## โญ Why Payload?
Payload is a CMS that has been designed for developers from the ground up to deliver them what they need to build great digital products. If you know JavaScript, you know Payload. It's a _code-first_ CMS, which allows us to do a lot of things right:
- Payload gives you everything you need, but then steps back and lets you build what you want in JavaScript or TypeScript - with no unnecessary complexity brought by GUIs. You'll understand how your CMS works because you will have written it exactly how you want it.
- Bring your own Express server and do whatever you need on top of Payload. Payload doesn't impose anything on you or your app.
- Completely control the Admin panel by using your own React components. Swap out fields or even entire views with ease.
- Use your data however and wherever you need thanks to auto-generated, yet fully extensible REST, GraphQL, and Local Node APIs.
Read more on our website
## โจ Features
- Completely free and open-source
- [GraphQL](https://payloadcms.com/docs/graphql/overview), [REST](https://payloadcms.com/docs/rest-api/overview), and [Local](https://payloadcms.com/docs/local-api/overview) APIs
- [Easily customizable ReactJS Admin](https://payloadcms.com/docs/admin/overview)
- [Fully self-hosted](https://payloadcms.com/docs/production/deployment)
- [Extensible Authentication](https://payloadcms.com/docs/authentication/overview)
- [Local file storage & upload](https://payloadcms.com/docs/upload/overview)
- [Version History and Drafts](https://payloadcms.com/docs/versions/overview)
- [Field-based Localization](https://payloadcms.com/docs/configuration/localization)
- [Block-based Layout Builder](https://payloadcms.com/docs/fields/blocks)
- [Extensible SlateJS rich text editor](https://payloadcms.com/docs/fields/rich-text)
- [Array field type](https://payloadcms.com/docs/fields/array)
- [Field conditional logic](https://payloadcms.com/docs/fields/overview#conditional-logic)
- Extremely granular [Access Control](https://payloadcms.com/docs/access-control/overview)
- [Document and field-level hooks](https://payloadcms.com/docs/hooks/overview) for every action Payload provides
- Built with Typescript & very Typescript-friendly
- Intensely fast API
- Highly secure thanks to HTTP-only cookies, CSRF protection, and more
Request Feature
## ๐ Quick Start
Before beginning to work with Payload, make sure you have all of the [required software](https://payloadcms.com/docs/getting-started/installation).
From there, the easiest way to get started with Payload is to use the `create-payload-app` package:
```text
npx create-payload-app
```
Alternatively, it only takes about five minutes to [create an app from scratch](https://payloadcms.com/docs/getting-started/installation#from-scratch).
## ๐๏ธ Documentation
Check out the [Payload website](https://payloadcms.com/docs/getting-started/what-is-payload) to find in-depth documentation for everything that Payload offers.
## ๐ Contributing
If you want to add contributions to this repository, please follow the instructions in [contributing.md](./contributing.md).
## ๐จ Need help?
There are lots of good conversations and resources in our Github Discussions board & our Discord Server. If you're struggling with something, chances are, someone's already solved what you're up against. :point_down:
- [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/discussions)
- [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/issues)
- [Discord](https://t.co/30APlsQUPB)
## โญ Like what we're doing? Give us a star
## ๐ Thanks to all our contributors
