Is Webflow considered a headless CMS due to its provided API for querying CMS data?

Webflow can be used in a headless CMS setup, but it is not inherently a headless CMS by default.

1. Traditional vs. Headless CMS Roles

• Traditional CMS platforms like WordPress or Webflow's native designer include front-end and back-end tools in one system.
• A headless CMS separates the content management (backend) from the presentation layer (frontend), typically using an API to deliver content.

2. Webflow's CMS and API Capabilities

• Webflow provides a CMS API that allows you to read, create, update, and delete CMS items.
• You can use this API to fetch content and present it in any frontend (e.g., React, Next.js, Vue), similar to workflows with true headless CMSs like Contentful or Sanity.
• REST-based API access is available, but GraphQL is not currently supported.

3. Limitations Compared to Dedicated Headless CMS Platforms

• Webflow’s API has rate limits and lacks some features like complex content relationships and custom user roles found in full headless CMS options.
• Webflow’s CMS is designed primarily for managing content within the Webflow Designer, not for decoupling content from presentation at scale.

4. How to Use Webflow in a Headless Setup

• You can use Webflow as a content backend and consume CMS data via its API in external apps or static site generators (e.g., Gatsby, Next.js).
• Webflow’s read-only CMS API is ideal for this kind of content delivery, while write access may be more limited.

Summary

Webflow is not a headless CMS by default, but it offers a CMS API that allows for headless-like use cases. It can act as a headless backend for external frontends, although with some limitations compared to dedicated headless platforms.