// websites

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is software for creating and managing websites. It provides a content management system that allows pages, blog posts, images, navigation, themes and other website content to be managed through an administrative interface.

// referral disclosure This article contains a WordPress.com referral link. If you use the link and make a qualifying purchase, Freelance Coder may receive WordPress.com account credit. You may also be eligible for referral credit under WordPress.com's current referral terms.

// definition

WordPress is a content management system

WordPress is a content management system, commonly shortened to CMS.

A CMS provides tools for creating, organising, editing and publishing website content.

Instead of manually editing every page as a separate HTML file, WordPress can store content and generate web pages dynamically.

// create a website

Build a website with WordPress.com

WordPress.com combines WordPress with managed hosting, giving you a platform for creating, hosting and managing a website from one service.

Explore WordPress.com ↗

// cms

What does a CMS do?

A content management system separates much of the website's content from the underlying code.

Content ↓ WordPress ↓ Theme + templates ↓ HTML + CSS + JavaScript ↓ Browser

This allows website owners to manage content without manually rebuilding every page.

// content

WordPress can manage posts and pages

Posts

Commonly used for articles, news and other date-based content.

Pages

Commonly used for more permanent content such as About, Contact and Services pages.

// editor

WordPress uses a block-based editor

Modern WordPress content can be assembled from blocks.

Paragraph Heading Image Gallery Columns Buttons Lists HTML

Blocks can be combined to construct pages and posts without manually writing all of the underlying HTML.

// themes

Themes control website presentation

A WordPress theme determines much of a site's visual presentation and page structure.

WordPress content + Theme ↓ Website design

Themes can define typography, colours, layouts, templates, headers, footers and other design elements.

// plugins

Plugins can add functionality

Plugins extend WordPress with additional features.

SEO E-commerce Forms Security Analytics Backups Memberships Automation

This allows a relatively simple WordPress installation to be extended into a much more sophisticated website.

// wordpress software

WordPress is software, not one hosting company

This distinction is important.

WordPress itself is website software that can be installed and hosted by many different hosting providers.

WordPress software ↓ Hosting provider ↓ Website

// wordpress.com vs wordpress.org

WordPress.com and WordPress.org are related but different

WordPress.com	WordPress.org
Hosted WordPress service	Home of the WordPress software project
Hosting is included	Software can be installed with a hosting provider
Infrastructure is managed for you	Hosting arrangements depend on the provider you choose

// wordpress.com

What is WordPress.com?

WordPress.com is a hosted service built around WordPress.

It combines the website software with managed hosting, meaning WordPress.com handles much of the underlying hosting infrastructure.

WordPress + Hosting + Management ↓ WordPress.com

// managed hosting

WordPress.com provides managed hosting

With managed hosting, the hosting provider handles many infrastructure responsibilities.

Hosting Security Backups Caching Updates Infrastructure

// domains

WordPress can use a custom domain

A new WordPress.com site can use a WordPress.com subdomain.

mywebsite.wordpress.com

A site with an appropriate paid WordPress.com plan can instead use a custom domain such as:

mywebsite.com

A domain registered somewhere else can also be connected to WordPress.com on eligible plans.

// domain + hosting

The domain and WordPress website are separate components

Domain name ↓ DNS ↓ WordPress hosting ↓ WordPress website

The domain provides the web address.

The hosting infrastructure runs the website.

WordPress manages the website content and application.

// php

WordPress is built primarily with PHP

WordPress uses PHP extensively on the server side.

Browser request ↓ Web server ↓ PHP ↓ WordPress ↓ Database ↓ Generated response ↓ Browser

PHP code can retrieve content, apply templates and generate the page returned to a visitor.

// database

WordPress stores information in a database

Website information such as posts, pages, settings and user data is typically stored in a database.

WordPress │ ├── Posts ├── Pages ├── Users ├── Settings ├── Comments └── Metadata ↓ Database

WordPress traditionally uses MySQL-compatible database systems for this data.

// web technologies

WordPress still produces ordinary web technologies

Despite the CMS and server-side infrastructure, visitors ultimately interact with familiar web technologies.

HTML

Provides the structure of the rendered page.

CSS

Controls the visual presentation.

JavaScript

Provides interactive browser behaviour.

PHP

Performs substantial server-side WordPress logic.

// cms vs static site

WordPress avoids manually maintaining every HTML file

A simple static website might contain:

index.html about.html contact.html services.html

With WordPress, much of that content can instead be managed through the CMS and generated using reusable templates.

Database content + Theme templates ↓ Generated web pages

// blogging

WordPress is well known for blogging

WordPress began with a strong focus on publishing articles and continues to provide extensive blogging functionality.

Posts Categories Tags Authors Comments Archives

// beyond blogs

WordPress can build much more than blogs

Business Websites Portfolios Blogs Online Stores Membership Sites Documentation News Sites Landing Pages

// ecommerce

WordPress can support online stores

E-commerce functionality can be added to WordPress using systems such as WooCommerce.

WordPress + WooCommerce ↓ Products Orders Payments Customers Storefront

// users

WordPress supports different user roles

Multiple people can work on the same site with different permissions.

Administrator Editor Author Contributor Subscriber

// api

WordPress also has an API

WordPress provides a REST API that can allow other software to interact with WordPress data.

External application ↓ WordPress REST API ↓ WordPress ↓ Posts / Pages / Data

This makes WordPress useful not only as a traditional website CMS but also as a content source for other applications.

// headless wordpress

WordPress can even be used without a traditional theme

In a headless architecture, WordPress can manage the content while another application handles the visible front end.

WordPress CMS ↓ API ↓ JavaScript application ↓ Website

// why wordpress

Why do people use WordPress?

Content Management

Pages and posts can be managed through a CMS.

Themes

Website presentation can be changed and customised.

Plugins

Additional functionality can be added to the site.

Extensibility

Developers can build custom themes, plugins and integrations.

// wordpress.com

WordPress.com removes much of the hosting administration

Running WordPress yourself can involve managing hosting, software updates, backups, security and other infrastructure.

WordPress.com offers managed WordPress hosting, so many of these infrastructure tasks are handled by the platform.

// try wordpress

Interested in building with WordPress?

You can explore WordPress.com, create a website and compare the available options using the Freelance Coder referral link below.

Visit WordPress.com ↗

// referral

WordPress.com referral credit

Under WordPress.com's current Refer a Friend programme, a new customer who follows a valid referral link and purchases an eligible annual WordPress.com plan can receive US$25 in WordPress.com account credit.

The person who referred them can also receive US$25 in WordPress.com account credit.

Monthly plans are not currently eligible for these referral credits. Referral terms can change, so check WordPress.com's current terms before purchasing.

Open Freelance Coder Referral ↗

// official information

WordPress.com information

For current WordPress.com features, hosting information and referral conditions, consult WordPress.com's official documentation.

WordPress.com hosting information ↗

WordPress.com Refer a Friend terms ↗

// summary

Content becomes a website.

WordPress is a content management system used to create and manage websites. It combines content, themes, plugins, databases and web technologies to produce websites ranging from simple blogs to business sites, online stores and larger web applications. WordPress.com provides a managed hosting platform built around the WordPress software.

// referral disclosure Freelance Coder uses a WordPress.com referral link on this page. If you make a qualifying purchase through the link, Freelance Coder may receive WordPress.com account credit. Referral eligibility and benefits are determined by WordPress.com's current terms.

// server-side programming

What Is PHP?

PHP is a programming language widely used for server-side web development. It can generate web pages, process forms, communicate with databases, manage sessions and build dynamic websites and applications.

// definition

PHP is a server-side scripting language

PHP is a general-purpose programming language particularly suited to web development.

PHP code commonly runs on a web server rather than directly inside the user's browser.

The server executes the PHP code and sends the resulting output, often HTML, back to the browser.

// name

What does PHP stand for?

PHP is officially described using the recursive acronym:

PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor

The name reflects PHP's long association with generating and processing web content.

// example

What does PHP look like?

<?php echo "Hello, world!"; ?>

The echo statement sends text to the output.

In a web application, that output can become part of the HTML returned to the browser.

// server

PHP usually runs before the page reaches the browser

Browser requests page ↓ Web server receives request ↓ PHP code executes ↓ PHP generates output ↓ Server sends response ↓ Browser displays page

The browser usually receives the output generated by PHP rather than the original PHP source code.

// php + html

PHP can be embedded inside HTML

<h1>Welcome</h1> <p> Today is <?php echo date("d F Y"); ?> </p>

PHP executes on the server and inserts the generated value into the document before it is sent to the user.

// variables

PHP can store information in variables

<?php $name = "Alice"; $orders = 4; echo $name; echo $orders; ?>

PHP variable names normally begin with a $ symbol.

// data types

PHP supports different kinds of data

Type	Example
String	"Freelance Coder"
Integer	42
Float	19.99
Boolean	true
Array	["HTML", "CSS", "PHP"]
Null	null
Object	new Customer()

// arrays

PHP arrays can store collections of data

<?php $skills = [ "HTML", "CSS", "JavaScript", "PHP" ]; echo $skills[0]; ?>

This outputs:

HTML

// associative arrays

PHP arrays can also use named keys

<?php $customer = [ "name" => "Alice", "orders" => 4, "active" => true ]; echo $customer["name"]; ?>

Associative arrays are useful for representing structured information using named keys and values.

// conditions

PHP can make decisions

<?php $loggedIn = true; if ($loggedIn) { echo "Welcome back."; } else { echo "Please sign in."; } ?>

Conditional statements allow different code to run depending on the state of the application.

// functions

PHP functions package reusable logic

<?php function greet($name) { return "Hello, " . $name; } echo greet("Alice"); ?>

The full stop operator joins strings together in PHP.

// loops

PHP can repeat tasks

<?php for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) { echo $i; } ?>

Loops are useful when the same operation must be repeated several times.

// foreach

foreach is useful for collections

<?php $skills = [ "HTML", "CSS", "PHP" ]; foreach ($skills as $skill) { echo $skill; } ?>

The loop processes each item in the array one at a time.

// forms

PHP can process form submissions

A website might contain a form:

<form method="post"> <input type="text" name="name" > <button type="submit"> Send </button> </form>

PHP can receive the submitted data:

<?php if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] === "POST") { $name = $_POST["name"] ?? ""; } ?>

User input should be validated and handled safely. Real applications should never assume that submitted information is automatically trustworthy.

// databases

PHP can communicate with databases

PHP is commonly used with relational databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL.

An application might use a database to store:

Users Products Orders Blog Posts Settings Transactions

// database connection

PHP provides database interfaces

One common approach is PHP Data Objects, or PDO.

<?php $pdo = new PDO( "mysql:host=localhost;dbname=shop;charset=utf8mb4", $username, $password ); ?>

Applications can then execute database queries through the connection.

// sql safety

Prepared statements are important

<?php $stmt = $pdo->prepare( "SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = ?" ); $stmt->execute([$email]); $user = $stmt->fetch(); ?>

Prepared statements allow values to be supplied separately from the SQL structure and are an important defence against SQL injection.

// sessions

PHP can maintain session data

<?php session_start(); $_SESSION["user_id"] = 123; ?>

Sessions allow a server to associate information with a user across multiple requests.

They are commonly used for login systems and other stateful website features.

// cookies

PHP can also work with cookies

<?php setcookie( "theme", "light", time() + 3600 ); ?>

Cookies are stored by the browser and can later be sent back to the server with requests.

// json

PHP works with JSON

PHP can convert arrays and objects into JSON:

<?php $data = [ "name" => "Alice", "orders" => 4 ]; echo json_encode($data); ?>

It can also convert JSON into PHP data:

<?php $data = json_decode( $json, true ); ?>

This makes PHP useful for building and consuming APIs.

// APIs

PHP can power APIs

Instead of returning an HTML page, a PHP application can return structured data.

<?php header( "Content-Type: application/json" ); echo json_encode([ "status" => "success", "message" => "Data received" ]); ?>

Another application can then consume the JSON response.

// php vs javascript

PHP and JavaScript often work together

PHP

Commonly runs on the server and handles server-side application logic.

JavaScript

Commonly runs in the browser and handles interactive client-side behaviour.

PHP Output

Can generate HTML or JSON that is sent to the browser.

JavaScript Requests

Can send requests to PHP-powered APIs and process their responses.

// web application

A PHP web application might work like this

User ↓ Browser ↓ HTTP request ↓ Web server ↓ PHP application ↓ Database ↓ PHP generates response ↓ HTML or JSON ↓ Browser

PHP often acts as the server-side layer connecting users, application logic and stored data.

// wordpress

WordPress is built with PHP

PHP has played a major role in the development of content management systems.

WordPress uses PHP extensively for themes, plugins, templates, database interaction and server-side logic.

<?php the_title(); the_content(); ?>

WordPress-specific PHP functions can dynamically retrieve and display website content.

// .php files

PHP code is commonly stored in .php files

index.php contact.php login.php api.php functions.php

A web server configured for PHP can execute the PHP code when one of these files is requested.

// security

Server-side code must handle data carefully

PHP applications often process passwords, form inputs, database queries, cookies and uploaded files.

Secure applications therefore need appropriate validation, escaping, authentication and database practices.

Never trust input simply because it came from your own website. Server-side code should validate data and apply the correct security controls for how that data will be used.

// frameworks

PHP has a large software ecosystem

Developers can use frameworks and content management systems rather than building every component from scratch.

Laravel Symfony WordPress Composer PHPUnit

// uses

What is PHP used for?

Dynamic Websites WordPress APIs Databases Forms Authentication E-commerce Web Applications Server-Side Logic Automation

// summary

The server does the work.

PHP is a programming language widely used for server-side web development. It can generate HTML, process forms, manage sessions, communicate with databases, work with JSON and APIs, and power dynamic websites and applications such as WordPress.