What is Strapi and Why You Should Use it?

Have you ever found yourself constrained by the possibilities of traditional content management systems?

If so, then Strapi – it just might be what you’ve been looking for. With headless CMS steadily rising in popularity, many in the tech industry now begin to ask themselves if it is time to migrate.

If you have come across information about Strapi’s flexibility or comparing it with monolithic CMSs then this blog is just the one for you to know why Strapi stands out for you. Here, we will examine the introduction of what Strapi is and come up with a great argument for consideration of the concept.

But if you are just beginning your journey with Strapi or require some help, a Strapi development company will be able to help.

Let’s dive in!

What is Strapi?

Strapi is a free, open-source headless CMS built on Node.js. It helps developers save time while offering the flexibility to use their preferred tools and frameworks.

The term “Headless” means that Strapi does not control how content gets delivered to the end-user via the web browser. It was especially important for developers since it granted them more levers as to how the content could be served.

Strapi is commonly used for building websites, mobile apps, eCommerce platforms, and APIs. It simplifies API creation, even for those without knowledge of backend systems or databases. Strapi automatically creates APIs from your content model. This makes data management easier.

Here are some key features of Strapi:

• Connect your site’s front end to the back end via an API.
• It’s free, open-source, and developer-friendly.
• Easy to learn, and tasks can be completed quickly.
• Compatible with popular frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular.

What Exactly Does Headless Refer To?

The definition of a headless CMS defines a system in which content managers and content delivery are separated. In the traditional/monolithic CMS, backend CMS management and frontend display are very tightly coupled. It means that the content is somehow produced/presented by the CMS.

On the other side, Strapi is headful (i.e., it only addresses content management). In Strapi, it's open to creating, organizing, and curating content, but content doesn't plan one way or another how and where this content will ultimately be displayed.

However, Strapi offers an interface to access content and to use it with any front-end framework or platform (e.g., websites, mobile applications, or other digital communication channels). This versatility also gives developers more power for the user interface.

What is Strapi Used For?

Here are the real-world use cases of Strapi.

• Website Development: Strapi is used to create dynamic websites with the aid of connecting the front end with a backend API.
• Mobile Applications: It is the app for content management and APIs so that users can integrate the app with mobile platforms.
• eCommerce Platforms: Strapi also supports the creation of eCommerce pages where APIs for product management and transactions are adaptable.
• API Creation: The developers can easily create a REST and GraphQL API. This will ensure smooth data integration with popular front-end frameworks.
• Content Management: It includes tools for creating and editing content, as well as publishing and translating it efficiently.

How to Create the First API in Strapi?

To create your first API in Strapi, start by creating a folder named Strapi demo. Inside it, make two directories: front-end and back-end.

The front-end folder will hold your preferred frameworks, like React, Angular, Nuxt, Vue, or TezJS. The backend folder is where Strapi will be installed.

Open your code editor and use the following command to navigate to the backend folder:

cd backend

Next, add the Strapi backend to your project with either of these commands:

npx create-strapi-app --quickstart

or, using yarn:

yarn create strapi-app --quickstart

This will install Strapi in the backend folder. The --quickstart flag simplifies the setup, getting Strapi up and running quickly.

Using Strapi as a headless CMS makes it easier to start new projects from the ground up. Hire Strapi developers to shape sections and use APIs for the effective integration of all components.

Benefits of Using Strapi

There are many advantages associated with Strapi. It is a very suitable suit for developers, in particular, due to its adaptability and ease of use in the language. Here’s a breakdown of the key benefits:

1. Versatile and Easy to Use

The Strapi headless CMS is rather popular, and one of the reasons is likely the simplicity of the interface. Not only easy to use but also suitable for those who can develop and those who cannot in order to manage the contents.

Furthermore, it is plugin-based and easily extensible, and you can also add modifications depending on what you require. It can be designed for applications quickly and efficiently, but it will also allow necessary adjustments.

If you are not such an expert in WordPress, do not worry; it is the most suitable one for you. As with any good application framework and microservice, ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) is also available on Strapi. This enables you to create simple and complex content types, or rather templates, irrespective of coding abilities.

As with other backend developers, many of them have found Strapi easy to work with. The usage of it with external libraries including Koa and AngularJS 4 enhances the flexibility and functionality. This is why Strapi is an excellent solution for full headless CMS development applications. As it offers easy content management.

At the same time, the openness of the Strapi (development) platform also means that there are chances for developers to deploy flexible user programs or even custom features. This is appropriate in cases of small applications to large systems.

2. Fast and Scalable

Strapi has one primary goal in its architecture, and that is efficiency. It is equally capable of handling large traffic loads, thus it is considered appropriate for large applications. Linking with Koa and Joi means having a nice, fast data review process—it improves the application’s effectiveness.

In Strapi, an automatic brownfield allows developers to skip writing new code. This shift lets them focus more on features than on resource use. Thus, Strapi stands out as a top headless cms development for growing applications.

3. Built-In Authentication System

Strapi includes a powerful and customizable authentication system. It lets you create many users and companies, each with specific permissions. You can choose from ACL, Basic Authentication, JWT, or OAuth 2.0.

Strapi supports famous databases, together with MySQL and PostgreSQL, simplifying consumer credential control. Its integrated authentication makes Strapi perfect for projects needing secure access and scalable user management.

4. Open-Source and Free

Strapi is open-source headless CMS software, which means that the use of this platform is free for everyone. You can even decide to fund or donate to its development on the GitHub platform it uses. They are quite lost in where to find everything they need, while everything is right there on their dashboard without having to search for alternatives.

The other advantage is that you do not have to bother getting licenses and other upgrade matters. Strapi always works with the latest version of Node.js to avoid problems with compatibility.

Having millions of users worldwide and being one of the most used open-source headless CMS, Strapi has a great number of enthusiasts to deal with. This community keeps on enhancing and extending the platform as a result of constant effort.

5. Robust Framework

Strapi is designed to be highly architectural. Everything needed to develop an API in Strapi that works well with front-end applications is available here.

It has a modular design, allowing easy extension with plugins via npm. These modules are platform-independent and usable on any server or framework.

Strapi efficiently handles requests such as POST, GET, DELETE, PUT, and OPTIONS. This avoids potential performance issues. The user-friendly admin section simplifies content management, significantly reducing development time for Strapi developers.

6. Accessible Plugins

Strapi comes with a rich community in addition to a plethora of plugins. The best part is that these plugins can easily be integrated into new as well as existing applications.

Strapi headless CMS includes plugins such as Google Analytics and LDAP. It also features Swagger integrations, setting it apart from other CMS platforms. Developers are always creating new plugins to expand their capabilities.

If the options don't work for you, you can easily create a new plugin in minutes. This keeps Strapi mobile and ready for the future.

Limitations of Using Strapi

Like any tool, Strapi headless CMS comes with its own set of limitations. While it's widely used for headless CMS development, there are a few challenges to consider when using it:

1. Migrating Existing APIs Can Be Challenging

If you’re switching from another backend like WordPress to Strapi, for example, migrating old APIs can be somewhat challenging.

WP-CRM is not built into Strapi, so expect to manually integrate this into your current system. It might take some time and work. Frameworks like Kirby or Craft have content management systems out of the box and APIs as a bonus.

For those who know what a REST API is, it is easy to work with the API in Strapi. However, changing endpoints that are already functional to Strapi can be quite tricky.

For these reasons, most users opt for the adoption of the Strapi headless CMS in new application development instead of adopting their existing apps.

2. Strapi Isn’t Entirely Free and Open Source

While Strapi is an open-source headless CMS and is available for free, there are limitations. Strapi also offers a Pro version with additional features. These include custom plugin support and professional assistance, such as priority email access.

3. TypeScript Support Is Limited

One downside of Strapi is its limited native support for TypeScript. For those developers working on big or complicated projects, this might be a bit of a problem.

This becomes a limitation to TypeScript due to its increasing use in software development recently. But you can reactivate TypeScript support via plugins located in the npm repository. Another benefit is that Strapi has open-source code. You can then develop a plugin in any language you want.

4. Continuous Updates

Strapi continues to receive updates constantly. The stable version is generally updated one way or another most of the time but also weekly.

This may be an annoyance for developers who rely on a reliable platform for project work. Several open-source tools often have updates and create disruptions to workflows depending on a stable platform.

Despite its limits, Strapi is a flexible, popular tool. It has a strong network and continual evolution to mitigate those issues.

Conclusion

Strapi is a robust headless CMS platform for websites, apps, and eCommerce. It is flexible, easy to use, and API-oriented. This makes it a top choice for businesses wanting to manage content and keep it customizable.

It is multilingual, has a good fit, and has an active community. This has the effect of assisting developers and content providers in creating interactive web experiences.