Administrators of the Joomla blogging platform and content management system can now tag their content so it will be better indexed and automatically routed to the correct locations on their websites.
The new version of the open source software, Joomla 3.1, also comes with a revamped user interface and an easier installation process.
The new feature, called Tags, allows users to tag articles as well as contacts, news feeds and other forms of content. A tag is a word or short phrase that summarizes the nature of the content being tagged. Once a piece of content is tagged, Joomla can automatically add it to lists, blogs and other layouts designated to display such tagged content. Tags are also helpful for search engines as it gives them more information to contextualize the content.
Previously, the tagging of content in Joomla was only possible through the use of third-party add-ons, though other CMS platforms such as Drupal and WordPress have long offered this feature. The addition of tagging capabilities to the core of Joomla also sets the stage for other advanced Joomla features now being developed that would rely on tagging, according to Open Source Matters, the nonprofit organization that provides organizational, legal and financial support to the Joomla project.
Other new features to this release include updated tools for handling access control, a one-click upgrade process and a Joomla User Interface library that provides standardized interface components.
Along with WordPress and Drupal, Joomla is one of a number of open source content publishing platforms available for blogging and constructing websites. Thus far, the software has been downloaded over 40 million times, according to Open Source Matters.
Joab Jackson covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Joab on Twitter at @Joab_Jackson. Joab's e-mail address is Joab_Jackson@idg.com