Software that is used to create and manage the content for a Web site. It provides for the storage, maintenance and retrieval of HTML and XML documents and all related image, audio and video files.

Typically dependent on a particular database, which may be part of the package or available separately as in the case of open source versions, a content management system (CMS) may provide all the programs necessary for Web site development. It may include or accept plug-ins that provide banner advertising, shopping carts, blogs, wikis, newsletters, opinion polls, chat rooms and forums. Such systems may be able to publish not only to a Web site, but to a CD/DVD or print as well. See OSCOM, Joomla! and document management system.