WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create websites without any programming knowledge. A WordPress site can be easily customized with plugins and themes to create unique website layouts. Large companies such as Sony Music, Time Magazine, and PlayStation Blog use WordPress.
To understand what WordPress is, you need to understand what content management systems (CMS) are. A CMS is a system which manages online content. It is a software that helps users create, edit, organize, and publish digital content. While a website builder usually provides ready-made building blocks from which you can create websites, a CMS offers more freedom, flexibility, and extensions in the form of plugins and themes. The backend interface is where your content is organized and managed, while the CMS frontend displays the published website.
The CMS comparison guide indicates that WordPress is the most successful CMS worldwide. About 40 percent of all websites worldwide are made with WordPress, while 60 percent of all CMS websites use it. WordPress is a free open-source CMS which private users, bloggers, businesses, and artists use to create and manage WordPress sites. Another great advantage is that it does not require any programming skills. However, online storage in the form of MySQL or MariaDB databases are necessary to save content, user accounts, themes, and plugins. FTP access and a domain are also required, as well as HTTPS and the server-side programming language PHP. However, many hosting providers will offer WordPress packages that fulfill all these requirements.
Create professional websites easily, quickly, and securely with IONOS WordPress hosting. Three free domains, secure encryption, and Managed WordPress are available.
WordPress’ success began in the blogging community. Originally, the CMS made it possible to publish texts and articles online instantly. The scope of functions was subsequently extended. Today, there is very little that cannot be done with a website thanks to the open-source WordPress code, plugins, and add-ons. The most common WordPress sites include websites for businesses, blogs, e-commerce stores, and artist sites.
For example, the following website types can be created with WordPress:
Anyone looking into WordPress will quickly come across the two “versions” of WordPress: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. The similarity of the two options causes confusion, even though they are essentially different things. The two differ as follows:
Both variants have their advantages and disadvantages. They both allow users to create high-quality, modern, and distinctive websites. Through hosting offers, WordPress.com is particularly practical and time efficient. On the other hand, WordPress.org has a large choice of plugins and themes, an active WordPress community, and flexible code changes which sets no limits in terms of website creation. It is recommended for users who have clear ideas, web hosting, and a domain name.
WordPress’ history begins in 2001: At that time, a Frenchman called Michel Valdrighi designed an open-source weblog software known as b2/cafelog, which wascreated in PHP. After Valdrighi stopped developing b2/cafelog, Matthew Mullenweg and Mike Little developed another software which was based on it. This eventually evolved into WordPress in 2003, with the first “official” version appearing in 2004. The goal was to develop an even more flexible and user-friendly CMS for bloggers.
In 2005, Matt Mullenweg founded Automattic, acompany that provides WordPress-related services and is known to most as WordPress.com. The non-profit WordPress Foundation was also founded by Matt Mullenweg in San Francisco with the aim to offer the free open-source software through wordpress.org, protect the WordPress trademark, and support WordPress’ development with the WP community.
The fact that over 455 million websites are built with WordPress, and more than 43 percent of all websites use WordPress highlights the usefulness and success of the popular CMS. Its popularity is not surprising, as WordPress has so many advantages as a free software.
The extensive range of plugins is one of the greatest strengths of this CMS. For example, you can set up online stores with WordPress, create contact forms with WordPress plugins, and establish RSS feeds.
Known mainly for blogs in the past, WordPress has now become one of the first places to go when it comes to web design. Large companies, political institutions, and world stars rely onit. For example, the White House, Sweden’s online presence, and stars like Katy Perry and Usain Bolt use WordPress-based sites.
We’re highlighting five major brands and companies that use WordPress to give a sense of how successful and prevalent WordPress is:
Browser tabs contain two elements - the title of your website and a small image known as a favicon. A good favicon makes it easier for users to navigate their browsers and strengthens your brand identity. So how do you add a favicon to your WordPress site? There are three ways of doing it - using the WordPress Customizer, by using a plug-in, or doing it manually. Keep reading for step-by-step...
Video content adds the finishing touches to your WordPress site. Now more than ever before, videos are in high demand. They’re not only eye-catching but also deliver important content. In this article, we’ll discuss the various options to embed videos in WordPress and show you how WordPress video plugins work.
Provide powerful and reliable service to your clients with a web hosting package from IONOS.
View packages
