WordPress is an online, open source website creation tool and free web publishing application. It is based on PHP and MySQL. It’s probably the easiest and most powerful blogging and website content management system (CMS) in existence today. WordPress allows users to build dynamic websites and blogs that may be updated, customized and managed from its backend CMS and integrated application and components.
WordPress has a web template system using a template processor. Template file list includes index.php, comments.php, front-page.php, home.php, single.php, page.php, auto.php and many others.
Every WordPress website requires at least one theme to be present and every theme should be designed using WordPress standards with structured PHP, valid HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). WordPress users may install and switch between different themes. Themes allow users to change the look and functionality of a website and they can be installed without altering the content or health of the site. WordPress users may also create and develop their own custom themes if they have the knowledge and skill to do so.
WordPress plugin architecture allows users to extend the features and functionality of a website or blog. Plugins offers custom functions and features enabling users to tailor their sites to their specific needs. It is used to display private information to login users and also to content management systems and to content displaying features such as the addition of widgets and navigation bars. WordPress applications exists for WebOS, Android, iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad), Windows Phone and Blackberry. These applications allow a limited set of options which include adding new blog posts and pages, commenting, moderating comments, replying to comments in addition to the ability to view the status.
WordPress also features integrated link management. They are as follows:
- A search engine friendly
- Structure clarity
- Ability to assign multiple categories to articles
- Support for tagging of posts and articles
- Automatic filters provide standardized formatting and styling of text in articles.
WordPress supports one blog per installation, although multiple concurrent copies may be run from different directories if configured to use separate database tables. WordPress Multi-site (WPMS), previously referred to as WordPress Multi-User (WPMU), was a fork of WordPress created to allow multiple blogs to exist within one installation but is able to be administered by a centralized maintainer. WordPress Multi-User makes it possible for those with websites to host their own blogging communities as well as control and moderate all the blogs from a single dashboard. WordPress Multi-Site adds eight new data tables for each blog.
Internet users are always keen into the world of blogging, and are looking for perfect blogging platform to leverage for their blogging success. WordPress comes up as a primary contender in their search for the best blogging platform.
Some of the usages of WordPress are as follows:
- Host multiple websites under one roof
- Online portfolio
- Host a job portal
- E commerce store
- Photo blog or photography portfolio
- Site for a band, restaurant and so much more
Pros and Cons:
The pros of using WordPress are as follows:
- Credibility in publishing small as well as large articles.
- Source of Publicity.
- Flexibility in coding is created through WordPress.
- Participation and support in web development tool.
The cons of using WordPress are as follows:
- Real modifications requires knowledge of PHP, CSS and HTML.
- Too many plugins slow the script and the impact is felt while you begin creating your web pages using WordPress editor.
- Important and popular plugins could easily be ones that come with security issues that can make your website susceptible to hackers.