What is the purpose of the "Template" sites under "CMS Collection Pages" in Webflow and should I create my collections there before rebuilding them in the "Static" sites?
TL;DR
- Use CMS Collection Template Pages to dynamically display content from CMS items like blog posts or portfolios using a single, reusable layout.
- Choose CMS Templates for repeatable, frequently updated content, and stick with static pages for unique, unchanging content to avoid duplicating effort.
CMS Collection Page Templates in Webflow are dynamically generated pages used for displaying content from a CMS Collection. Here's how they work and whether you need to use them before building static pages.
1. What Are “Template” Pages Under CMS Collection Pages?
- Template Pages automatically generate a unique page for each item in a CMS Collection.
- For example, if you have a Blog Posts collection, the Blog Post Template page will dynamically display content for each post (e.g., blog/first-post, blog/second-post).
- These templates let you design one layout that applies to all items in the collection.
2. When Should You Use CMS Templates?
- Use CMS Templates when you want to create dynamic pages for content-driven sites (e.g., blogs, portfolios, team members).
- Templates are efficient for managing large or frequently updated content without hand-building individual pages.
- You can pull in CMS fields (e.g., images, titles, rich text) and style them once for consistent presentation.
3. Should You Create Collections Before Rebuilding Static Pages?
- If you're migrating site content that will be repeating or dynamic, create CMS Collections first and design the corresponding Template Pages.
- If your content is static and won’t change often, there’s no need to use CMS templates — just design static pages.
- Don’t duplicate effort by designing static pages and CMS Template pages for the same content. Choose one based on whether content will be dynamic or not.
4. Static Pages vs. CMS Templates: When to Use Each
- Use Static Pages for one-off layouts like home pages, contact forms, or custom landing pages.
- Use CMS Collection Pages for content types that repeat or grow over time — like articles, events, or products.
Summary
CMS Template Pages in Webflow are used to create dynamic layouts for CMS items like blog posts or portfolios. You should only build static pages if the content is singular or doesn’t change. For content that's repeated or needs regular updates, create the CMS Collection and design its Template Page instead. Avoid duplicating effort — choose either static or CMS, based on the nature of your content.