What is "headless'' approach in software?

Headless CMS – what is it?

To maintain an edge over competitors and remain successful, it’s imperative for companies to stay on top of all the latest technologies and trends that are relevant to their business. But with the fast pace at which technologies change and the difficulties that can sometimes accompany system updates and overhauls, it’s easy to see how companies can fall behind.

This need to evolve and adapt alongside the industry is just one of the reasons why more and more companies are turning to headless approach for all their e-commerce solutions.

But what's the meaning of headless architecture in software?

A headless CMS (Content Management System) separates the back-end functionality — the “body,” where most of the vital components are — from the front-end user experience and visual presentation — the “head,” or the “face” of the website. When you consider the details of how a headless system works, how they differ from other formats, and the benefits your company stands to gain by switching to one, there’s a lot to know. Let’s talk about the headless meaning in software development.

What does headless mean?

In simple words, what is a headless website is determined by the way it is built. Essentially, headless architecture is a way of putting together a final product by combining two completely separate layers:

The body, or back-end functionalities – just as the human body is comprised of many essential organs, the back-end functionalities of a website include important and distinct components such as:

• Inventory management
• Order processing
• Customer database management

The head, or front-end interface – This is what your website visitors see, interact with, and “speak” to as they navigate your website. The front-end interface is able to consume information from the back-end components, but they’re built separately.

This separation is accomplished by assigning the management of all website logic and functionalities to a network of application programming interfaces (APIs). Websites are made up of several APIs, which retrieve and integrate information — for example, if a company wants to embed their Twitter feed in their website’s homepage, they would use an API to do that.

Essentially, APIs enable the communication between two applications. In the case of a headless approach, the front-end of your website is reading and consuming a number of back-end APIs, where everything else happens. Headless CMS websites also store data independently from any specific front-end interface, allowing you to access and repurpose the information as needed.

Why is it called "headless”?

If you hear the term “headless” and immediately think of ghostly horsemen or guillotined queens, you aren’t too far off the mark — the name is a nod to the severing of head (front-end) from body (back-end).

Although headless is the oldest and most widely used name for these kinds of software systems, they are also sometimes referred to as “composable commerce” for the way they enable businesses to pick and choose the application systems that ultimately make up their website, or an “API-driven” website.

Headless systems vs. Monolithic systems

Systems with fully integrated front and back-end functionality are known alternately as monolithic, coupled, and regular systems — though headless CMS are increasingly considered the new (and improved) norm.

Monolithic websites use all-in-one systems that store, manage, and present your business’s content and information. They’ve been around for a long time and are familiar to many businesses. The integration of every aspect may even appeal to some as simpler, and therefore better.

Despite this notion, however, monolithic systems are not always the best solution for a business’s e-commerce issues.

This outdated approach often corners businesses into:

• Paying for superfluous features they didn’t want and will never use,
• Settling for the best of what’s available even if it’s not the absolute best for their business needs,
• Relying on developers indefinitely rather than gaining autonomy over the management of their website, because of the limited tools available to end clients.

Top 4 reasons why businesses are going with headless approach

The rising popularity of headless software systems for businesses can be attributed to several factors. What is a headless website’s greatest asset? Compared to other options, headless systems provide the most adaptable and versatile approach.

These systems offer businesses other advantages for increasing their productivity and boosting their profits, too. Here are some of the reasons why more and more businesses are losing their heads.

#1 Increased flexibility & adaptability

Compared to other systems, headless CMS offer nearly unparalleled flexibility and malleability. Whether you need to tweak a few aspects of how your system works or perform a more substantial overhaul, a headless system makes it infinitely easier because of the existing disconnect between features. APIs can be edited or swapped out without disrupting the rest of the body.

With the rising popularity of e-commerce options like online and in-app shopping, you can expect e-commerce software to grow impressively in its convenience and efficiency. As a business owner, you know that that change can come in the blink of an eye.

The flexibility of headless systems enables your business to adapt to changes in technology, no matter how fast they come, and remain competitive.

#2 Freedom to build the best version of your website

Headless software systems present virtually unlimited options for building a website that meets your specific goals, challenges, and needs. When you go headless, you unlock a range of options for customizing both ends of your website:

Front-end – Whereas monolithic systems will constrain you to very few options for front-end technology, headless systems let you choose and implement the UI and UX technology that’s best for you. This is because just about any front-end application can read and present the information from your APIs.

Back-end – Headless systems offer endless freedom on the back-end, letting you make use of what’s called “best-of-breed” software solutions. You can pick and choose best-of-breed APIs, meaning headless software allows for specialized back-end systems that create an ideal website. This gives you access to the most refined functionality tailored to your very specific niche, including your business’s:

• CMS
• Payment options
• E-commerce platform
• Search functionality

#3 Enhanced customer experience

Headless CMS are unmatched for the ease and speed with which you can integrate new customer touchpoints and end channels. For businesses, this allows you to:

• Stay current on the latest e-commerce trends that make online shopping enjoyable for the customer
• Run new programs on existing APIs, ensuring consistency and functionality

#4 Increased security, compliance, and more

Headless systems can also manage additional back-end functions related to protecting your customers and your business. Headless systems offer options for:

• Inventory management
• PCI compliance
• Security protections
• Fraud management

What’s more, these systems can easily connect and interact with other aspects of your business’s technical infrastructure, like point-of-sale systems and enterprise resource planning systems.

Is a headless system right for your business?

With so many benefits worth bragging about, it’s easy to understand why headless architecture is so appealing. They offer unlimited choices, increased functionality, and greater opportunities to please customers—however, there are also a few drawbacks to consider when ultimately making your choice:

• The development process usually takes longer – on one hand, headless e-commerce solutions are preferred because they allow for customizable flexibility; but on the other hand, it requires more time and expertise to develop these complex systems. Headless developers often have to write custom code to tie the various APIs together seamlessly.
• It’s harder to maintain the projects post-development – Because of the increased coding intricacies, headless content management systems and their plug-ins cannot be immediately updated with the simple click of a button. It typically requires technical maintenance performed by an experienced developer. On the bright side, though, many developers offer maintenance contracts for the products they build for you.

Headless CMS are often more expensive – Between a longer, more in-depth development process and ongoing maintenance requirements, it’s only logical that the total price tag will be higher, as well. However, with headless systems, you’re paying for a flexible product that can adapt to your needs over time, which ultimately saves you money in the long run.

If you’re wondering about switching your brand or business to a headless CMS, here are some things you should consider:

• Customer touchpoints – do you want the ability to introduce new customer interfaces to your system?
• Application options – will you want or need to make changes to the various components and functionalities available on your website?
• Easy updates – do you want to be able to quickly and conveniently update small segments of your website, rather than having to relaunch the entire system?
• Scaling – do you anticipate growth that will demand more of your website?

A monolithic approach may seem suitable for where you currently are in your growth trajectory, but a headless system allows you to keep moving forward, transitioning smoothly as your needs and the available technologies evolve.