Webflow is a powerful visual development platform that combines design, CMS, and hosting in one tool. It allows users to build fully responsive and production-ready websites without writing code, while still offering the flexibility to customize using code when needed.
1. Key Features of Webflow
- Visual Designer: Design with actual HTML, CSS, and JS output. The Designer interface lets you create pixel-perfect designs visually.
- Content Management System (CMS): Create dynamic content structures (called Collections) that can be edited via the Webflow Editor or via API.
- Hosting & Deployment: Fully managed hosting with fast global CDN, SSL, custom domains, and one-click publishing.
- Ecommerce: Build custom ecommerce stores with full control over layout, shopping cart, checkout, and product CMS capabilities.
- Animations & Interactions: Design custom interactions and animations without JavaScript using Webflow’s Interactions panel.
- SEO Tools: Built-in SEO features like customizable meta tags, alt text, 301 redirects, and clean semantic code.
- Responsive Design: Easily build mobile, tablet, and desktop layouts using built-in breakpoint controls.
- Custom Code Injection: Add custom JavaScript or CSS in the head or before the body tag per page or site-wide.
Webflow supports multiple methods of integrating with external services and platforms.
- Zapier Integration: Connect Webflow CMS or Forms to over 5,000 apps using Zapier, enabling workflows like sending form submissions to Google Sheets or triggering email notifications.
- Webflow CMS API & Webhooks: Use the Webflow API to read/write CMS content programmatically and webhooks to react to events like form submissions or CMS updates.
- Custom Embeds: Use the Embed element to add third-party scripts or integration widgets such as Calendly, Typeform, or live chats (like Intercom or Drift).
- Form Actions: Set Webflow forms to submit to external endpoints (like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or your backend service) using POST URLs.
- Memberstack or Outseta: Add user authentication, memberships, gated content, and payments with third-party platforms like Memberstack, Outseta, or Firebase Auth.
- Analytics & Tracking: Integrate Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or Hotjar by pasting scripts into the Project Settings > Custom Code section or using the Google Tag Manager.
3. Native Integrations and Plugins
- Finsweet Attributes: Extend Webflow functionality (e.g., filtering CMS data, CMS sliders) without custom code using Finsweet Attributes.
- Jetboost: Add real-time search, filtering, favorites, and dynamic content updates to Webflow’s native CMS.
- Udesly Adapter: Convert Webflow sites to CMS platforms (like WordPress) or no-code app builders using Udesly.
- Relume, Flowbase, and other UI libraries: Use prebuilt components and templates from third-party libraries optimized for Webflow.
Summary
Webflow combines visual design, CMS, and hosting with built-in tools for animations and SEO. You can extend its functionality by integrating with third-party tools through APIs, embeds, or platforms like Zapier and Memberstack, allowing for dynamic, interactive websites with minimal custom code.