How WordPress Works: A Walkthrough for the Beginners

What is WordPress?

Introduced in 2003, WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create a website or blog without any coding knowledge. Powering around 43% of all websites around the world, it holds the biggest market share. That is partly because it’s easy to install and use and partly because of the kind of customizability it offers.

Key Features of WordPress

It comes with a variety of features that make it a great choice for creating a website or blog:

Blogging

WordPress was originally designed as a blogging platform, and it remains one of the most powerful and popular blogging tools available. With WordPress, you can easily create and manage blog posts, add images and videos, and schedule posts for publication.

WordPress also comes with a variety of built-in features that make it easy to engage with your readers, such as comments, trackbacks, and RSS feeds.

eCommerce Capabilities

WordPress can be easily transformed into an online store using a variety of eCommerce plugins, such as WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. These plugins allow you to add products to your store, manage inventory, and process payments.

Integrating payment gateways in WordPress is also quite effortless, making it easy to sell products to customers around the world.

Social Media Integration

WordPress makes it easy to integrate your website or blog with social media. That allows you to share your content on social media, connect with your followers, and drive traffic to your website.

WordPress plugins, such as Social Media Share Buttons and Jetpack, make it easy to add social media buttons to your website. So you can connect your site to your social media accounts and track your social media performance. And plugins like WordPress Social Login make it easier for users to log into your website through social media accounts.

SEO Optimization

WordPress is designed to be SEO-friendly, which means that it is easy to optimize your website or blog for search engines. This can help your website or blog rank higher in search results, which can lead to more traffic and visitors. WordPress plugins, such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math, can help you optimize your website or blog for search engines.

Moreover, there are several WordPress SEO tactics that can potentially take your website to the top of the search pages and get outstanding traffic.

There are several other features of WordPress, like efficient media management, multilingual support, a wide range of themes and plugins, a massive community, and more. They make this CMS stand out from its competitors as a more well-rounded option. Dedicated WordPress developers use all these features to the fullest and ensure your website is aligned with the goals and technical requirements.

How Does WordPress Work?

Have you ever wondered how WordPress powers over 40% of the internet? From its core to other elements that make up a WordPress site, like themes, plugins, and databases, we will uncover the inner workings of this powerful tool.

WordPress Architecture: The Foundation

WordPress is built upon a robust and layered architecture, and each layer plays a crucial role in its seamless operation. Let’s take a look at them one by one.

• Core: The core of WordPress is the heart of the CMS, comprising the essential PHP code that provides the fundamental functionalities. It handles tasks like user management, content creation, and theme support.
• Database: WordPress utilizes a MySQL database to store all website data, including posts, pages, user information, and plugin settings. The database ensures data integrity and efficient retrieval.
• PHP Execution: When a user visits a WordPress website, their web browser sends a request to the web server. The web server, running PHP, interprets the WordPress code and retrieves the requested data from the database.
• Theme Rendering: Themes, written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, dictate the website’s visual appearance. WordPress renders the theme’s code, applying the desired layout, colors, and typography to the retrieved data.
• Plugin Integration: Plugins written in PHP extend WordPress’s capabilities by adding new functionalities. WordPress seamlessly integrates plugins, allowing them to interact with the core and themes.
• Output Delivery: The rendered HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code are sent back to the user’s web browser. The browser interprets and displays the code, transforming it into a visible website.

User Interface: The Interaction Layer

WordPress provides a user-friendly interface, enabling non-technical users to manage their websites with ease.

• Dashboard: The WordPress admin dashboard serves as the central control panel, providing access to various website settings, content creation tools, plugin management, and user administration.
• Post Editor: The Gutenberg Block Editor, a visual interface, allows users to create and edit posts, pages, and other content types. It incorporates formatting tools, media management, and preview options.
• Theme Customizer: The Customizer enables users to modify their website’s appearance without coding knowledge. It provides a live preview and real-time adjustments for colors, layouts, and fonts.
• Plugin Configuration: Plugins often have their own configuration panels, accessible from the dashboard. These panels allow users to set plugin options, customize behavior, and manage plugin-specific data.
• Media Library: The WordPress media library stores all uploaded images, videos, and other media files. Users can easily organize, search, and insert media into their content.

Extensibility: A World of Possibilities

WordPress’s true power lies in its extensibility, allowing users to tailor the platform to their specific needs and aspirations.

• Themes: A vast official repository of WordPress themes provides a diverse range of designs, from minimalist blogs to sophisticated eCommerce storefronts. Users can choose, preview, and install themes with ease.
• Plugins: The WordPress plugin directory is brimming with thousands of plugins, each adding specialized functionalities. Plugins can handle tasks like SEO optimization, social media integration, e-commerce management, and security enhancements.
• Custom Development: For advanced customization, developers can create custom themes, plugins, and modifications to the core code. WordPress’s open-source nature allows for extensive customization.
• Third-party Services: WordPress integrates seamlessly with various third-party services, such as payment gateways, email marketing platforms, and analytics tools.
• Community Support: The WordPress community is vibrant and supportive, offering forums, documentation, and tutorials to assist users of all levels.

WordPress’s architecture, user interface, and extensibility have propelled it to become the world’s most popular CMS, empowering individuals, businesses, and organizations to create, manage, and customize websites with ease and flexibility.

When a WordPress development company creates a website, they take into consideration all of these elements and workings and carry out the development accordingly. So what kind of benefits does that entail?

What are the Benefits of Using WordPress?

Among the primary reasons for the widespread popularity of WordPress is the numerous benefits it offers. Let’s take a look at some of them in detail.

User-friendly Interface

WordPress is renowned for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible to individuals with varying technical expertise.

Even those without prior coding experience can easily navigate the dashboard, create and edit content, manage plugins, and customize their website. The visual post editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and straightforward theme selection simplify the website creation process.

Customization Options

WordPress offers a vast array of customization options, allowing users to tailor their website to their specific needs and preferences.

A wide range of themes, available both for free and for purchase, provides diverse design choices, catering to various styles and industries. Additionally, WordPress plugins, both official and third-party, empower users to add new functionalities, enhance security, and integrate with various tools and services.

SEO-Friendly

WordPress is inherently SEO-friendly, making it easier for websites to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). 

It provides built-in SEO features, such as permalink customization, meta title and description editing, and image optimization, enabling users to optimize their content for search engines. Moreover, numerous SEO plugins, such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math, offer advanced optimization tools and guidance.

Community Support

WordPress boasts a thriving and supportive community of users, developers, and contributors. Online forums, documentation, and tutorials provide a wealth of resources for troubleshooting issues, learning new skills, and seeking assistance. The community’s collective knowledge and willingness to help make WordPress an even more valuable platform.

Cost-Effective Solution

WordPress is a free and open-source software, making it an extremely cost-effective solution for website creation and management. While there are costs associated with domain registration, web hosting, and premium themes or plugins, the overall cost remains significantly lower compared to proprietary CMS options.

Mobile Optimization

WordPress themes are designed to be responsive and adapt to different screen sizes, ensuring optimal viewing experience on mobile devices. This mobile-friendly approach is crucial for reaching a wider audience in today’s mobile-first world.

Security and Updates

WordPress places a strong emphasis on security, regularly releasing updates to address vulnerabilities and patch potential security issues. Users can easily install these updates to maintain the security and integrity of their websites.

Flexibility and Scalability

WordPress can accommodate websites of all sizes and complexities, from simple blogs to large eCommerce stores. Its flexible architecture and extensive plugin ecosystem allow it to grow alongside the needs of the website and its users.

These are just a few of the many benefits offered by WordPress. They have made it the go-to platform for website creation and management. That’s why so many businesses and individuals look for the best WordPress development services for their websites and web apps.

How to Get Started with WordPress?

Now that you know the features and benefits of WordPress, as well as how it works, let’s see how to get started with it.

Choose a Hosting Provider

The first step in creating a WordPress website is choosing a hosting provider. The foundation of your website is a reliable hosting provider. These services provide the server space and resources to store your website’s data and ensure it’s accessible to visitors. So, research the options according to these factors:

• Storage and Bandwidth: Ensure the hosting provider offers ample storage space to accommodate your website’s content and media files. Consider your website’s expected growth and choose a plan that can accommodate future expansion.
• Server Performance: A fast and reliable server ensures your website loads quickly and efficiently for visitors. Look for hosting providers that offer high-performance servers, such as SSDs (Solid State Drives), and a good uptime guarantee.
• Security Features: Choose a hosting provider that offers robust security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security updates.
• Customer Support: Check user reviews and ratings to gauge the quality of customer support offered by various hosting providers.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Balance the cost of hosting with the features and support you require. Consider your website’s needs and budget when selecting a plan. 

Many hosting providers offer flexible plans to suit various budgets and requirements. Hosting is one of the most significant elements in the WordPress website development costs, so choose after due diligence.

Install WordPress

Installing WordPress is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps, even for those with limited technical experience. But before that, make sure you are caught up with some key prerequisites: web hosting account, domain name, and FTP client.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing WordPress on your web hosting account:

1. Access Your Hosting Account: Log in to your web hosting account’s control panel, often referred to as cPanel or Plesk. This is typically done by navigating to your hosting provider’s website and entering your login credentials.
2. Locate WordPress Installation Tool: Look for a section dedicated to website installation or application management. You may find options labeled as “Softaculous,” “Installatron,” or “QuickInstall.”
3. Initiate WordPress Installation: Within the WordPress installation tool, select the “WordPress” option. This will typically launch a wizard-style installation process.
4. Choose Installation Options: The wizard will guide you through various options, such as:
   1. Site Settings: Provide a site name, description, and desired language for your WordPress website.
   2. Admin Account: Create an admin account, including username, password, and email address. This account will be used to manage your WordPress website.
   3. Database Configuration: Select an existing database or create a new one for your WordPress website.
   4. Advanced Settings: These may include options for directory selection, plugin installation, and theme selection.
5. Finalize Installation: Once you’ve reviewed and selected your desired options, click the “Install” or “Finish” button. The installation process will typically take a few minutes to complete.
6. Access WordPress Dashboard: Once the installation is complete, you should be provided with a link to access your WordPress dashboard. This is where you’ll manage your website’s content, settings, and plugins.

Check your hosting provider’s documentation for specific instructions and screenshots related to WordPress installation. If you encounter any issues during the installation process, contact your hosting provider’s customer support for assistance. Or you can consult with dedicated WordPress experts for the same.

Install a WordPress Theme

Installing a WordPress theme allows you to transform the appearance of your website, giving it a unique and visually appealing design. Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing a WordPress theme:

1. Choose a Theme: Browse the vast repository of themes available in the WordPress Theme Directory or from third-party theme providers. Consider factors like design style, features, and compatibility with your website’s purpose.
2. Download the Theme: Once you’ve chosen a theme, download the theme files in ZIP format.
3. Upload Theme Files: Access your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance > Themes. Click the “Add New” button to upload the downloaded theme file. Select the ZIP file and click “Install Now.”
4. Activate the Theme: Once the theme is installed, click the “Activate” button to apply the theme to your website. Your website’s appearance will now reflect the chosen theme’s design.
5. Customize the Theme: Most WordPress themes offer customization options. Explore the theme’s settings, menus, and customizer options to personalize the theme’s layout, typography, colors, and other aspects.
6. Locate and Install Additional Plugins: Some themes may require additional plugins to function fully. Refer to the theme’s documentation or review the plugins listed in the theme’s description to ensure compatibility. Install and activate any required plugins.
7. Test and Refine: Preview your website in different browsers and devices to ensure the theme’s appearance is consistent and responsive across various platforms. Refine the theme’s settings and customization options to achieve the desired look and feel.

If you encounter issues during theme installation or customization, refer to the theme’s documentation and tutorials or contact the theme’s developer for assistance.

Install WordPress Plugins

Installing WordPress plugins adds new functionalities and features to your website, enhancing its capabilities and expanding its potential. Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing WordPress plugins:

1. Choose Relevant Plugins: Browse the extensive WordPress Plugin Directory or third-party plugin providers, and choose the best WordPress plugin according to your requirements. Select plugins that align with your website’s needs, like SEO optimization, security enhancements, social media integration, eCommerce management, etc.
2. Access Plugins Section: Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for Plugins: Enter the name of the plugin you want to install in the search bar. WordPress will display matching plugins from the repository.
4. Review Plugin Details: Click on the plugin name to view its details, including screenshots, descriptions, ratings, and reviews. Ensure the plugin is compatible with your WordPress version and meets your specific requirements.
5. Install and Activate Plugin: Click the “Install Now” button. Once the installation is complete, click the “Activate” button to enable the plugin on your website.
6. Configure Plugin Settings: Some plugins may require additional configuration to function properly. Access the plugin’s settings page, usually found under the Settings menu in your WordPress dashboard, to adjust settings and customize the plugin’s behavior.
7. Test and Verify: After activating the plugin, test its functionality to ensure it is working as expected. Check for any conflicts or compatibility issues with your existing themes or plugins.

Keep your plugins up-to-date to maintain security, address potential bugs, and ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress version. Regularly check for plugin updates and apply them as they become available.

Create and Publish Content

Creating and publishing content is the heart of any website, especially for WordPress, a content management system (CMS) designed for creating and managing engaging content. Here’s a step-by-step guide for the same.

1. Access WordPress Dashboard: Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard using your username and password. This is the central hub for managing your website’s content, settings, and plugins.
2. Choose Content Type: Select the appropriate content type for your post. WordPress offers two main content types: Posts and Pages. Posts are typically used for blog-style content that is regularly updated, while Pages are used for static content that remains unchanged over time.
3. Create a New Post or Page: Click on the “Posts” or “Pages” tab, depending on the content type you’ve chosen. Then, click on the “Add New” button to create a new post or page.
4. Enter Title: Give your content a clear and concise title that accurately reflects the topic or subject matter.
5. Craft the Content: Use the visual editor to craft your content. This user-friendly interface allows you to format text, add images, embed videos, and create various layouts.
6. Customize Appearance: Utilize the toolbar options to enhance the visual appeal of your content. You can format text, create headings, add links, and adjust font styles to make your content more engaging and readable.
7. Organize Content: Add relevant tags and categories to help visitors find your content easily. Tags are associated with specific keywords, while categories represent broader topics.
8. Preview and Check: Before publishing, preview your content to ensure it appears as intended. Check for formatting issues, typos, and overall presentation.
9. Publish Content: Once satisfied, click on the “Publish” button to make your content live on your website. Your post or page will be visible to visitors and searchable on the internet.

With the core elements in place, start customizing your website to match your preferences. Adjust theme settings, modify plugin configurations, and experiment with different layouts to create a unique and visually appealing website.

Regularly update WordPress, themes, and plugins to ensure optimal performance and security. WordPress releases regular updates to address bugs and vulnerabilities. If you need professional help, I suggest you consult with a WordPress website development company.

FAQs on How WordPress Works

Conclusion

At the core of WordPress’s success lies its simplicity and flexibility. Its intuitive dashboard allows users to easily create and edit content, manage themes, install plugins, and customize their website’s appearance without requiring coding knowledge. This accessibility has enabled millions of users worldwide to build and maintain their own websites.

Its core functionalities are powered by a PHP-based framework that provides a solid foundation for building dynamic and scalable websites. At the heart of WordPress lies the MySQL database, which interacts seamlessly with the PHP framework, enabling efficient data retrieval and manipulation. There are also themes and plugins that ensure the best features and customization. That’s what makes this CMS the best one.

To know more about the workings of WordPress or to have a website created with it, have a chat with us today!