Introduction to WordPress

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a CMS (Content Management System): a tool for building websites and managing content (text, images, videos) without writing code.

Key components

• Domain: the web address of the site (e.g. google.com); like a home address, but for a website.
• Hosting: the storage space on the internet holding the site's files, images, and content; like a hard drive on the internet.
• WordPress platform: the software running on top of hosting.
• Themes: pre-designed templates that define how the site looks. Recommended: Kadence Theme, customizable header/footer/logo/sidebar, clean and professional.
• Plugins: pre-built functionality solving a specific problem: a contact form plugin, an SEO plugin (Rank Math or Yoast), a security plugin (Wordfence).
• Kadence Blocks: design elements (buttons, sections) used in page building, like Lego blocks for assembling parts of a site.

Types of WordPress websites

Practice platform: Pantheon.io

Pantheon.io provides a free WordPress development environment for practice.

Setup

1. Go to https://pantheon.io.
2. Sign up with a Google account (allow authentication access).
3. On the dashboard, click Create New Site.
4. Select WordPress as the CMS.
5. Enter a site name (e.g. myfirstwpdemo).
6. Choose region: USA.
7. Click Deploy WordPress: this can take 5 to 10 minutes.

Installing WordPress

1. Click "Visit Pantheon Site".
2. Set the language (English).
3. Set the site title, admin username, and password; optionally uncheck "Discourage Search Engines" once you want the site publicly visible.
4. Click Install WordPress.

Logging in

Copy the site URL, append /wp-login.php or /wp-admin, and log in with your credentials to reach the WordPress Dashboard.

Core summary

Practice assignment

Set up a WordPress site on Pantheon.io, install the Kadence theme, add one plugin (e.g. a contact form), and create two pages: "Home" and "About Us".