What is TYPO3? Here's What You Need to Know

Learn about TYPO3, the open-source CMS known for its flexibility, scalability, and customizable features. Explore its benefits and capabilities today.

What is TYPO3? Here's What You Need to Know

The market is huge when we talk about Content Management Systems, and TYPO3 has emerged to be among the big fish in this sea of powerful platforms. Not only is it perfect for developers but also for website owners looking for a secure CMS. If you are new to the world of CMS, we have curated this guide that might help you learn everything about TYPO3.

TYPO3 has been set up as a pioneer not only for large-scale businesses but also for small organizations.  In this blog post, we will discuss its features, benefits, and why it has garnered such popularity in the digital realm.

Keep reading to unravel the adventures of TYPO3.

What is TYPO3?

TYPO3 is an open-source Content Management System (CMS) that is used by over 3 million websites worldwide. It offers a range of plugins, templates, and multiple resources that helps you to create a platform for your business even when you have no technical knowledge.

With TYPO3, you can create, edit, and manage content on your website with ease and precision. Its drag-and-drop feature, multiple languages support, and other such features give you an edge to manage everything smoothly in the backend and give the best customer experience.

Brands such as Mercedez Benz to Skrill have embraced TYPO3 as their CMS of choice. The technology behind this is constantly evolving and benefiting from the contributions of a thriving community of developers and enthusiasts.

History of TYPO3

You can start to know about any technology and learn more about it only after you have learned about its existence. Here are a few of the stories you can delve into and know more about how it all started.

Origins of TYPO3

TYPO3 was brought to life by a Danish programmer Kasper Skårhøj in 1997. He created this platform to manage his website and successfully created a masterpiece. It was then released as an open-source platform on the internet so that others could benefit too.

After constant meet-ups and development, the platform finally became open-source in 2001. Since then, you will only see tons of features and improvements have been made to the technology to give businesses the best experience.

Significant milestones in TYPO3's development

Every single day since TYPO3 was released has been nothing short of a milestone.
Starting from 1997, when the first foundation of TYPO3 was laid, to 2023, when the technology has impacted millions of organizations worldwide.

  • 1997- TYPO3 came into existence
  • 1998- Final concept of TYPO3 Emerged
  • 1999- Technical foundation of TYPO3 is finalized
  • 2000- TYPO3’s first public beta version is launched
  • 2001- TYPO3 became open-source
  • 2002- typo3.com and typo3.org relaunched
  • 2003- 2005- Launch of TYPO3 V3 with constant updates
  • 2006- Release of V4
  • 2008- TYPO3 Certified Integrator program launched
  • 2012- Release of TYPO3 CMS 6.0
  • 2014- Release of TYPO3 CMS 7.0
  • 2016- TYPO3 GmbH was founded
  • 2017- Release of TYPO3 CMS 8
  • 2020- Release of TYPO3 CMS V10
  • 2022-2023- Release of TYPO3 V12, the fastest among all

There have been significant changes over all these years, starting from its first draft. Currently, TYPO3 runs on v12, which is considered to be the fastest among all, with better UI, features, and much more.

Current status of TYPO3

Currently, TYPO3 is working on its v12 and has released multiple upgrades since Oct 2022. Here is a developmental roadmap to know more about what has been going on.

Version Primary Focus Estimated Release
12.0 New system requirements and breaking changes Released: 2022-10-04
12.1 Interoperability with third-party systems Released: 2022-12-06
12.2 Improved backend UI Released: 2023-02-07
12.3 Last-Minute Features Released: 2023-03-28
12.4 LTS Release Released: 2023-04-25

As of now, TYPO3 v12.4.1 and 11.5.27 maintenance releases have been published on 9th May 2023, with more yet to come.

Why Choose TYPO3?

There are multiple reasons why TYPO3 might be the right CMS for your organization. Here are some of them:

1. Smart Content Management System

TYPO3 is one of the most powerful CMS that helps you create and publish content in the most efficient manner. You can start with planning content, setting up SEO strategy, use of DAMs to manage assets, and assigning specific user roles.

Everything that can help you manage content on your site is offered by TYPO3. If you have a number of users on your site and a lot of content to handle, you can make the best use of this platform that allows you to manage all the workflow.

2. User-friendly interface

TYPO3 has been designed in a manner that benefits both technical and non-technical users. It allows you to work on a platform where you can visually create and format the content. Everything seems to be highly intuitive.

You can drag and drop the files from one section to another to rearrange content elements within pages. Once you have set up everything on the site, you can easily manage it on the backend without having any knowledge of coding or technicalities whatsoever.

3. Scalability

TYPO3 is known to handle websites that come in all sizes and forms. Whether you are a small business or any large-scale organization, it can handle them all. It can manage the massive amount of traffic coming to your site and other content structures.

When we talk about scalability, TYPO3 offers a range of extensions and plugins that can scale your business as needed. Similarly, you can automate your website and design it based on the type you are looking for.

4. Multilingual capabilities

Not every CMS worldwide is able to manage multiple languages in a single site. There are often times when it’s difficult to manage multisite, and it can lose you, customers. 

TYPO3 multilingual capabilities allow you to create and maintain multiple languages in a single website. TYPO3 has this as an in-built feature. However, you can choose to integrate with other translation services for a better experience.

5. Integration with third-party applications

TYPO3 provides robust integration capabilities that allow you to connect with various third-party applications and services. 

It supports standard protocols and APIs, making it possible to integrate with e-commerce platforms, CRM systems, email marketing tools, and more. This integration enables you to extend TYPO3's functionality and leverage existing systems, creating a seamless and efficient workflow for your website.

6. Security and accessibility

TYPO3 is considered to be the most secure platform of them all. They have a dedicated security team that takes care of all your data. Security is a major aspect for any business or organization to keep the data safe.

You will get regular updates and checks to keep your website away from any malicious data theft. If any of the users or admission are trying to make a data breach, you can choose to configure the roles given to admins, editors, etc., and block them.

7. Professional Open Source

The reason TYPO3 is set aside from every other CMS is that it is Open-source. Even though it is backed and managed by a team of developers and a community, you can still get the best security and performance all throughout. 

Everything is free, that is from setting up the platform to buying more extensions and plugins. The community provides ongoing support through forums, documentation, and user groups, ensuring that you have access to resources and assistance when needed. Overall, this collaborative and active community makes TYPO3 a reliable and sustainable solution.

8. Digital Marketing Enabled

You can manage your entire digital marketing suite from the TYPO3 backend. Instead of spending time wasting switching from TYPO3 to other marketing platforms, you can integrate them all and continue with your work.

Some of the tools that you can integrate with TYPO3 are Google Ads and Analytics, which will eventually help you to keep track of all your web traffic and make necessary changes to the content.

TYPO3 Community

Anyone can be a part of the TYPO3 community. Whether you are a developer or simply anyone who is looking to grow this project is welcome. One of the major reasons you are able to know more about the technology and see it grow is because of this community.

Overview of the TYPO3 community

The TYPO3 community is known for its strong sense of collaboration, sharing, and innovation. It consists of developers, designers, integrators, administrators, marketers, and users who work together to improve TYPO3 and provide assistance to fellow community members.

You can join Slack to chat with other members and keep yourself updated with the events happening around you. The community isn’t only limited to developing the software but also about fun and learning.

Make sure to visit the official TYPO3 page to learn more about the events near you that will help you become a part of something revolutionary.

Benefits of being a part of the TYPO3 community

Now, the real question here is why you should even bother about the TYPO3 community. If you are using the tech or even curious about it, the community will only lift you further. Here are some benefits.

1. Networking and Collaboration

TYPO3 community helps you to connect with thousands of people from around the world. You can collaborate with them and share ideas with like-minded professionals that will not only help you expand your knowledge but also new partnerships, job opportunities, and career growth.

2. Contribution and Recognition

Another important aspect of being part of the community is that it values the contribution you are looking to make to TYPO3. To get involved, simply create an account and access collaboration tools such as TYPO3 Forge and Slack chat.

TYPO3 community is always on the lookout for professionals in the field of proofreading, content, copywriting, design, translation, and much more.

3. Learning and Skill Development

Being part of the TYPO3 community provides an excellent opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and expand your knowledge of web development, CMS, and related technologies. You can gain practical insights and best practices from experts in the field.

4. Support

If you ever feel stuck while working on TYPO3 or as a professional, the community is here to provide you access to a vast support network. TYPO3 community can help you solve any issues or queries you have that can be solved by the members themselves through forums, mailing lists, or chat channels.

5. Keep yourself Updated

Lastly, By being part of the community, you can stay up to date with the latest advancements, features, and improvements in TYPO3. This ensures that you remain current in your skills and can leverage the latest tools and techniques in your projects.

Ways to get involved with TYPO3 community

Now, the question is how you can get involved in the TYPO3 community to access all these benefits. Well, there are loads of ways you can choose to participate. Here are some of them.

  • Join TYPO3 Events
  • Engage in Online Forums
  • Write Documentation and Translations
  • Look for conferences from the official site
  • Get Involved in Marketing and Promotion

Interesting Facts About TYPO3

There are some interesting facts about TYPO3 that you will be thrilled to know. Let’s look at a few of them down below.

Require updated data

TYPO3 vs. Other CMSs

Feature TYPO3 Joomla Wordpress
Customizability Highly customizable Customizable Highly customizable
Multilingual Support Excellent Good Good
Scalability Highly scalable Scalable Scalable
Security Features Robust Good Good
Learning Curve Steep Moderate Easy
E-commerce Capabilities Extensible Extensible Extensible
Extension Ecosystem Vast Vast Vast
Community Support Strong Strong Strong
SEO Friendly Yes Yes Yes
Active Development Yes Yes Yes

 

Strengths and weaknesses of TYPO3

TYPO3 is one of the most secure CMS in the market. However, any tool or platform that you will use has some strengths and weaknesses that need to be discussed. These factors eventually help the minds behind the technology to make it better.

Strengths

  • Highly Customizable
  • Perfect for both small and large-scale business
  • TYPO3 offers excellent multilingual support
  • Highly secure and safe
  • Massive Community Support

Weakness

  • Steep learning curve, especially for beginners
  • Limited Third-Party Extensions
  • TYPO3 can be complex to set up and manage

Which type of website is best suited for TYPO3?

Although TYPO3 is perfect for all kinds of websites including both small and large scale organizations, there are some websites listed below that are known to be amongst the best.

1. Enterprise Websites-TYPO3 is known to be the best when it comes to Enterprise websites. Pearson is an international publishing organization and amongst the best in education that works on TYPO3.

2. Multilingual Website-Hitachi Medical Systems website is powered by TYPO3 that is both multilingual and powered by multisite functionalities.

3. Educational Institutions-Apart from Pearson, there are multiple other education websites with the ability to handle large amounts of content, user management features, and multilingual support run on TYPO3.

How to Get Started with TYPO3

Now that you know everything about TYPO3, you can start installing and downloading on your site. The best way to go from here is to start with a very basic website and learn from it.

Downloading and Installing TYPO3

You can start downloading the TYPO3 version from the official site on your system. Now, to install it, make sure to check out the necessary system requirements that include PHP, MySQL or MariaDB, web server (Apache or Nginx), and supported PHP extensions.

  • Start with creating a database using PHPMyAdmin or any other tool
  • Extract the files from the source package after you have downloaded it.
  • Transfer the extracted TYPO3 files to your web server
  • Ensure that the TYPO3 files and directories have the correct file permissions.
  • Run the TYPO3 Installation, for example, in your web browser, and navigate to the TYPO3 installation directory on your server.
  • Provide the necessary database details.
  • Keep following the other basic steps to complete the installation.

Once done, you can then visit the url and login to your backend to access the interface. There are multiple tutorials available on our blog to help you navigate and learn through it.

Setting up a basic TYPO3 website

Now, once you have downloaded and installed the TYPO3 CMS on your backend, we can move forward in setting up a basic website. Here are the steps that you can follow.

  • Create a Page- Go to the "Page" module. Click on the "Add New Page" button to create a new page.
  • Configure Page Settings- Specify the URL segment for the page. Configure other settings like the layout, metadata, and access permissions as per your requirements.
  • Add Content Elements- Click on Edit inside the page editor to add content elements. Choose from various available elements like text, images, headings, lists, and more.
  • Configure Page Templates- Choose from any free templates available or create a new one from scratch.

You can keep repeating the same as above and then publish the website when it's ready. Furthermore, you can choose to add the SEO, Languages, and even add extensions if and when needed.

Learning resources for TYPO3

TYPO3 is suitable for both coders and non-coders. However, it can get challenging for beginners to understand everything around the technology. So, we have a few resources that can be highly beneficial to get started with.

  • Check out sites such as TYPO3.org, T3Planet, and NITSAN Blog
  • TYPO3 Documentation
  • TYPO3 Events and Conferences
  • Talks and Videos by TYPO3

These are only some of the major resources that keep you updated with the technology and everything to learn about it. Well, you can keep checking out blogs at NISTAN and T3 Planet to gather the maximum info.

Conclusion

Here we are with all you need to know about TYPO3 and who it is for. Well, after gathering all the info needed, we can safely say TYPO3 is for everyone and can be used by anyone. Whether you are a professional developer or someone who knows nothing about coding, you can still use TYPO3 for your business.

Connecting with the community proves to be highly beneficial in the long run, especially if you are in for the long term. Furthermore, there are hundreds of resources available on the internet to help you navigate through this technology and work on the TYPO3 website soon.

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  • user
    Max Faber 2023-08-08 at 9:49 am
    I appreciate how it covers the key aspects in an easy-to-digest manner, making it perfect for both beginners and those seeking a quick refresher. Highly recommended!
  • user
    Max Faber 2023-08-08 at 9:49 am
    I appreciate how it covers the key aspects in an easy-to-digest manner, making it perfect for both beginners and those seeking a quick refresher. Highly recommended!
  • user
    Mike Werner 2023-08-08 at 9:40 am
    Thank you for this informative blog! As someone new to TYPO3, I found it extremely helpful in understanding the basics and core features of the platform. Now I have a solid grasp of TYPO3 and can't wait to explore its potential for my web projects. Kudos to the author for presenting the information in such a clear and concise manner!
  • user
    Mike Werner 2023-08-08 at 9:39 am
    Thank you for this informative blog! As someone new to TYPO3, I found it extremely helpful in understanding the basics and core features of the platform. Now I have a solid grasp of TYPO3 and can't wait to explore its potential for my web projects. Kudos to the author for presenting the information in such a clear and concise manner!