What is WordPress? An Ultimate Guide for Beginners

Over 43% of the internet runs on the web publishing platform WordPress. It was designed to make it simpler for everyone to post content online.

WordPress provides unparalleled versatility. You can build anything from a simple blog to a sophisticated commercial website.

It is open source, which implies that it grows and changes as a result of community contributions. This international contributor network makes sure WordPress continues to be both sophisticated and approachable.

WordPress makes cutting-edge technology simple and accessible, allowing you to realize your vision whether you’re beginning a blog, expanding an online store, or running a corporate website.

This detailed guide will walk you through What is WordPress and demonstrate how it can improve your online presence. You’ll discover how it offers you a competitive edge and makes website management easier.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS). This implies it’s a free and adaptable program that allows you to manage your website’s content without the need for extensive coding experience. These days, it is the most well-liked and extensively utilized CMS framework.

Since its initial release in 2003 as a blogging platform, WordPress has seen substantial development. It is currently the most widely used CMS in the world, powering more than 43% of all websites on the internet. It has a sizable and vibrant community, a comprehensive plugin architecture, and an intuitive user interface. WordPress stores material in a MySQL database and is written in PHP.

How does WordPress work?

WordPress basically gives customers a foundation and an easy-to-use dashboard to manage and control every aspect of a website without becoming too technical in a beginner’s guide. In essence, site owners may upload and manage content, plugins, design components, user credentials, and more from this central location.

WordPress functions quite effectively, especially considering how long it has been in use and how widely it is utilized.

Key Features of WordPress

Easy-to-use Interface

WordPress is made to be user-friendly, even for novices. Because of the dashboard’s ease of use, managing material, adding media, and creating posts are all simple processes.

Customization Options

You can alter the look and feel of your website with the thousands of themes and plugins that are available. While plugins offer functionality like social media integration, SEO tools, and contact forms, themes manage the layout.

SEO-Friendly

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a key component of WordPress. It creates clear, legible URLs, makes managing meta tags simple, and supports a number of SEO plugins to improve your website’s search engine presence.

Flexibility

WordPress may be used for any kind of website. Among other things, you can make forums, business websites, portfolios, blogs, and e-commerce sites. Because of its versatility, WordPress may be used for a wide range of web projects.

Community Support

WordPress is an open-source platform with a sizable and vibrant community. Many tutorials, forums, and support channels are available to assist you with any problems or inquiries.

Security

Security is a top priority for WordPress. A variety of security plugins and frequent upgrades assist shield your website from attacks. Maintaining the most recent versions of your WordPress and plugins is crucial for optimal security.

What Kinds Of Websites Can WordPress Make?

The adaptability of WordPress is what makes it so appealing. It is now a complete package for creating websites, not just a blogging platform. Here is an example of the variety of websites you may create using WordPress:

Blogs and Personal Websites

Share with the world your interests, knowledge, or daily life. WordPress gives you a platform to express yourself with eye-catching graphics, individual touches, and interesting content.

Business Websites

A polished website that highlights your brand, offerings, and accomplishments will make an impression. WordPress enables companies of all sizes to thrive online, from creating an e-commerce store to exhibiting an intelligent portfolio.

E-commerce Stores

Make your aspirations come true! WordPress enables you to manage your inventory, create a user-friendly online store, and safely take payments with the help of robust plugins like WooCommerce.

Membership Websites

Use membership websites to give premium content or establish private communities. WordPress gives you the ability to limit paying members’ access to particular features or content, allowing you to cultivate a loyal subscriber base.

Online Courses

By providing online courses, you can establish yourself as an expert in your subject. You may design and deliver interactive courses to a global audience by integrating WordPress with Learning Management System (LMS) plugins.

Online Portfolios

A visually appealing portfolio website can help you make a good first impression. Present your qualifications, experience, and creative endeavors in a way that will astound prospective employers or clients.

And Beyond!

The options are really limitless! WordPress gives you the flexibility and resources to realize your own vision, whether it’s for a wedding, restaurant, non-profit, or photography website.

Difference Between WordPress.org and WordPress.com

The free, open-source WordPress software, WordPress.org, sometimes known as self-hosted WordPress, can be installed on your own web server to allow you to construct a website that is entirely unique.

The WordPress.org software powers the for-profit, premium service WordPress.com. Although it’s easy to use, you give up a lot of the freedom of self-hosted WordPress.

The self-hosted WordPress that can be found at WordPress.org is typically what people mean when they mention “WordPress.” Self-hosted WordPress.org is nearly always the best choice if you want to be the true owner of your website.

Feature	WordPress.org	WordPress.com
Hosting	Self-hosted. You have to purchase your own hosting.	Hosted by WordPress.com. No need to get separate hosting.
Cost	Free software, but you need to pay for hosting and domain.	Free and paid plans are available. A free plan has limitations.
Customization	Full control over themes and plugins.	Limited to the themes and plugins available, particularly on free plans.
Monetization	Complete freedom to run advertisements and earn money.	There are limited advertising choices. Free plans display advertisements.
Domain Name	Use any domain name you purchase.	A WordPress.com subdomain (such as yoursite.wordpress.com) is included in the free plan. Paid options are available for custom domains.
Control and Ownership	Full control over your site and content.	There is limited control. The hosting is owned by WordPress.com, which also has more authority over your website.
Maintenance	Responsible for updates, backups, and security.	Handled by WordPress.com, including updates and backups.
SEO	Full control over SEO settings and plugins.	Limited SEO tools, especially on free plans. Paid plans offer more features.
E-commerce	Can install any e-commerce plugin like WooCommerce.	Limited e-commerce options. Business and eCommerce plans offer more features.
Storage Space	Depends on your hosting provider and plan.	Limited on free plans. More storage is available on paid plans.
Support	Community support, forums, and paid support options.	Limited support on free plans. Premium support on paid plans.
Branding	No mandatory branding.	Free plans include WordPress.com branding. Paid plans can remove it.

Who uses WordPress?

Everyone uses WordPress, from little enterprises to large corporations! To start with, we utilize WordPress! Thus, WordPress powers the website you are currently viewing.

Numerous more well-known organizations also utilize WordPress. Here are a few of our preferred instances:

1. Whitehouse.gov

WordPress powers the official Whitehouse.gov website.

2. Microsoft

Microsoft’s official blog is powered by WordPress. Additionally, WordPress powers blogs for particular products like Skype and Windows.

3. The Rolling Stones

Even well-known bands adore WordPress! WordPress powers the whole Rolling Stones website.

Why Use WordPress to Make a Website?

Now, if you’re considering launching a blog or a small company website, you might be wondering why WordPress is the best platform to use.

You can create your website using any of the dozens of website builders and possible WordPress substitutes available on the market. Nonetheless, we think WordPress is the greatest platform for novices and small enterprises since it makes website development simple and available to everyone.

For this reason, WordPress powers more than 43% of all websites.

These are but a handful of the justifications for selecting WordPress for your website.

1. WordPress Offers Greater Flexibility

WordPress is an open-source program that is free, as in freedom. It may be used by anybody to build and launch a website.

It has a sizable WordPress community supporting its development and is not owned by a single business.

To maintain WordPress’s ongoing development, autonomy, and freedom, the non-profit WordPress Foundation defends and preserves its copyrights and trademarks.

This implies that you can use it whatever you like. Your website and all of its content will be entirely under your ownership and control.

2. WordPress Is Easy

The ease of use of WordPress is one of the factors that contribute to its ranking as the best website builder.

The software has a small learning curve, but most novices get over it fast and have no trouble running their own websites.

It has an easy-to-use admin section, a WYSIWYG content editor, and an intuitive user interface.

Additionally, there is a wealth of free WordPress support and assistance available. On any tech community website, you can ask questions and get answers from other users who were exactly like you at first.

To ask any WordPress-related concerns and receive free assistance from our experts and other WPBeginner users, you can also join our WPBeginner Facebook Group.

3. WordPress is Super Flexible

Third-party plugins and themes are compatible with WordPress. This implies that you have access to thousands of expertly created website templates to select from.

You can add any function to your WordPress website by using plugins. The majority are free, however if you want priority developer assistance, you may also buy premium add-ons.

You can also fully personalize your design with drag-and-drop WordPress page builder plugins. Without knowing any coding, you can develop professional-looking landing pages, customize web sites, and make custom layouts.

4. WordPress Is Multilingual

More than 70 languages are entirely translated into WordPress. Selecting the language of your website is simple and can be done from the settings page or during the installation process.

It is possible to establish a website in one language while maintaining the WordPress admin area in another. You can also make a multilingual website with a WordPress multilingual plugin.

It is also possible to translate WordPress themes and plugins, and many of the most popular plugins are already multilingual.

5. WordPress Is Cost-Effective

The cost of hosted platforms and proprietary website builders varies. For a set of features, you must pay a monthly subscription.

With WordPress, you use plugins to add any function to your website in exchange for a monthly hosting charge. You can manage the price of your WordPress website because the majority of them are free or have free alternatives.

You can invest more in purchasing premium WordPress themes and plugins or upgrading your hosting package if your website is profitable and expanding.

Final Words

This is our ultimate guide to what is WordPress. WordPress is the most used approach to create a website for a reason. WordPress is a fantastic choice if you want to create any kind of website, from a blog to an eCommerce business.

Just keep in mind that WordPress.org and WordPress.com are not synonymous with self-hosted WordPress.org. And if you want to create a website, you should usually use self-hosted WordPress.org. With self-hosted WordPress.org, you have greater control and can take use of all the advantages offered by the WordPress community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is WordPress available for free?

Anyone can use WordPress since it is an open-source program. Although it is free (like freedom), there are additional expenses. For example, to create your website, you will need a domain name and WordPress hosting.

What are the advantages of using WordPress?

Using WordPress for your website has a lot of benefits.

It is simple to use and appropriate for both novice and expert users. Additionally, WordPress provides you with thousands of plugins that let you expand your website’s functionality. You can choose from thousands of different layouts and themes for your website’s front end.

Do I need to learn programming to use WordPress?

No, programming knowledge is not required to use WordPress or create websites. The majority of WordPress users lack programming knowledge or HTML/CSS expertise.

It can be beneficial for users who wish to become WordPress developers to learn PHP, JavaScript, and MySQL. However, creating your own website using WordPress doesn’t require any coding knowledge.