Overview - what is OpenCms

OpenCms is operated through a web browser. The editor works in OpenCms directly on the displayed website. Any necessary dialogs are displayed dynamically.

The contents of a page can be created simply by drag & drop. Texts can then be edited directly on the website using inline editing. A seamless switch to a form-based editor for the same content is possible at any time.

The structure of an OpenCms website is managed using the sitemap editor, which allows new pages to be created or existing pages to be rearranged in the navigation.

Images or documents are stored in galleries and can be reused as required. OpenCms also offers a special backend (Workplace) for administrative tasks such as user or module management.

OpenCms is multi-client capable. Hundreds of websites can be centrally managed in one installation.

A website can be divided into different sub-areas (subsites), which can for example, be edited by different user groups, or in which different formatting options are available.

Centralized settings can be used to control which settings apply to a (sub)site. Depending on requirements, users and user groups can either access all sites or only certain (sub)sites individually.

OpenCms runs as a servlet on the Java platform. It is based on a number of open source components, including many from the Apache Foundation.

Content is stored in OpenCms in a database-based repository, with support for MariaDB / MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MSSQL and DB2.

Access is provided via WebDAV, CMIS, an SMB network share and the proprietary web interface. In addition, content can be accessed "headless" through a REST API.

Content in OpenCms is defined by XML schemas. The system generates input masks for the editors from these schemas. Their input is then saved in XML files that are stored in the repository. Finally, a template mechanism based on JavaServer Pages (JSP) generates web pages based on the XML or delivers it via a "headless" API.