Headless is a cutting-edge web development technology. It is not a programming language or a tool in any way. It is more of a web development approach intended at ensuring better performance, more security, cheaper scaling costs, and a better developer experience.
Introduction
- Headless with static frontend is a client-side JavaScript, reusable APIs, and prebuilt Markup-based web development architecture.
- We no longer refer to operating systems, individual web servers, backend programming languages, or databases when we refer to “The Stack.”
- The headless CMS architecture is not about anyone’s technology. It is a revolutionary approach to developing websites and apps that offer improved speed, security, scalability, and developer experience.
- Mathias Biilman, the CEO and co-founder of Netlify, invented the term “JAMstack” to describe a key web development trend.
What is JAMstack and how does headless Architecture fit in it?
You may have heard phrases like MEAN stack and MERN stack before. These are just phrases that are used to classify or group distinct technologies in order to achieve a specific purpose. JAMstack is the term for
- JavaScript
- API
- Markup
Stacks are a collection of technologies that are used to build a web or mobile application. As a result, headless is a mix of JavaScript, APIs, and headless CMS like headless WordPress at the backend. Headless CMS applications do not require server-side code and may be dispersed rather than depending on one. Headless
apps, which are served directly from a CDN, improve speed, performance, and user experience.
Useful Terms
- Application Programming Interface (API) is a software middleman that allows two apps to communicate with one another.
- The CDN (content delivery network) is a network of dispersed servers that provide pages and other Web material to users based on the user’s geographic location, the origin of the webpage, and the content delivery server.
- A server is a computer that processes requests and sends data across the internet or a local network to another computer
- A database is a collection of data that has been arranged to make it easy to access, manage, and update.
Why headless CMS Architecture?
Traditional websites and content management systems (CMS) rely largely on servers, plugins, and databases. During deploy time, however, the JAMstack may load JavaScript that accepts data from an API, serves files from a CDN, and generates HTML using a static site generator.
Headless is fast
Nothing matches pre-built files provided through a CDN when it comes to reducing load time. Headless websites are extremely quick since the HTML is created during the deployment process and then provided through CDN without any backend latency.
Headless is highly secured
Everything is controlled through an API, therefore there are no database or security issues. Surface areas for assaults are decreased when server-side functions are abstracted into microservice APIs, and your site becomes extremely safe.
Headless is cheaper and easier to scale
Headless websites only have a few files that are small enough to be served anywhere. Scaling entails providing the files elsewhere or through CDNs.
Headless Best Practices
- Instead of using servers to distribute your data, use a CDN.
- It should be simple and straightforward to install and contribute to your project. To ensure a uniform and speedier setup, use technologies like npm and Git.
- Make your app cross-browser compatible by using build tools.
- Ascertain that your project complies with web standards and is easily accessible.
- To alleviate stress, make sure your building process is automated.
- Make your deployment process automated by using platforms such as Netlify.
How do I Get Started?
You can use some already built technologies to build JAMstack applications
Gatsby: Gatsby is a React-based free and open-source framework that allows developers to create lightning-fast websites and apps.
Nuxt.JS: Vue.js Framework for Universal Apps, Static Generated Apps, Single Page Apps, Progressive Web Apps, and Desktop Apps Nuxt.JS is a Vue.js Framework for Universal Apps, Static Generated Apps, Single Page Apps, Progressive Web Apps,
Hugo: Hugo is the world’s quickest website-building framework. One of the most widely used open-source static site generators. Hugo makes making websites fun again, because of their incredible speed and versatility.
Netlify CMS (Content Management System): Netlify CMS is an open-source content management system for your Git workflow that can be used with any static site generator to make your web project go quicker and more flexible.
Headless WordPress: headless WordPress is open source and a smarter, more seamless content management system that gives editors and developers unified material, allowing for better collaboration and faster delivery of digital goods.
Conclusion
The headless architecture structured as jamstack technology was created as a method to give a name to a new approach to developing websites and apps that provide better speed, security, scalability, and a better developer experience. JAMstack is a new web development architecture centered on client-side JavaScript, reusable APIs, and prebuilt Markup, rather than specialized technologies.