WordPress Fundamentals

Chapter 1: Introduction to WordPress

1.1 What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. It allows users to create and manage websites without extensive coding knowledge.

Key Features:

• User-Friendly: Easy-to-use interface for content management
• Themes: Thousands of free and premium themes available
• Plugins: Extend functionality with thousands of plugins
• SEO-Friendly: Built-in SEO features and compatible with SEO plugins
• Mobile-Responsive: Themes adapt to mobile devices automatically
• Multilingual: Support for multiple languages
• Community: Large, active community for support

1.2 WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

Understanding the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is important.

WordPress.org (Self-Hosted):

• Free, open-source software
• Full control and customization
• Requires hosting and domain
• Can install themes and plugins
• Access to all files and database
• No restrictions on monetization

WordPress.com (Hosted):

• Hosted platform by Automattic
• Easier setup, less control
• Free and paid plans available
• Limited customization on free plan
• Managed hosting included
• Some restrictions on plugins and themes

1.3 WordPress Use Cases

WordPress is versatile and can power various types of websites.

• Blogs and personal websites
• Business websites and portfolios
• E-commerce stores (with WooCommerce)
• News and magazine sites
• Online communities and forums
• Learning management systems
• Membership sites

1.4 WordPress History and Evolution

WordPress has evolved significantly since its launch in 2003.

• Started as blogging platform
• Evolved into full CMS
• Gutenberg block editor introduced
• Continuous updates and improvements
• Growing market share

1.5 WordPress Ecosystem

WordPress has a rich ecosystem of tools and services.

• Themes - Design and layout
• Plugins - Functionality extensions
• Hosting providers - Specialized WordPress hosting
• Development tools - Local development environments
• Services - Backup, security, performance