Magento is a software solution for creating professional web stores. The open source system was launched in 2008, with eBay taking it over three years later in 2011. In 2015, the corporation sold the ownership rights to the British company, Permira. The production was carried out by the company of the same name, Magento Inc. (formerly known as Varien). As Magento’s core files are available free under the open software license (OSL), there are many free extensions and templates developed by the Magento community, which can be used to extend your web store’s range of functions. You can also find many fee-based extensions from developers who are specialized in Magento.
Recent versions of Magento are largely based on the Zend framework and therefore require version 5.5.22 of the scripting language, PHP. MySQL (version 5.6 and up) is required for the database and Linux (x86-64) as the operating system. For web servers, you should use Apache (2.2 or 2.4) or nginx (1.8 and up).
Magento is no ordinary web store content management system; it was specifically designed to be an e-commerce solution. This is reflected in the platform’s range of functions. In its fundamental properties, Magento is much like every other CMS, and it even has a typical modular structure with extendibility. However, users will quickly notice that the software isn’t just for managing any old website content, but it focuses on web stores specifically. The diverse range of features are geared towards marketing, product management, customer management, and online payment methods, while comparable systems must first be upgraded in order to be properly equipped for setting up these web stores. It’s for this reason that developers see Magento as an out-of-the-box CMS for web stores.
Magento software’s most important features:
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The features listed here illustrate why Magento software is so popular, although they also expose just how complex the open source program is. While experienced CMS users often express delight in Magento’s diversity, beginners might initially experience difficulties; this is a common problem, as free software often places functionality as a top priority, while usability, though not unimportant, comes in second place. Magento is therefore an out-of-the-box CMS – as long as users already have knowledge of comparable systems, and take time to get to know the program. Only by investing time in understanding the program can users gradually learn how to use the many functions and subsequently how to maintain the Magento online store from day to day. The complexity can also have an impact on the hardware requirements, which is why Magento is among the more expensive pieces of shopping cart software.
However, the popular program also offers a great number of advantages, especially with regard to user comfort; a central administrator panel makes it possible to manage several web stores at once and distribute individual user roles and rights. Magento’s features also enable users to put their customers first at all times; for example, the platform provides users with detailed reports about their turnover, product reviews, most viewed or sold products, use of promotion codes, and much more. Additionally, the open source software supports users in processing orders. The program gives users an easy way to check and edit incoming orders, create and print invoices, as well as set up automatic e-mail messages for orders.
Expandability is one of Magento’s greatest strengths. Since its release, thousands of extensions have emerged, which has been made possible by the free program code and the modular structure. But in order to really understand the program, it’s important to first learn the differences between Magento templates (most of which can be found under ‘Magento themes’) and Magento extensions. The latter constitutes the typical, functional platform specifications, which can be used to add further payment options or an age verification function, for example. Magento templates, on the other hand, influence the layout of the web store, allowing users to be more free and imaginative in their site’s structure and design. In the Magento Marketplace, you’ll find useful extensions and themes for the most recent version of Magento. There are also many extensions available for older versions of the CMS, which you can find on Magento Connect.
There are three versions of Magento available from the developers’ website:
With its versatility, Magento is a CMS that proves an excellent choice for budding entrepreneurs and established web store operators alike. With an extremely active community and its excellent range of offers for both small and large businesses, the open source project’s modular software architecture is fully explored. A great number of extensions have been developed to improve the already impressive range of functions. Magento was developed specifically for e-commerce and the Enterprise Cloud Edition is equipped for future developments. The software’s versatility does come at a cost, however; when creating a Magento online store, both the complexity and the cost of the software is towards the higher end of the spectrum. If you have the budget and you can afford to spend a while getting to know the program, you can be sure to find success with Magento software.
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