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content-management-systemcomparisonwiki

What are the differences between a wiki and a CMS

What are the differences between a wiki and a CMS? Is there any?

Solution

  • CMS:

    1. A CMS focuses on content which is then published through standardized templates -- think of an online newspaper as driven by a huge CMS system.
    2. It's about standardized publishing information.
    3. CMS'es usually have a limited group of editors.
    4. Useful for relatively static content, maintained by non-tech people.
    5. Much emphasis on style/presentation: very slick templates so it looks professional.

    Wiki:

    1. On the other hand, a wiki focuses on pages where each page represents a topic.
    2. It's much more about collaboratively improving each topic (adding hyperlinks to other topics and websites counts as improving the topic).
    3. Wikis are generally much more open to "the public" (or everybody in the company, vs. just the "internal communication" department).
    4. Wikis are meant to be living, dynamic things, maintained by everybody.
    5. Much emphasis on content: less slick templates but easier to find and update information.