WordPress is free, open-source content management software and the most widely used way to build a website.
WordPress is free software for building and running websites. You install it on a web server, log in to a dashboard in your browser and create pages, blog posts and menus without writing code. Themes control how the site looks, and plugins add features like contact forms, online shops, booking systems and SEO tools.
It started in 2003 as blogging software and has grown into the most popular way to build a website. Usage surveys such as W3Techs estimate that it runs over 40% of all websites, from personal blogs to large news and business sites.
How WordPress works
WordPress is written in PHP and stores its content in a MySQL or MariaDB database. When someone visits a page:
- The web server passes the request to PHP.
- WordPress loads its core code, your theme and your active plugins.
- It queries the database for the page content and settings.
- It builds the HTML page and sends it back.
Because every uncached page is built this way, your server's speed, your PHP version and your caching setup make a big difference to how fast WordPress feels.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
- WordPress.org is where you download the free, open-source software to run on your own hosting. You control everything: themes, plugins, code and data.
- WordPress.com is a hosted service run by Automattic, built on the same software. It's quicker to start with, but cheaper plans limit which plugins and themes you can use.
When people talk about WordPress hosting, they mean hosting for the self-installed WordPress.org software.
What you need to run WordPress
- A domain name
- Hosting with a supported PHP version and a MySQL or MariaDB database
- An SSL certificate so the site loads over HTTPS
Most hosts let you install it in a minute with Softaculous. AblePage's WordPress hosting runs on LiteSpeed servers and includes LSCache for WordPress, with Redis object caching available.
Common WordPress problems
- Out-of-date plugins and themes: a leading cause of hacked WordPress sites. Keep them updated and delete the ones you don't use.
- Plugin conflicts: an update breaks the site. Test big updates on a staging site first.
- Slow pages: usually fixed with page caching, image optimisation and fewer heavy plugins.
- Weak admin logins: use strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
- No backups: keep automatic backups so you can roll back quickly.
WordPress vs other CMSs
WordPress is one of many content management systems. Alternatives like Drupal and Joomla suit some complex sites, and hosted site builders are simpler but less flexible. WordPress's strengths are its huge library of plugins, the number of developers who know it, and the fact that you own your site and its data outright.