What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) written in PHP and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database. It powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, making it the most popular CMS platform worldwide. Originally created as a blogging platform, WordPress has evolved into a versatile tool for building any type of website.

Key Features

  • User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive dashboard for content management
  • Themes & Plugins: Thousands of free and premium extensions
  • SEO-Friendly: Built-in SEO features and optimization plugins
  • Responsive Design: Mobile-friendly themes and layouts
  • Multi-User Support: Different user roles and permissions
  • Media Management: Easy upload and organization of images, videos

WordPress Theme Development Example

                    
<?php
// functions.php - Theme setup
function my_theme_setup() {
    // Add theme support for various features
    add_theme_support('post-thumbnails');
    add_theme_support('custom-logo');
    add_theme_support('html5', array('search-form', 'comment-form', 'comment-list'));
    
    // Register navigation menus
    register_nav_menus(array(
        'primary' => __('Primary Menu', 'textdomain'),
        'footer' => __('Footer Menu', 'textdomain'),
    ));
}
add_action('after_setup_theme', 'my_theme_setup');

// Enqueue styles and scripts
function my_theme_scripts() {
    wp_enqueue_style('theme-style', get_stylesheet_uri());
    wp_enqueue_script('theme-script', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/main.js', array('jquery'), '1.0.0', true);
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'my_theme_scripts');

// Custom post type example
function create_portfolio_post_type() {
    register_post_type('portfolio',
        array(
            'labels' => array(
                'name' => __('Portfolio'),
                'singular_name' => __('Portfolio Item')
            ),
            'public' => true,
            'has_archive' => true,
            'supports' => array('title', 'editor', 'thumbnail'),
            'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-portfolio',
        )
    );
}
add_action('init', 'create_portfolio_post_type');
?>

WordPress Development Types

  • Theme Development: Creating custom designs and layouts
  • Plugin Development: Building functionality extensions
  • Custom Post Types: Creating specialized content types
  • REST API: Building headless WordPress applications
  • Gutenberg Blocks: Custom block development for the editor
  • WooCommerce: E-commerce functionality and customization

WordPress vs WordPress.com

  • WordPress.org (Self-hosted): Full control, custom themes/plugins, requires hosting
  • WordPress.com (Hosted): Managed hosting, limited customization, easier setup

Popular WordPress Plugins

  • Yoast SEO: Search engine optimization
  • WooCommerce: E-commerce functionality
  • Elementor: Page builder
  • Contact Form 7: Form creation
  • Wordfence: Security protection