What is WordPress? WordPress is an open-source site building platform aka Content Management System(CMS). It has been licensed under GPLv2, that’s why it is free and anyone can use, install or modify the software. Millions of site owners use this powerful software to build sites. Web masters prefer it to others because it is easy to use and handle. You don’t need any coding.
WordPress powers about 40% hosted sites world over. Sounds incredible? No. It is true though it may surprise you. What web masters attracted to fall in love with WordPress are its diverse features, customisability,flexibility to manage themes, plugins etc. At the back end, you can manage database, tighten security, control other’s access to your site and moreover you can make your site do what you like in look and feel with exact tools and equipments. Flexibility, customisability and ease of use are some of the most important factors that you should take into account while choosing a software. And, it gives you all these features.
There are many website builders and CMS Platforms but it is unique from others in this respect that you can build almost any kind of site. Not only it but also you can install required themes and plugins— both the free and paid.
Page of Contents:
- What Is WordPress?
- When Was WordPress Made?
- What Can you Make with WordPress?
- Difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
- Why WordPress so Popular CMS Platform?
- Is there any alternative to WordPress?
- How to Build Site with WordPress?
What Is WordPress?
Many readers ask ‘What is WordPress’? You can assume WordPress as a kind of site building platform which lets you design and build website without having to enter any code of lines. It allows you to build site from scratch with drop-drag interface and add to it more functionality with proper tools and add-ons. In technical terms, WordPress is one of the most used and popular CMS and licensed under GNU Public License which lets you download, modify, use or install the software into your site.
The software allows you to use MySQL, a kind of language to arrange data in the database. Its database service is very reliable, manageable,super fast, saves time and money. Be it blog posts, pages, categories, tags, files, folders or website contents—–All are stored in its database. Also, some others use MariaDB and SQLite as database service. SQLite uses SQL database engine and it is too reliable, very fast, featured and most used database engine in the world.
When Was WordPress Made?
WordPress was, first of all, launched in back 2003 and then it was a blogging platform. Those who collaborated in the project were Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. Matt started his project in 2002 for his personal use and named it b2/cafelog but he needed some development and collaboration in his project. Mike participated in the project and its first version was WordPress 0.7, released on May 27th , 2003. In the beginning, this was a blogging tool crafted in B2 code base but now a days, it has been developed into a modern and powerful site building software and written in PHP language.
What Can You Make with WordPress?
WordPress is the most popular site builder powers over more than 35% of all websites in the world wide web. Being flexible, manageable and open-source software, most of the site owners use it to build and customise websites. At WordPress, you can start a site though you don’t know how to code. You can create any kind of website with proper tools and add-ons.
With WordPress, users create several kind of sites like blog, eCommerce store or any kind of site you like though at the beginning, it was made for blogging purpose. But nowadays, there has been a massive change in WordPress ecosystem including in its core code. If needed, you can download the latest version of the software. In its directory, you can find almost all kind of themes and plugins made for various purposes.
The kind of websites you can create with WordPress are as follows:
- Blogs
- eCommerce store
- Business websites
- Portfolios
- Forums
- Membership sites
- Resumes
- Social networks
- E-learning website
- Educational website
- Event website etc.
Difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
Very often users get confused while searching for WordPress, as there are two platforms in the same name in the web. These two platforms are WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Don’t worry. I will highlight the difference between these two platforms. The former is an web hosting platform that gives you storage for files, folders and other contents for your site while the latter is only a site builder and it does not allocate storage for your website.
Go through the following section to know what is the difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org.
| Features | WordPress.com | WordPress.org |
| web hosting | It is a commercial site with web hosting which implies that if you like to host a site then you will not have to buy any third party web hosting provider. | It is a kind of website building platform that helps only to build site. To host a site with it, you need an independent web hosting service that provides storage. That’s why it is called self-hosted. |
| Free | It is free but with limited features. | It is free forever. |
| Custom Domain | You can’t use custom domain unless you subscribe to a paid plan | You can use custom domain |
| Themes | You can install anyone of the themes available in its theme directory. These themes are free. To install a premium theme you need to upgrade to a paid plan | You can use both the free and premium themes and you can install anyone of these. |
| Plugins | You can’t install a plugin until you upgrade to a business plan. | You can install any kind of plugin. It has a great directory of plugins. |
Why WordPress so Popular CMS Platform?
There are many types of CMS Platforms out there such as Joomla, Drupal etc but why WordPress is so much popular ? Many readers too ask this question. Users prefer it to others because of easy to use interface, thousands of plugins and themes. Read the following points about it to know why it is so popular to users.
Free Software: The WordPress is an open-source software and that’s why it is free for use. Anyone can download and install the software and you have not to pay money to use it. While the other website builders cost you a monthly charge.There are developers who can help you if you get stuck in the course of walk.
Website Layout and Design: It also offers drop-drag builder which implies that you can use it to build layout, menus and submenus in the way as you like. You can design the header, footer and if needed, you can install third-party add-on service. This gives you the ability to design website layout in the way as you.
Easy to Use Interface: The software offers you customisability feature. You can edit various options through the customiser. You can add menu, sub menu, upload logo for branding and use various colors and fonts to give extra functionality to your site.
Thousands of plugins: You can install any kind of plugin onto your website. The plugin directory contains huge numbers of plugins which are free for users. Also’ you can purchase premium plugins and install it if you felt required.
Thousands of Themes: The directory contains thousands of themes which are free. You can install anyone of these to give unique outlook and feel to your site.
Is there any alternative to WordPress?
Many readers ask me, “Is there any alternative to WordPress?” It is a simple question and all the users do not love the same thing. This is where lies the reason as to why some people want to find out alternatives to it. In the market, there are several alternatives to WordPress such as follows:
- Wix
- Weebly
- Squarespace
- Jimdo
- Site123
- Shopify etc.
How to Build Site with WordPress?
Do you want to start a site with a site builder? A good decision. Many users who are new in this field do not know how to build a site and what to do for it. To build or start a site you need three things which are essential such as (1) a domain name, (2) a web hosting service and (3) a site building platform or site builder.
Domain Name: Domain name is the most important part of a website which you need to register if you want to launch a new website. It is a unique name assigned to your site and simply it has two parts, namely, the actual domain that comes before a TLD and the next part is the domain extension or TLD. The two parts being combined form a complete domain name. Generally, the website title is the domain name. To speak in another way, it is the domain without extension which is used as site title.
While going to choose a domain name, try to make it short, memorable, easy to type and spell to result in better user-experience. If you use a domain consisting very long characters, it may be difficult to remember, read and write for users and it may affect user-experience. That’s why we can say that short domain is better than long domain. So, choose a domain for your site and register it.
Web Hosting Service: Web hosting service provides you storage for your website including its files, folders and all other contents in their servers which have physical location in the data center. The web hosting providers run your site all the time so that anyone can visit your site. It never stops. That’s why you need to choose one of the best web hosting service that provides essential features to run, access and manage your site with a lot of options.
Web hosting service gives you:
- Storage
- Bandwidth
- SSL Certificate
- Access to your cPanel via FTP, SFTP, SSH access etc.
- Custom business email etc.
Choose the best web hosting provider and start to make a site.
Site Builder or Site Building Platform: Site builder is a kind of software or CMS that provides you an easy, flexible and customisable interface to build site. With it, you can give your site unique layout and template for header, footer, pages and posts. Some site builders provide drop-drag interface with pre-made templates and pattern.
Very good post for wordpress. It has illustrated in comprehensive ways.
Blowwager always posts comprehensive and easy to use guides which are very effective and useful for newbies and non-tech-savvies.