In recent years, one of the hottest trends in the world of web design has been the “headless CMS,” and WordPress, the world’s most popular content management system, is no exception. But what exactly is “Headless WordPress” and should you be using it? Read on to learn more.
What is Headless WordPress?
Traditionally, WordPress works as a “coupled CMS,” meaning that the front-end (the page users see) and back-end (the admin panel) are tightly coupled. Changes made in the back-end are immediately visible on the front-end.
“Headless” is a technical term that means “without a front-end.” In the case of WordPress, this means that we are only using WordPress as a content management system (CMS) and not using its front-end. Instead, we can use any front-end technology like React, Vue, Angular, etc. to display content from WordPress using REST API or GraphQL API.
Should I use Headless WordPress?
It depends on your needs. Headless WordPress offers many advantages, but it also has some disadvantages that may be important for your project.
Advantages of Headless WordPress
1. Greater control over the appearance of the website
When using headless WordPress, you are not limited to using WordPress themes. You can design the website according to your expectations, using any front-end framework.
2. Better performance
By not having to use the WordPress front-end, your website can run faster. Serving a static HTML page is much faster than generating the page via PHP in traditional WordPress.
3. Better integration with other services
Thanks to the REST API or GraphQL API, you can easily integrate WordPress content with other services such as mobile applications.
Disadvantages of Headless WordPress
1. More difficult to configure
Headless WordPress requires more programming skills and setup time than traditional WordPress.
2. Some WordPress features are missing
Some WordPress features, such as the Gutenberg block editor, will not work in headless mode.
3. Difficulty in using SEO
SEO may be more difficult to manage headless because some WordPress SEO plugins will not work.
How to Set Up Headless WordPress?
There are several plugins that allow you to configure WordPress headless, such as WPGraphQL, WP REST API or WPGatsby.
In the case of WPGraphQL, you include this in your WordPress by adding the following code to your theme's functions.php file:
add_action( 'init', function() { if (class_exists('WPGraphQL')) { WPGraphQL::add_allowed_post_type( 'my_post_type' ); WPGraphQL::add_allowed_taxonomy( 'my_taxonomy' ); } });
Headless WordPress is a powerful tool that can bring many benefits to your project, but it's also worth knowing its limitations. Carefully weighing the pros and cons will allow you to make an informed decision as to whether this is the right solution for you.