How To Use Content Management Systems With React?

CMS, or content management systems, have become increasingly popular as a means for web developers and software engineers to build and deploy websites with limited time, labor, and technical know-how. In fact, a staggering 68+ million websites you'll find on the Internet today are built with a CMS.

That said, there are times when CMS, like WordPress, can be restrictive in terms of scalability and features. This is where combining it with existing frameworks, like React, becomes necessary. Below is a guide on how to use a CMS platform with the widely popular React framework.

Set Up Your Backend

There are different CMS platforms from which to choose, including WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Magento, and so on. The back-end side of your application, be it an iOS app or a static website, is what handles the administrative tasks. These include creating, removing, and editing content, installing or uninstalling plugins, managing design configurations, etcetera.

Your back-end technology is what will enable you to make requests and get server responses. Postman is a great application that lets you make dummy requests and get responses, similar to how your website or application will send out requests later on.

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Consider Using a Headless CMS

Headless CMS varies from traditional CMS in a number of ways. The most notable differentiator from traditional content management systems is that headless platforms, like Contentful, enable the separation or decoupling of the "head" from the "body" layers.

Content, such as text and media, is stored in a headless CMS that is delivered via APIs, which allow for seamless integration across various digital devices. Building a React CMS framework using a headless content platform, like Contentful, lets you assemble content and deliver user experiences in a more efficient manner.

Set Up Your Frontend

The React framework is widely used for many reasons, including its component-based architecture and the massive open-source community behind it. Its unique component-based architecture allows React developers to build large web applications that can update data without having to reload the entire page. This makes it possible to build and deploy projects quickly and in a scalable way. Several modules, like Create React App, provide a comfortable, beginner-friendly environment to learn React hands-on. You can set up a new single-page application in less than an hour. Reactjs.org features a step-by-step guide on how to set up your first React-based project using Create React App.

Make Your First Request

Now that you've set up your React project and the rudimentary scaffold files, you can make the necessary modifications to use your chosen CMS platform's API values. You can tailor the content format and the corresponding API responses based on your needs. The specific steps to change and replace hardcoded values to connect your React app and the CMS will vary based on what platform you choose to use.

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Take the time to explore your CMS' developer dashboard. It can be initially confusing to build an application using a content management system but the long-term payoffs make the learning curve worthwhile. If you have any suggestions, then you can submit a guest post technology.

Web Development