WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
WordPress.org is the self-hosted version where users install WordPress on their own hosting servers. WordPress.com is a hosted service with limitations. Developers prefer WordPress.org for full control and custom development.
- WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) used by over 40% of all websites.
- It's known for its simplicity, flexibility, and large plugin/theme ecosystem, allowing users to build anything from blogs to complex eCommerce sites.
Creating Custom Taxonomies
Taxonomies are used to group and filter content. Besides default categories and tags, developers can create custom taxonomies like “Genre” or “Skill Level” to organize Custom Post Types.
- WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) used by over 40% of all websites.
- It's known for its simplicity, flexibility, and large plugin/theme ecosystem, allowing users to build anything from blogs to complex eCommerce sites.
Installing WordPress Locally and on Hosting
Developers can install WordPress locally using tools like XAMPP, MAMP, or LocalWP. On live hosting, installation is often one-click or manual via FTP and database setup using phpMyAdmin.
Understanding the WordPress File Structure
Key folders in a WordPress install include wp-content, wp-includes, and wp-admin. Themes, plugins, and uploads go into wp-content, while core files are found in wp-includes and wp-admin.
Creating a Custom WordPress Theme
A custom theme consists of PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. At minimum, style.css, index.php, and functions.php are required. Themes define the layout and design of your WordPress site.
Using the WordPress Template Hierarchy
WordPress uses a hierarchy to determine which template file to load. For example, single.php is used for individual posts, page.php for static pages, and archive.php for category or date archives.