Joomla is a free and open-source content management system or CMS used for developing and administering websites and their content. It is important to note that CMS is a community-driven project that allows unlicensed and unrestricted use and takes advantage of the collective benefits from its open-source community or its pool of community volunteers. This is similar to other popular content management systems such as WordPress and Drupal.
WordPress remains the most popular CMS because it powers more than 60 million websites in the world. Joomla still has a respectable market share. It is the second-largest open-source CMS in the world. Some notable websites based on this CMS include the official websites of eBay and IKEA, as well as non-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as Harvard University, Linux, and the United Nations Regional Information Center for Western Europe
Pros: Strengths, Benefits, and Advantages of Joomla
1. Requires Minimal Expertise in Coding
One of the remarkable advantages of Joomla and other CMS is that they serve as a platform for developing websites without advanced skills and knowledge in website development. Joomla is easier to use than Drupal. Most of its free and paid templates have a graphical user interface that allows users to change colors, layouts, fonts, and features without touching a line of code. There is also a built-in override system to modify these templates and make it easy to create customized designs. This is useful for developing static websites and blog sites.
2. For Simple and High-Performing Websites
It is also built for developing different types of websites. WordPress also works the same but it still looks and functions like a blogging platform. Joomla is both a CMS and a lightweight PHP framework that allows web developers to write web and command line applications in PHP. It is also more suitable for developing multi-user and interactive websites such as social networking websites, forums, e-commerce sites, and intranet platforms because it has a more advanced user management system out of the box than WordPress and a customizable system that enables the implementation of small customizations with minimal dependence on extensions.
3. Function-Based Categorization of Extensions
WordPress has more plugins and themes. Joomla still has a decent amount of extensions that number to more than 6000. These extensions include plugins, templates, modules, components, and languages. The advantage of Joomla when compared to WordPress is that it categorizes the extensions according to functions. Each category represents a dedicated function. This leads to lesser bloat, slowdowns, and compatibility issues that are common in WordPress websites and populated with too much plugins running in the background.
4. Out of the Box Search Engine Optimization
Another interesting feature of Joomla and one of its strengths is its built-in and ready-to-use tools for search engine optimization. This is similar to Drupal to a certain degree. WordPress requires using plugins dedicated for search engine optimization. The specific SEO tools in Joomla include metadata creation and modification, keyword planning and monitoring, support for SEO-friendly URLs, sitemap generations, robot exclusions, and breadcrumbs and menu creation. Installing an extension can extend further the SEO features of this CMS. Some extensions can provide native analytics, URL redirection, link management, and browser standardization.
5. Other Beneficial Features and Characteristics
Joomla supports the development of multi-language websites with support for over 70 languages through language extensions. It also has built-in website performance-enhancing features such as caching, web compression using the GZIP file format, image optimization, and restrictions for plugins and protocols. Other advantages of Joomla include strong support from the community of developers, volunteers, and third-party extension developers in the form of technical support, documentation, tutorials, codex, and frequently asked questions.
Cons: Problems, Limitations, and Disadvantages of Joomla
1. Higher Degree of Complexity Than WordPress
A notable disadvantage of Joomla is that is more complex than WordPress. It specifically has a more complex user interface. There are also more functions that make it more complicated than WordPress or other platforms such as Squarespace and Shopify. This complexity translates to a steeper learning curve. The user experience is not as straightforward. Taking advantage of this CMS for developing high-performance and interactive websites also requires achieving a level of skills and knowledge in coding and overall website development.
2. Issues in Browsing and Selecting Extensions
It is easier to find plugins and themes in WordPress. The extension library of Joomla lacks order and sophistication. This is more evident when considering the number of reviews and ratings and functions or feature descriptions in the extension selection process. Some users might find it hard to browse through the library and select among the available extensions. A web developer might also resort to creating his or her own extension for a specific use case or to implement a certain website function. Hence, when pitted against WordPress, another problem with Joomla is its less inviting ecosystem of extensions and a limited number of extension library.
3. Possible Compatibility Issues Due to Updates
Remember that one of the advantages of Joomla over WordPress and even Drupal is that it has several built-in features and functions that lessen dependence on plugins and coding. However, for those who are still dependent on extensions, it is more predisposed to compatibility issues after each update. This CMS updates more frequently than WordPress. This increases the risk of outdated extensions to stop functioning. Reverting to the previous version is not an easy task. The extensions are also not tested for quality and compatibility.
4. Issues About Security and Vulnerability Risks
Websites developed and maintained using WordPress are more susceptible to hacking because this content management system dominates the market. Of course, because Joomla ranks second in terms of the number of websites it powers, it is also a probable target of hacking. The fact that this CMS uses extensions also makes it vulnerable to malware disguised as legitimate plugins or components. There are regular updates rollouts and measures in place to keep websites based on this CMS as secure and as functional as possible. Risks are still inevitable if web developers and web owners fail to observe security and risk management measures.
5. Somewhere Between WordPress and Drupal
The pros and cons or advantages and disadvantages of Joomla collectively make it a CMS that sits somewhere between WordPress and Drupal. It is relatively better than WordPress when it comes to developing interactive and complex websites. Drupal is still the better CMS as far as performance and capabilities are concerned. Furthermore, when compared to Drupal, Joomla is easier to learn and use but it is not as intuitive as WordPress. This means that it has pros and cons that are addressed by the pros and cons of WordPress and Drupal.
