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Headless commerce is an e-commerce architecture where the front-end (head) is decoupled from the back-end commerce functionality and can thus be updated or edited without interfering with the back-end, similar to a headless content management system (CMS). [1] The term was coined by Dirk Hoerig, co-founder of Commercetools, in 2013. [2]
Headless commerce was arguably born out of a 2013 Forrester Research report that bemoaned e-commerce vendors falling behind user experience trends and recommended “loosely” coupling the back- and front-ends of e-commerce stores. [2] [3]
Headless commerce architecture passes requests between a platform's presentation and application layers. [4] The presentation layer is connected with the e-commerce functionality via REST APIs, or application programming interfaces, which define interactions between multiple software intermediaries. [5] [6] This allows businesses to change customer-facing experiences without disrupting backend functionality and to update, edit or change products and distribute via API to multiple front-ends. [5] REST APIs are the backbone of this architecture. [7]
Headless commerce is distinct from coupled, traditional or “monolithic” e-commerce in that the latter relies on a front-end and back-end that function together and the former comprises solely a back-end which communicates with front-ends via APIs. [8]
Headless commerce platforms offer advantages over traditional e-commerce platforms in that changes to data and functionality only need to be made in a single back-end, with all front-ends then having immediate access to those changes. Likewise, each front-end can then be changed and deployed without impacting the back-end. [5] Another difference is that many traditional e-commerce platforms come with predefined front-end templates or customization, whereas headless commerce can power any front-end via APIs. [9]
Headless commerce platforms require more work and customization than traditional platforms and are often not suitable for smaller businesses. [10] Such platforms lack predesigned templates and do not provide all-in-one solutions. Headless commerce platforms also require developers to build or buy a separate front-end. [11]
Headless commerce may be preferred from a quality assurance perspective, as traditional e-commerce platforms face a higher risk of making changes that could disrupt operations, since the front end and back end are coupled. [4] Because headless commerce communicates with the front-end via APIs and there is no code intertwined with the backend database that stores content, frontend developers can adapt endpoint layout as needed with no disruptions to the customer experience. [1]
The front-ends and back-ends of a headless system are decoupled, making it possible to change the content layer without disrupting business. This creates flexibility to allow the front- and back-ends to work independently and create new user experiences without compromising old ones. [12] There is also no confining code that restricts delivery to internet of things devices, applications, web browsers or other end points. [1]
The decoupled architecture of headless commerce enables developers to make quick changes, such as implementing new functionalities and integrations without disrupting the back end. [12]
Headless commerce allows for the creation of customized designs and layouts for different endpoints, since front-end design can be changed without impacting the back-end. [13] [14]
Headless commerce allows a business to control all customer touchpoints at once. [15] This creates a consistent customer experience across different front-ends that enable customers to complete a purchase at any touch point. [10]
Drupal is a free and open-source web content management system (CMS) written in PHP and distributed under the GNU General Public License. Drupal provides an open-source back-end framework for at least 14% of the top 10,000 websites worldwide and 1.2% of the top 10 million websites—ranging from personal blogs to corporate, political, and government sites. Drupal can also be used for knowledge management and for business collaboration.
Headless may refer to:
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Bloomreach is a cloud-based e-commerce experience platform and B2B service specializing in marketing automation, product discovery, and content management systems. The company, founded in 2009 by Raj De Datta and Ashutosh Garg, is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
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An application programming interface (API) is a way for two or more computer programs or components to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how to build or use such a connection or interface is called an API specification. A computer system that meets this standard is said to implement or expose an API. The term API may refer either to the specification or to the implementation. Whereas a system's user interface dictates how its end-users interact with the system in question, its API dictates how to write code that takes advantage of that system's capabilities.
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Twilio Inc. is an American cloud communications company based in San Francisco, California, which provides programmable communication tools for making and receiving phone calls, sending and receiving text messages, and performing other communication functions using its web service APIs.
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Mobify, a Salesforce company, provides Front-end Services, such as creating customized apps and e-commerce sites. The technology company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and has a global network of customers and partners.
Tricentis is a software testing company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. It provides software testing automation and software quality assurance products for enterprise software.
A headless content management system, or headless CMS, is a back end-only web content management system that acts primarily as a content repository. A headless CMS makes content accessible via an API for display on any device, without a built-in front end or presentation layer.
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Broadleaf Commerce is a software technology company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, providing a Java eCommerce platform based on Spring Framework.
Enonic XP is a free and open-source web application platform and content management system (CMS) in one based on Java and Elasticsearch. Developed by the Norwegian software company Enonic, the microservice web platform can be used to build progressive web applications, Next.js websites, or web-based APIs. Enonic XP uses an application framework for coding server logic with JavaScript, and has no need for SQL as it ships with an integrated content repository. The CMS is fully decoupled, meaning developers can create traditional websites and landing pages, or use XP in headless mode, that is without the presentation layer, for loading editorial content onto any device or client. Enonic is used by major organizations in Norway, including the national postal service Norway Post, the insurance company Gjensidige, the national lottery Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, and all the top football clubs in the national football league for men, Eliteserien.
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