WordPress Core Concepts Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) used to create and manage websites.
WordPress is a versatile platform written in PHP that powers over 40% of websites globally. It allows users to build blogs, business sites, or e-commerce stores without extensive coding knowledge. Its open-source nature means developers can customize it extensively, making it ideal for freelancers offering custom development services. For enterprise architecture, understanding WordPress’s scalability and extensibility is key to integrating it into larger systems.
What is the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com?
WordPress.org offers self-hosted, customisable software, while WordPress.com is a hosted platform with limited customisation.
WordPress.org provides the free, open-source software you download and host yourself, offering full control over themes, plugins, and code—essential for freelance developers. WordPress.com is a managed service with hosting included but restricts advanced customisation unless you pay for higher tiers. For enterprise goals, WordPress.org is more relevant due to its flexibility for custom integrations.
What are posts in WordPress?
Posts are time-based, dynamic content entries, typically used for blogs or news updates.
Posts are a core content type in WordPress, displayed in reverse chronological order on a blog page. They support categories, tags, and comments, making them ideal for dynamic content like articles. Freelancers often customize post layouts or create custom post types for clients, while enterprise architects may leverage posts for content-driven systems.
What are pages in WordPress?
Pages are static content entries, used for fixed content like “About” or “Contact” sections.
Unlike posts, pages are not time-based and are used for standalone content that doesn’t change frequently. They’re hierarchical, allowing parent-child relationships (e.g., About > Team). Freelancers often design custom page templates for clients, and understanding page structure is crucial for enterprise-level site architecture.
What is a WordPress theme?
A theme is a collection of files that controls the visual design and layout of a WordPress site.
Themes include PHP templates, CSS, and JavaScript to define a site’s appearance. Freelancers can offer theme customization or development as a service, creating unique designs for clients. For enterprise architecture, themes are critical for ensuring consistent branding and scalability across large sites.
What are WordPress plugins?
Plugins are add-ons that extend WordPress functionality, like adding forms, SEO tools, or e-commerce features.
Plugins are written in PHP and integrate with WordPress via hooks. They allow freelancers to add complex features without rewriting core code, such as contact forms (e.g., Contact Form 7) or e-commerce (WooCommerce). Enterprise architects use plugins to integrate WordPress with external systems, ensuring modularity.
What is the WordPress admin dashboard?
The admin dashboard is the backend interface for managing a WordPress site’s content, settings, and functionality.
Accessible at /wp-admin, the dashboard lets users manage posts, pages, themes, plugins, and settings. Freelancers often customize dashboards for clients (e.g., hiding menus for simplicity), while enterprise architects may secure and optimize it for multi-user environments.
What is the wp-content folder?
The wp-content folder stores themes, plugins, and uploaded media files.
Located in the WordPress root directory, wp-content is where user-customizable files reside. Themes and plugins live in subfolders (wp-content/themes, wp-content/plugins), and media uploads go to wp-content/uploads. Freelancers modify this folder frequently, and enterprise architects need to understand its structure for system migrations.
What is the wp-includes folder?
The wp-includes folder contains core WordPress PHP files and libraries for functionality.
This folder houses essential scripts for WordPress operations, like database queries and user authentication. Freelancers rarely modify it to avoid breaking core functionality, but understanding its role helps debug issues. For enterprise architecture, it’s critical for assessing WordPress’s backend capabilities.
What is wp-config.php?
wp-config.php is the main configuration file for WordPress, defining database settings and other constants.
Located in the root directory, wp-config.php sets database credentials, security keys, and debugging options. Freelancers secure this file for clients, while enterprise architects configure it for high-traffic or multi-site setups, ensuring performance and security.
What is the WordPress Loop?
The Loop is PHP code that retrieves and displays posts in WordPress templates.
The Loop uses functions like have_posts() and the_post() to iterate through posts and display content. It’s central to theme development, enabling freelancers to create dynamic blog or archive pages. Enterprise architects may optimize Loops for performance in large-scale sites.
What are template tags in WordPress?
Template tags are PHP functions that output specific content, like the_title() or get_header().
These tags retrieve data (e.g., post titles, author info) or include template files (e.g., header.php). Freelancers use them to build custom themes, while enterprise architects leverage them for consistent data rendering across complex systems.
What is the template hierarchy in WordPress?
The template hierarchy determines which PHP template file WordPress uses to display a page.
WordPress selects templates (e.g., single.php, page.php, index.php) based on content type and URL structure. Freelancers use this hierarchy to create custom layouts for specific pages, while enterprise architects rely on it for structured, scalable site designs.
What are custom post types?
Custom post types are user-defined content types beyond posts and pages, like portfolios or products.
Created via register_post_type(), they allow freelancers to build tailored content structures (e.g., a “Services” section). Enterprise architects use them to model complex data for business applications, integrating with APIs or databases.
What are taxonomies in WordPress?
Taxonomies are systems for organizing content, like categories and tags.
Default taxonomies include categories (hierarchical) and tags (non-hierarchical), but custom taxonomies can be created. Freelancers use them to organize client content, while enterprise architects leverage taxonomies for structured data in large systems.
What is a WordPress multisite?
Multisite is a WordPress feature that allows multiple sites to be managed from one installation.
Enabled in wp-config.php, multisite shares a single database and codebase for multiple sites. Freelancers set it up for clients with multiple brands, while enterprise architects use it for scalable, centralized management of large networks.
What are WordPress hooks?
Hooks are mechanisms (actions and filters) that let developers modify or extend WordPress functionality.
Actions (add_action) run custom code at specific points, while filters (add_filter) modify data. Freelancers use hooks for custom plugins/themes, and enterprise architects rely on them for system integrations and extensibility.
What is the role of the functions.php file?
functions.php is a theme file where developers add custom PHP code to extend functionality.
Located in the theme folder, it’s used for hooks, custom functions, or shortcodes. Freelancers use it to tailor client sites, while enterprise architects ensure its code is optimized and secure for large-scale deployments.
What are shortcodes in WordPress?
Shortcodes are bracketed tags (e.g., [my_shortcode]) that trigger custom functionality in content.
Created with add_shortcode(), they let users add dynamic features (e.g., forms) via the editor. Freelancers build shortcodes for client flexibility, while enterprise architects use them for reusable components in complex systems.
What is the WordPress database?
The WordPress database stores all site content, settings, and metadata in tables like wp_posts and wp_options.
Built on MySQL, it organizes data for posts, pages, users, and more. Freelancers optimize or back up databases for clients, while enterprise architects integrate them with external systems or scale them for high traffic.
What is the purpose of permalinks in WordPress?
Permalinks define the URL structure for posts and pages, making them SEO-friendly.
Configured in Settings > Permalinks, they can include post names, dates, or custom structures. Freelancers set them up for client SEO, while enterprise architects ensure consistent URL patterns across large sites.
What are WordPress widgets?
Widgets are small blocks of content or functionality added to sidebars, footers, or other widget areas.
Managed via Appearance > Widgets, they include menus, search bars, or custom content. Freelancers create custom widgets for clients, while enterprise architects use them for modular, reusable UI components.
What is the role of the .htaccess file in WordPress?
The .htaccess file controls server-level configurations, like permalinks and security settings.
Located in the root directory, it enables URL rewriting for clean URLs and can block malicious requests. Freelancers secure it for clients, while enterprise architects optimize it for performance and security in large deployments.
What is the WordPress REST API?
The REST API allows external applications to interact with WordPress data via JSON.
Built into WordPress since 4.7, it supports CRUD operations for posts, users, etc. Freelancers use it for integrations (e.g., mobile apps), while enterprise architects leverage it for headless CMS or enterprise system connectivity.
