What is an API-first CMS?

An API-first CMS is built from the ground up with APIs as the primary method of content delivery. FoxNose automatically generates REST APIs from your content structure without manual configuration.

How does FoxNose differ from other headless CMS platforms?

FoxNose provides automatic API generation with zero configuration, built-in search, instant environments, and real-time updates without deployment - all in one platform.

What is an API-driven CMS platform?

An API-driven CMS platform uses APIs as the core mechanism for all content operations. FoxNose's API-driven approach means your content structure automatically becomes your REST API backend.

Focus on what matters — ship value with an API-driven CMS, not wrestle with complex integrations

FoxNose is a fully managed, API-first headless content management system that instantly provides search, environments, and localization. Everything works out of the box — spend time creating value, not configuring infrastructure.

Intuitive organization

Your content structure becomes your REST API backend

Most headless content management systems give you one giant API with all your content mixed together. FoxNose's API-first architecture lets you organize content hierarchically and automatically creates multiple focused REST APIs.

Organize content like you think about it.: Unlike flat CMS, FoxNose lets you create nested folder structures that mirror your mental model, automatically transforming into intuitive API endpoints.
Multiple APIs from same content.: Create different APIs for public, admin, mobile, or web with different folder connections and permissions.
Automatic URL generation.: No routing configuration needed. Your folder structure automatically becomes meaningful URLs that update when you reorganize content.

Zero configuration

Production-ready search

All fields auto-indexed for API-driven applications. Run complex queries, joins, and typo-tolerant full-text search instantly — no setup required.

Full-text search with typo tolerance.: Search across multiple fields with automatic typo correction and phrase matching.
Complex filtering and joins.: Filter by ranges, arrays, null values. Join across folders with inner/left relations.
Automatic indexing.: No analyzers to configure, no indices to manage. All fields indexed automatically.
Simple yet powerful syntax.: Intuitive query language that's easy to read and write, yet powerful enough for complex operations like joins and filtering.

POST

{
  "where": {
    "$": {
      "all_of": [
        {"status__eq": "published"},
        {"rating__gte": 4.0},
        {"title__icontains": "machine"},
        {"category__not_in": ["spam", "outdated"]},
        {"description__not_null": true}
      ]
    },
    "authors": {
      "all_of": [
        {"verified__eq": true},
        {"name__istartswith": "dr"},
        {"status__not_eq": "suspended"}
      ]
    }
  },
  "find_text": {
    "query": "machine learning",
    "fields": ["title", "content", "tags"],
    "max_typos": 1
  },
  "join": {
    "as": {
      "authors": "authors",
      "categories": "categories"
    },
    "relations": [
      {
        "source": "$",
        "target": "authors",
        "relation_type": "inner",
        "source_field": "author"
      }
    ]
  },
  "sort": ["-_sys.published_at", "title"]
}

Zero-config approach

What if your API required zero configuration?

Compare the traditional approach with weeks of setup versus FoxNose's zero-configuration philosophy.

Traditional Approach

Manualconfiguration

Cloud, self-hosted, or DIY — they all require extensive manual setup and maintenance.

API endpoint definitions
Search configuration
Schema migrations
Environment setup
Deployment pipeline
Cache configuration
Localization setup

2-4 weeks setup time

FoxNose

Unifiedplatform

Everything in one fully managed, cloud-based API-first platform — less setup, less risk, more time for development.

Advanced search with auto-indexing
Instant environments
Built-in localization with fallbacks
Granular access control
Zero-migration schema changes
Automatic API generation
Content hierarchy system

Get started in 5 minutes

Enterprise ready

Fine-grained permissions out of the box

No need for expensive enterprise plans to get proper access control. Create custom roles with granular permissions for users and API keys.

Folder-level permissions.: Control read/write access to specific folders and environment-level restrictions for precise content control.
API-specific access control.: Assign different permissions to users and API keys. Perfect for client review access or API-only integrations.
Multi-client agencies support.: Set up editor roles, client review access, or team-specific permissions with exactly the access levels you need.

30 seconds setup

Instant environments for any workflow

Create new environments instantly: development, staging, feature branches, client demos. Each environment gets its own database, API endpoint, and access controls.

No servers to provision.: Create environments in 30 seconds. No infrastructure setup, no configuration copying, no DevOps complexity.
Complete isolation.: Each environment operates independently with its own database, API endpoint, and access controls.
Perfect for agencies.: Manage multiple clients or teams with separate workspaces. Each environment can have different data and permissions.

Global ready

Localization without the complexity

Add new languages anytime without changing your content structure. Smart fallback system automatically shows default language content when translations are missing.

No structural changes needed.: Add languages without changing content structure. No separate content types or complex reference relationships.
Smart fallback system.: Automatically shows default language content when translations are missing. Your API always returns complete content.
Launch with partial translations.: Go global immediately with partial translations. Content falls back gracefully when specific language versions aren't available yet.

Developer-first design

Modern development workflow, but simplified

API-first architecture meets real-world needs

Automatic API Updates: REST APIs update automatically when content models change. No redeployment, no downtime, no manual configuration.
Instant API Endpoints: Every environment gets its own API endpoints instantly. Perfect for development, staging, and production workflows.
API-Driven Search: Built-in search capabilities in every API endpoint. Query your content with powerful filters and full-text search.
Zero Configuration Files: No YAML, no JSON configs, no deployment pipeline. The API platform configures itself based on your content structure.
Real-Time Updates: Content changes reflect immediately in your API. No rebuild process, no cache invalidation headaches.
Multi-Channel Content Delivery: Same content, multiple APIs for different channels - web, mobile, admin panels, public APIs. No content duplication needed.
Focus on Your Product: Stop maintaining CMS infrastructure. The API-first platform handles everything so you can ship value faster.

Setup Comparison

Weeks of setup vs. minutes

Most headless CMS require extensive setup and integrations. FoxNose works out of the box with all features included.

Feature	Typical Headless CMS 2-4 weeks setup	FoxNose 5 minutes setup
API Architecture
API Generation Automatic creation of REST API endpoints from your content structure without manual configuration.	Manual endpoint configuration	Automatic, zero-config
API Updates How API endpoints reflect changes to content models and schemas.	Redeploy after changes	Real-time, no deployment
Time to First API Time required to get your first working API endpoint after initial setup.	Days to weeks	Under 5 minutes
Search & Discovery
Full-text search Search across content with text queries, filtering, joins between different content types, phrase matching, and automatic typo correction.	Requires external service or complex setup	Built-in, no setup needed
Auto-indexing Automatic indexing of all content fields for search without manual configuration of analyzers, indices, or search infrastructure.	Not available	Built-in, no setup needed
Typo tolerance Search functionality that handles spelling mistakes and returns relevant results even when queries contain typos.	Manual configuration required	Built-in, no setup needed
Environment Management
Multiple environments Separate workspaces for development, staging, production, feature branches, and client demos with independent content and settings.	Enterprise plans or high cost add-ons	Built-in, no setup needed
Instant environment creation Ability to create new isolated environments quickly without waiting for server provisioning or complex setup processes.	Not available	Built-in, no setup needed
Environment isolation Complete separation between environments with independent databases, API endpoints, and access controls to prevent cross-contamination.	Manual configuration	Built-in, no setup needed
Content Management
Schema migrations Process of updating content structure when data models change, typically requiring careful planning and execution to avoid data loss.	Required for changes	Zero-migration approach
Built-in localization Support for multiple languages with automatic fallback to default language when translations are missing, maintaining complete content delivery.	Limited or requires setup	Built-in, no setup needed
Content modeling Creating and updating content models without breaking changes.	Rigid schemas, migration required	Flexible, change anytime
Access Control
Granular permissions Fine-grained control over who can read, write, or modify specific content areas, environments, and API access levels.	Basic roles or enterprise only	Built-in, no setup needed

API Architecture

API Generation

Typical CMS

Manual endpoint configuration

FoxNose

Automatic, zero-config

API Updates

Typical CMS

Redeploy after changes

FoxNose

Real-time, no deployment

Time to First API

Typical CMS

Days to weeks

FoxNose

Under 5 minutes

Search & Discovery

Full-text search

Typical CMS

Requires external service or complex setup

FoxNose

Built-in, no setup needed

Auto-indexing

Typical CMS

Not available

FoxNose

Built-in, no setup needed

Typo tolerance

Typical CMS

Manual configuration required

FoxNose

Built-in, no setup needed

Environment Management

Multiple environments

Typical CMS

Enterprise plans or high cost add-ons

FoxNose

Built-in, no setup needed

Instant environment creation

Typical CMS

Not available

FoxNose

Built-in, no setup needed

Environment isolation

Typical CMS

Manual configuration

FoxNose

Built-in, no setup needed

Content Management

Schema migrations

Typical CMS

Required for changes

FoxNose

Zero-migration approach

Built-in localization

Typical CMS

Limited or requires setup

FoxNose

Built-in, no setup needed

Content modeling

Typical CMS

Rigid schemas, migration required

FoxNose

Flexible, change anytime

Access Control

Granular permissions

Typical CMS

Basic roles or enterprise only

FoxNose

Built-in, no setup needed

Try FoxNose's API-first CMS free and cut setup from weeks to minutes.

See how FoxNose's API-driven platform can solve your content management challenges. Sign up to get started or explore our documentation.