---
title: Payload
kind: note
description: 'Link Summary Backend framework with an admin panel for content administration (headless CMS) Open source (MIT license) Owned by Figma Config-based: Content types and collections defined in TypeScript…'
words: 208
readingMinutes: 1
created: '2026-05-26T00:00:00.000Z'
updated: '2026-05-26T13:26:57+02:00'
website: https://payloadcms.com/
---
## Link

<https://payloadcms.com/>

# Summary
- Backend framework with an admin panel for content administration ([headless CMS](/notes/headless-cms))
- [Open source](/notes/open-source) (MIT license)
- Owned by <span class="dead-link">Figma</span>
- Config-based: Content types and collections defined in <span class="dead-link">TypeScript</span> code only (no adding fields/schemas via the UI, that then would have to be stored in the database -> type safety for the frontend developer)
	- `payload.config.ts`
- Creates migrations for <span class="dead-link">sqlite</span>, [PostgreSQL](/notes/postgresql) or <span class="dead-link">MongoDB</span>
- Based on <span class="dead-link">Next.js</span> (version 16 as of <span class="dead-link">2026-05-26</span>)
- Suitable to run in the `/app` directory of another <span class="dead-link">Next.js</span> app (exposes a local API)
	- Types generated in `payload-types.ts` for import elsewhere
- But also exposes <span class="dead-link">REST</span> and <span class="dead-link">GraphQL</span> <span class="dead-link">APIs</span> for other frameworks
- Suitable for serverless hosting (e.g. <span class="dead-link">Vercel</span>, [Cloudflare](/notes/cloudflare))
- Automatically creates copies of uploaded images with defined sizes (e.g. thumbnail, hero image, etc.)
	- Frontend users can manually crop and set hotspots
- Supports drafts and automatic publish/unpublish at points in the future
- Supports autosave
- Other content can be embedded in the rich text editor for DRYness, including specific attributes (e.g. the price of a specific car in the middle of an article about it)
- Access control (CRUD) can be based on the user and/or the content's attributes (e.g. whether an item is currently published)
- Hooks extend functionality, e.g. the `afterRead` hook can add calculated properties
# Resources
## Videos
- 

<div class="youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ftohATkHBi0" title="Introduction to Payload — The open-source Next.js backend - YouTube" loading="lazy" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>


## Docs
- [Concepts](https://payloadcms.com/docs/getting-started/concepts)
# FAQ
## Scaffolding
```shell
pnpx create-payload-app@latest
```