WordPress is the world's most widely used content management system (CMS): a software package that lets you manage texts, images and pages on your website yourself, without any programming knowledge.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a free, open-source CMS. It started in 2003 as a blogging platform and now powers a large share of all websites worldwide.
From simple business sites to large online shops and news platforms: the software is so flexible that it can be used in almost any situation. Because WordPress is so widely used, an enormous amount of knowledge, extensions and help is available.
How does WordPress work?
As a visitor you do not notice it, but technically a WordPress website consists of PHP code running on the web server, and a database in which all texts and settings are stored.
As an administrator, you log in to a secure dashboard, the so-called admin environment. There you create pages, publish posts and adjust settings.
A theme for the look
A theme is a set of files that determines what the site looks like.
Plug-ins for extra features
Small extensions, for example for a contact form, an online shop or search engine optimisation.
By combining themes and plug-ins, you put together a website that suits your wishes.
Strengths of WordPress
The popularity of WordPress is no accident. The main advantages at a glance:
- FlexibleSuitable for almost any type of website, from portfolio to webshop.
- Publish it yourselfYou manage texts and images without a developer having to step in.
- Wide choiceTens of thousands of themes and plug-ins, often free or at low cost.
- Plenty of knowledge availableThanks to the large community of users, you quickly find documentation and help.
Points to watch and maintenance
The flip side of that flexibility is that a WordPress website requires structural maintenance. The WordPress core, the themes and the plug-ins receive regular updates. You have to install them in good time.
Overdue updates
These are one of the main causes of security problems.
A favourite target
Because WordPress is so widely used, it is a favourite target for automated attacks.
Good security, reliable backups and keeping up with updates are therefore not a luxury, but a necessity. If a site does get infected, professional recovery of a hacked WordPress site is possible.
Who is WordPress suitable for?
WordPress suits you if…
- You want to publish content yourself regularly.
- You work with several authors.
Something else may be a better fit if…
- You mainly want a stable showcase site, with few changes.
We discuss that trade-off in CMS or no CMS. A fully fledged alternative is Joomla.
InnoDIGI professionally provides WordPress web design and is happy to think along with you about the best choice.