7 Common WordPress Terms You Need To Know Before Starting A WordPress Blog
WordPress is the most popular blogging platform in the world. More than 27% of all the websites in the world is powered by WordPress. The reliability, fluidity, and the ease of using this platform have endeared it to millions of users the world over.
If you are using WordPress for the first time, then you might want to know some of the terminologies which are used on the platform. Start with the seven common terms which you will need when you are in talks with the developer or with any other blogger seeking for some help.
1. Backend/Frontend
The backend is the part of the WordPress interface that visitors and readers never get to see because it’s hidden from them. As an administrator, you have access to the backend which is popularly known as the dashboard.
You can give access to others like editors, writers, guest authors to access this dashboard. The default URL to access the dashboard is domain.com/wp-admin, however, you can change this to something like domain.com/login using plugins like WPS hide login.
This is how dashboard (Backend) looks like:
From the backend, you can edit and schedule blog posts, customize themes, create pages, Add advertisements, install/disable plugins and themes etc. If you’ve ever done any of these things, then you have worked on the backend.
The beauty of the dashboard is; it makes it easier for anyone with zero experience to manage it easily. Since everything is well explained & graphical user interface (GUI) doesn’t require you to know any coding. This is one of the reasons why it is so popular among every type of users for creating a blog or a website.
The frontend is the interface of the blog that is visible to the visitors. The frontend includes things like blog layout, design, color, navigation bar, sidebars, published posts, active banners, etc. It’s the themes that make every blog looks different.
There are a few plugins which help in making changed from WordPress frontend. Especially these days Page builder plugins are very popular as they help in designing any kind of frontend layout by simply drag & drop elements. Using such plugins are so easy that even a 4th standard kid can start creating the layout they desire.
2. FTP
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, a data transfer protocol which enables two different computers or servers to exchange files independently. Technically when you add an image to your blog post, it is uploaded to your web server. Similarly, your theme & plugins are added to your web-server (Your web-hosting account). Using FTP you can access this files using an FTP Client.
This is important when you are troubleshooting WordPress related issues or need to upload heavy files or take backup of your WordPress.
3. My SQL
MySQL is an open source database management system (DMS) which most internet providers or hosting companies provide as a database server. WordPress blogs depend mainly on MySQL databases for storing information regarding the blog. The most common lingo used for this in the WordPress industry is “WordPress database”.
You can easily access MySQL in the cPanel provided by your hosting company. Accessing MySQL (PHPmyAdmin) database will help you to do following things:
- Optimize your WordPress database.
- Take the backup of a database.
- Drop a table.
4. Permalinks
Permalinks are the permanent addresses or URLs to each post, page, categories, download links, or any other thing that’s on your website.
The permalink is the URL in the address bar that you send out to people if you want them to visit a particular page on your site.
In WordPress, there are different types of permalinks structures which is adapted for the site. Some of the permalinks types you can find include:
- http://example.com/?p=124 (This is the default WordPress permalink.)
- http://example.com/2017/03/04/post-name.
- http://example.com/2017/post-name/.
You can decide which of the permalinks suits you better. You can choose your own permalink to differentiate your website links from others.
5. WordPress Plugins
Plugins are some of the most talked features as far as WordPress is concerned.
Plugins enable users to add additional features to their blogs. The plugins directory features several thousand plugins that you can readily use.
Some of the things plugins can help you do: Increase blog speed, enhance security, backup your site, add an opt-in form, add shortcodes, monetize your blog, manage comments, add publishers/guest posters, share posts on social media, reduce image sizes, create sitemaps, improve SEO, etc.
6. WordPress Widgets
Widgets are the elements which you can use in the different area of the website. For example, you can put some widgets in sidebar, header or footer of the website, and these widgets will show as it is. Hence it is used to customize the website according to our feel.
Widgets can only be added from the back-end, and they create extra area apart from the regular title, post an image area available with the theme, and basic WordPress, where you can easily add the features you want.
7. WordPress Themes
Apart from plugins, themes are the most popular term in the WordPress world.
This is due to the role they play in determining the aesthetics and functionalities of your blog. Like plugins, themes play a vital role in increasing your blog speed, giving it a beautiful layout, and in overall branding of your blog.
Most of the new users make use of free themes. Those who have money usually settle for premium (paid) themes because of their additional functionality.
Some of the best premium WordPress themes can be purchased from:
- Genesis
- GeneratePress
- ThriveThemes
- Elegant Themes
- Envato
- ThemeForest
- Themify
A blog is built using these themes as they are or by customizing them to make them more unique.