What is WordPress? Complete guide

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free, open-source website building platform. Technically speaking, WordPress is a content management system (CMS), written in PHP (a general-purpose scripting language particularly suited to web development) and using a MySQL database (an open-source relational database management system, its name being a combination of "My", the name co-founder's daughter and "SQL" – Structured Query Language).

Specifically, WordPress is the easiest and most powerful blog and website builder out there today.

WordPress handles both the website backend (the interface where a user logs in to make changes or add new content) and the frontend (the visible part of the website that your visitors see). I see it on the web).

Here are just a few examples of the types of websites you can create with WordPress:

1. Blog – A blog is a special type of website dedicated to content created based on thoughts, opinions, photos, reviews, tutorials, recipes and more. Blogs usually display the most recently published content.
2. E-commerce website – An e-commerce website allows you to sell goods or services online and collect payment through an online payment system. You can download and install a WordPress eCommerce plugin to extend the default functionality of WordPress so that you can have an online store right on your website.
3. Business Website – Many businesses will benefit if they choose to have an online presence in the form of their own website. If your business needs a website to let more customers know about your company and what you have to offer, WordPress is a great option. Through it, customers can contact you, ask you for a quote, schedule an appointment and much more.
4. Membership Website – A membership website allows you to upload content in exchange for making a payment (for example, purchasing a premium or VIP package) or in exchange for creating an account. To access pages or posts, users must log in or pay for content.
5. Portfolio Website – With a portfolio website built on WordPress, you can display and share yourself, your artwork, sketches, projects and more with others.
6. Forum type site – A forum website can be a useful place for users to ask questions or share advice or opinions. Nowadays, many forum websites run on WordPress.
7. Event Website – Hosting an event? WordPress allows you to easily share event details and sell as many tickets as possible.
8. E-learning website – Students can take courses online, track their progress, download various resources and more from an e-learning website. With a special type of plugin called a WordPress LMS plugin, you can offer online courses from a WordPress website.
9. Wedding Website – Share the details of your special day with a wedding website built on WordPress. With a number of specific wedding WordPress themes, you can increase your website traffic in a quick and easy way.

How WordPress was developed

In 2003, Mike Little and Matt Mullenweg created a lesser-known blog tool called B2/cafeologist. Little and Mullenweg sought to create a better blogging platform, built on the original B2 code, but with better features and stronger development.

The result is the well-known WordPress of today. Originally used as a blogging tool, WordPress quickly became a comprehensive content management system (CMS) capable of managing a variety of websites.

WordPress usage statistics on the web

According to content management system usage statistics, WordPress currently powers over 60 million websites, or 36% of all sites on the Internet, and over 60% of all sites whose content management systems of the contents are known.

WordPress has managed to be widely adopted as the gold standard for website builders due to the fact that it is free and very easy to use.

How do you know if WordPress is right for you?

You're probably wondering why WordPress is a widely used website content management system; well, it's all because of its benefits.

Here are some of the benefits of using WordPress as a website platform:

• Simplicity: WordPress allows you to quickly publish and create your website content. You can easily use WordPress, no matter what skills you have, because of its simple and easy operation.
• Free: The current WordPress software available on WordPress.org is free to download and use. However, you will have to pay for the web hosting and domain name.
• Flexibility: WordPress allows you to create many types of websites from personal blogs and online stores to online magazines and newspapers.
• Ease of use: If you can use word processing software like Microsoft Word, you will also be able to use WordPress to build and manage a website.
• Open-source software: WordPress is open-source software, licensed under GNU General Public License (GPL), meaning it is not owned by a single company or entity. Hundreds of developers and users collaborate and contribute to this software to improve it. The open-source aspect means constant improvements, high accountability and free use for everyone.
• No coding knowledge required: WordPress removes the requirement to know how to code before creating a website. While WordPress uses a variety of coding languages, you don't need to know any of them to use WordPress.
• Other WordPress plugins can be added: The WordPress core software can be extended with WordPress plugins. WordPress plugins are “pieces” of software that you can upload to your website to add more features (such as e-commerce, SEO, backups, contact forms, and more). There are thousands of such free WordPress plugins available in the WordPress.org plugin directory and an extensive industry of premium (paid) plugins.
• It is customizable and suitable for anyone thanks to WordPress themes: WordPress themes provide the design and main idea of your website. With a single click, you can change the entire look of your website by applying a new WordPress theme.
• Website Security: Despite the fact that no website platform is 100% secure, WordPress security continues to improve with a vigilant security team of core developers and users. Common WordPress security issues are usually due to user error rather than the software itself.
• Lots of premium plugins and themes: While there are plenty of great free plugins and themes out there, most WordPress site owners invest in premium (paid) plugins or themes. Why? Purchasing a reputable premium plugin or theme helps ensure your website the continued development and support of the plugin or theme, including new features, increased security, and more.

WordPress features

As a website building platform and CMS (content management system), WordPress positions itself very well with an impressive feature set. Here are just a few of the many features of WordPress.

1. SEO – Search engine optimization starts on a technical level and WordPress provides an exceptional code base for this. SEO allows your website content to be found by common search engines such as Google or Bing. To learn more, you can watch these free videos about what it means WordPress SEO.
2. Speed – WordPress is a website framework that constantly strives to eliminate "code bloat" that slows down a website's loading speed.
3. Mobile Friendly – Most WordPress themes are now compatible with general mobile devices.
4. Media Library – WordPress includes a built-in media library where you can upload and embed media files such as images or videos in your pages or posts. You can even make small edits to your images on WordPress.
5. User-friendly interface – WordPress is very easy to use with no complicated settings or features. WordPress also focuses on accessibility so that all its users can use it as simply and easily as possible.
6. Custom Menus – WordPress is meant to make it easy to create navigation menus with links to your pages or custom links.
7. Embedded Blog – Adding a blog to your website is as simple as publishing a post.
8. WordPress Block Editor – WordPress 5.0 introduced the new Block Editor feature, also known as Gutenberg WordPress Editor. The new editor transforms the way you edit your WordPress pages and posts. Now you can design and arrange your content much easier with a more flexible drag and drop approach.

WordPress users

WordPress may be what you need to create a successful website.

Many famous blogs, news channels, music websites and celebrities use WordPress, including NBC, CBS, USA Today, Time, Disney, Airbnb, Spotify, TechCrunch and many more.

If you want to find out what other people or companies are using WordPress, go to wordpress website, to the section where they are displayed and you will be impressed by the number of well-known sites and famous people who use WordPress to manage their websites.

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

If you're just starting out and don't know much about WordPress, it's essential that you know a few important things. First, you need to know the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

The difference between these can seem a bit confusing if you are new to using WordPress.

• WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress where you can create a WordPress.com account to create a blog or website.
• By default, your website URL or domain will include the word

"WordPress", such as "blog.wordpress.com".

• Paid upgrades include a custom domain, Google Analytics integration, more storage, the ability to add your own plugins and themes, and more.
• WordPress.com is owned by Automattic, a company founded by one of the original creators of WordPress, Matt Mullenweg.
• WordPress.org is where you can download WordPress software to install on your own server or web hosting account.
• WordPress software is open-source, so it's free to download and use.
• To use the WordPress.org version of WordPress, you will need to have a domain name and web hosting purchased from another reputable company such as Liquidweb.
• Most web hosts offer a "quick WordPress install" or a custom-made WordPress installation to help you get started, even if you don't want to install WordPress yourself.
• WordPress.org is the non-profit foundation of Automattic.

How do you get started with WordPress?

As mentioned before, WordPress is free. Yes, it really is 100% free. You can start using WordPress today, the easiest way.

You'll only need a few things to get started:

1. Quality web hosting
2. A domain name
3. WordPress software installed on your website (most web hosts will handle this for you)

If you prefer to use the hosted version of WordPress available on WordPress.com, you'll just need to create a WordPress.com account to get started.

What is a WordPress plugin?

A WordPress plugin is a package of additional code that you can upload to your website to add new functions, features or integrations.

• Plugins can be added through the “Plugins” menu in your WordPress dashboard.
• Using the built-in search function, you can find a free plugin available in the WordPress.org plugin directory.
• Plugins can also be embedded as zip files that you can upload via the plugin upload menu in your WordPress dashboard.

WordPress Plugin Tutorials

The best video tutorials that can help you with WordPress plugins:

1. What are WordPress plugins? In this tutorial, the basics of WordPress plugins are covered.
2. Installing WordPress plugins In this video you will learn how to install your WordPress plugins on your site in the easiest way.

Must-have WordPress plugins for all WordPress sites

All WordPress websites need these very beneficial WordPress plugins.

1. WordPress backup plugin – WordPress does not have a built-in backup feature, so if you have a WordPress backup solution, you will be able to avoid a lot of problems if you lose data from your website. Having a backup plan is also the best solution to avoid a security breach or even a hack attempt. BackupBuddy is the original WordPress backup plugin for backing up, restoring or even relocating your website to a new host or domain.
2. WordPress security plugin – A WordPress security plugin such as iThemes Security helps to fix or avoid common security “holes” and to strengthen your site's security against attacks of various types.
3. WordPress SEO Plugin – A WordPress SEO plugin such as Yoast SEO can help you add additional features and functions for SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
4. WordPress Form Plugin – Add robust forms to your website like contact forms, surveys, “upload files”, “accept donations” and more with a form builder plugin like Ninja Forms.
5. WordPress Ecommerce Plugin – If you want to sell goods or services on your website through an online store, a WordPress ecommerce plugin is absolutely necessary, such as WooCommerce.

WordPress themes

A WordPress theme provides the design “framework” and overall direction of your website. Most WordPress themes offer:

• The overall design (look, feel and style) of your website.
• Site-wide font styles
• A color scheme
• Styles for blog posts and blog archives
• Different Page Layouts (or Templates)
• Widget Locations
• Additional stylistic details

Some themes work like WordPress page builders, allowing you to create your own pages with no code required.

• Themes can be added via the Appearance > Themes menu in your WordPress dashboard.
• Using the built-in search function, you can find a free theme available on WordPress.org
• Themes can also be embedded as zip files that you upload via the Appearance > Upload Themes menu in your WordPress dashboard.

WordPress Theme Tutorials

Here are two tutorials that will help you understand exactly how to use WordPress themes with ease:

1. What is a WordPress theme? This tutorial will help you understand what a WordPress theme is all about, as well as its most important features and functions.
2. How to install a WordPress theme In addition to the default themes included with your WordPress installation, you can also install your own WordPress theme to change the look and feel of your site.

Frequent questions

• What is WordPress?

WordPress is a platform that manages to host and manage a lot of well-known websites today. Thus, a WordPress website is any website that uses WordPress as a content management system (CMS).

• What does CMS mean?

CMS represents a content management system (Content Management System). This system aims to create, manage and modify content on a website without the need for coding knowledge.

• What is a WordPress theme?

A WordPress theme provides all the overall style and look of your WordPress site. Most WordPress themes provide the overall design or style of your site, font style, colors, widget locations, page layouts (or templates), blog post styles, and additional stylistic details.

• What does Code Bloat mean?

Code bloat, in programming language, is that code perceived as too long or slow on most computer systems. Although the term usually refers to source code that may be too long or too slow, there are cases where errors are made in the way the code is written, the program used to translate that code, or the programmer who writes it.

• What is a WordPress plugin?

A WordPress plugin is additional code (an extension) that you can easily upload to your website to add new functions and features.