CMS Template vs a CMS Theme
In a content management system (CMS), a theme controls the overall design of your entire website, while a template controls the layout of one specific type of page. Many beginners confuse the two, but understanding the difference makes building and updating your site much easier.
Your theme sets the style. Your templates set the structure.
What a CMS Theme Controls
- Overall site design and appearance
- Colors, fonts, and spacing
- Header and footer layout
- Navigation style
- Global page structure
A theme gives your website its personality and visual identity.
What a CMS Template Controls
- How a single blog post is displayed
- How your homepage is arranged
- How your contact page is structured
- How category or archive pages look
- How product pages appear in ecommerce sites
Each template serves a specific purpose inside the larger theme.
How They Work Together
Your CMS theme provides the global design rules.
Your CMS templates apply those rules to individual page types.
This separation allows you to change your entire site's design without rewriting a single page.
When to Change a Theme vs a Template
- Change the theme -- When you want a whole new design
- Change the template -- When you want one page type to look different
Once you understand the difference, customizing your CMS becomes much easier.
More Building Blocks:
- Essential CMS Maintenance Checklist
- CMS Template vs a CMS Theme
- Simple CMS Workflow: How Content Moves From Draft to Publish
- What Is a CMS Theme? (And Why It Matters)
- What Is a CMS Module or Block?
- What Is a CMS Plugin or Extension?
- CMS Security Basics for Beginners
- CMS Performance Basics (How to Speed Up Your Site)
FAQs
