Payload CMS

Payload is a headless content management system built entirely in TypeScript. It installs directly into a Next.js application's /app directory rather than running as a separate service — the CMS admin panel, API, and application share one deployment. Developers define collections and fields in TypeScript config files, and Payload generates REST and GraphQL endpoints automatically.

The current release is Payload 3. Database adapters let teams choose between PostgreSQL and MongoDB without changing application code. The admin panel is built with React and supports custom field components, live preview, and versioning with drafts. Access control is defined per collection and per field, with hooks for executing logic before or after CRUD operations. Payload can also serve as the foundation for e-commerce platforms, digital asset management, and multi-tenant SaaS applications.

The official documentation covers collections, fields, hooks, access control, and deployment. The source code is on GitHub under the MIT license.