functions.

Widgets are tinier elements that can be added to the CMS dashboard to display significant information or give rapid access to frequently used functionalities.

On the other hand, apps are independent programs that can be connected to Strapi in order to extend its functionality or access external services. Users can use Strapi APIs to link with third-party tools and services or create their own apps that interact with CMS data.

There are many wonderful plugins available for the headless CMS Strapi that may be integrated with an application. It sets itself apart from other CMS platforms with its diverse range of plugins, which include Google Analytics integrations.

See More: How to create a Font Awesome Icons plugin for Strapi CMS

4. Customization of Design

Users of CMS Strapi have total control over the look and feel of their website or application thanks to the Customization on Design function. It offers a variety of customization possibilities so that the design elements can be adjusted to meet specific branding standards or aesthetic preferences.

Strapi provides a wide range of free website templates that are attractive to visitors and easily customizable for mobile as well. You can quickly alter a webpage's visual appearance to suit the requirements of your site.

5. API/Integrations

Through the use of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), the API integration function in Strapi CMS provides smooth integration with external systems, services, and applications. It enables users to link information and data powered by Strapi with other platforms, facilitating data synchronization, automation, and system engagement.

6. User, Role, and Access Management

The Strapi CMS's User, Role, and Access Management feature offers a wide range of functionalities for managing users, defining roles, and setting access rights. You can safely regulate who may access particular content, carry out specific actions, and manage different CMS features.

You can maintain security and control over your content management system while ensuring that the proper users have the right level of access by utilising the User, Role, and Access Management function in Strapi CMS.

7. Multi-Language

You can specify and set up various languages for your content using the Strapi CMS. To save translated versions of your material, add distinct fields for each language within your content categories. Strapi CMS allows you to design translation approval procedures and workflows and enables workflows for content localization. This can involve a number of parties, including editors or translators, to ensure quality control and effective translation management.

One can set up numerous languages in your application using headless CMS Strapi. It is easier to declare the languages you want to support and give each one a special code, for example. For each supported language, material may be created and managed. You can now offer translations of your material in several languages, according to this. For each category of content, you can create localised fields and fill them with language-specific data.

8. Image Management

You may combine cloud storage providers like AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, or Microsoft Azure Blob Storage with Strapi CMS or upload photos directly to your server. Your photographs will be accessible and securely saved as a result.

It enables you to change photographs in a variety of ways. Images can be scaled, cropped, or resized to fit various sizes and aspect ratios. This is helpful for creating responsive pictures, thumbnails, or custom sizes for various use cases.

Strapi offers a media library where you may organise all the photographs you've submitted. It provides tools for resizing, cropping, optimising, and organising photos and gives a straightforward approach to manage image assets for your content.

9. Flexible Navigation Structures

You can develop content types that represent navigational components like menus, categories, or pages thanks to this flexibility. Within your content types, you can create a navigation structure by specifying the proper fields and relationships.

For example, A "Menu" content type might be created that will have fields for "Label," "URL," and "Order." Instances of this content type can then be created to represent various menu items. Additionally, you may create connections between various content kinds so that you can link menu items to particular pages or categories.

The navigation structure of the website is primarily handled at the front end by using libraries, front-end frameworks, and custom codes.

Advantages of Using Strapi CMS

Using Strapi CMS offers several specific advantages:

1. Easy Setup and Quick Development

Strapi has a simple installation process, and its user-friendly interface makes it easy to get started. You can set up a basic project within minutes and start developing your content structure and APIs right away. This allows for faster development and reduces the time required to bring your project to production.

2. Custom Content Types

Strapi allows you to create custom content types tailored to your specific project requirements. You can define the fields, relationships, validations, and permissions for each content type. This flexibility enables you to model your content in a way that best represents your data structure, ensuring that your CMS fits your unique needs.

3. User-Friendly Content Editing

Strapi's administration panel provides a user-friendly interface for content editors. It offers a familiar editing experience similar to traditional CMS platforms, allowing non-technical users to create, edit, and publish content easily. Content editors can work with structured content and use rich text editors or custom input components to enter and format their content.

See More: How to integrate CKEditor in Strapi?

4. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Strapi includes a robust RBAC system, enabling you to define fine-grained permissions and roles for your content editors, developers, and administrators. This ensures that each user has appropriate access levels and can perform the necessary tasks without compromising security or data integrity.

5. Content Localization

Strapi has built-in support for multilingual content management. You can create localized versions of your content, allowing you to easily manage and serve content in multiple languages. This feature is particularly useful for global projects or websites targeting audiences in different regions.

6. Extensibility with Plugins

Strapi's plugin system allows you to extend its core functionality with custom features or integrate with third-party services. The plugin ecosystem offers a wide range of community-built plugins, including integrations with popular services like cloud storage providers, search engines, analytics platforms, and more. This extensibility enables you to enhance your CMS capabilities and integrate with existing tools seamlessly.

7. Scalability and Performance

Strapi is built on top of Node.js, a highly scalable and performant runtime. It leverages the asynchronous nature of JavaScript, making it suitable for handling concurrent requests and high traffic volumes. Strapi also provides caching mechanisms, allowing you to optimize performance by caching API responses and minimizing database queries.

8. Security

Strapi takes security seriously and provides features to ensure the safety of your data. It supports role-based access control, which helps protect sensitive content and functionalities. Additionally, Strapi regularly releases security updates and follows industry best practices to mitigate vulnerabilities.

9. Open-Source and Community Support

Being an open-source project, Strapi benefits from a vibrant community of developers who actively contribute to its development and provide support. The community provides documentation, tutorials, and forums where you can find help, share knowledge, and collaborate with other users.

Disadvantages of Strapi

While Strapi offers numerous benefits, it's worth considering the following aspects when deciding to implement it:

1. Technical Expertise

Implementing Strapi may require a certain level of technical expertise, especially if you don't have prior experience with headless CMS or the Node.js ecosystem. It also requires more development effort compared to traditional monolithic CMS platforms. Building custom content types, configuring relationships, and defining permissions require additional development work upfront.

2. Customization Complexity

While Strapi allows for customization, more advanced customizations may require a deeper understanding of its architecture and the underlying technologies. Customizing certain aspects of Strapi, such as extending the administration panel or modifying the default behavior, may involve more complex development tasks.

​3. Database Constraints

Strapi relies on a relational database (by default, it uses SQLite during development), which may not be suitable for all projects. If you require specialized database functionality or have specific database preferences, you may need to invest additional effort in configuring and integrating your preferred database.

By engaging a reputed software development company like Third Rock Techkno, you can leverage their expertise, experience, and resources to ensure a successful implementation of Strapi, mitigate risks, and overcome potential challenges more efficiently. Their involvement can result in a more streamlined and effective deployment, allowing you to maximize the benefits of Strapi for your project.

How to use Strapi CMS?

To use Strapi CMS, you need to follow these general steps:

1. Install Strapi: Start by installing Strapi on your local machine or server. Strapi provides a command-line interface (CLI) tool that simplifies the installation process. You can use the CLI to create a new Strapi project or install Strapi into an existing project.

2. Set up a Project: Once you have installed Strapi, create a new project using the CLI command `strapi new project-name`. This command sets up the project structure and installs the necessary dependencies.

3. Define Content Types: Content types represent the structure of your data. Use the Strapi administration panel to create and configure your content types. Define the fields, relationships, validations, and permissions for each content type based on your project requirements.

4. Create Content: After defining your content types, you can start creating and managing content using the administration panel. Add entries to your content types, enter data, and upload media files. Strapi provides various input components, including rich text editors and media upload fields, to assist with content creation.

5. Customize the API: Strapi generates RESTful or GraphQL APIs based on your content types automatically. You can further customize the API endpoints, add business logic, or apply filters and sorting options to control the data returned by the API. You can also extend the API functionality by creating custom controllers, services, or policies.

6. Develop the Frontend: Since Strapi follows a headless CMS approach, you need to develop a frontend application to consume the API and display the content. Strapi provides API documentation to help frontend developers understand the available endpoints and data structures. You can choose your preferred frontend framework, such as React, Vue.js, or Angular, and integrate it with the Strapi API.

7. Secure the Application: Strapi offers role-based access control (RBAC) to manage user permissions and restrict access to certain content types or API endpoints. Configure roles and permissions in the administration panel to ensure proper data security and access control.

8. Deploy and Manage: Once your Strapi project is ready for deployment, choose a hosting environment suitable for your application, such as a cloud platform or dedicated server. Follow the deployment instructions provided by Strapi to publish your application and make it accessible to users.

9. Maintain and Update: Regularly update your Strapi installation and dependencies to benefit from bug fixes, new features, and security patches. Keep an eye on the Strapi community and official documentation for updates and best practices.

Remember that these steps provide a general overview of using Strapi CMS. The specific implementation details and workflows may vary depending on your project requirements, frontend technology choice, and hosting environment.

Strapi vs Contentful vs Drupal

Here is a comparison between some of the best headless CMS Strapi vs Contentful vs Drupal. Have a look:

Use Cases of Strapi

Let's quickly go over the three most common use cases for Headless Strapi CMS development.

1. Mobile Applications

You may use Strapi as the backend for mobile applications thanks to its API-driven design. Strapi's APIs can be used to create content types that store app data and then access and change that data in real time. This makes it possible for your mobile app and Strapi CMS to integrate without any issues

2. Headless E-commerce

Strapi is a great option for creating e-commerce websites due to its headless architecture. You may develop bespoke storefronts, integrate with e-commerce platforms, and establish content types for goods, categories, and attributes. You can effectively manage and serve product information using Strapi's APIs.

3. Multi-Site Corporate management

This feature lets you control several websites or programs from a single CMS instance. To manage content across numerous websites or apps, you can build various content kinds and specify relationships between them. Organizations with numerous web properties can manage their content more efficiently with this centralized strategy.

How can Third Rock Techkno help to get started with Strapi CMS?

At Third Rock Techno, we specialize in developing various mobile and web apps, including headless Strapi CMS. We offer professional assistance to comprehend your unique needs and company objectives. With our expert team, you can get the most of Strapi CMS' features and capabilities as well as we will assist you in deciding if it is the ideal option for your project.

Our team can take care of your application's frontend development while using cutting-edge frontend frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js. To obtain and display content, they can make use of the Strapi API, ensuring a consistent user experience throughout your application.