Become a Skilled WordPress Developer! Step 1: Discover the Basics of Web Development

Becoming a WordPress developer is a decision that should come from the passion but should also be taken after an informative lookout. If you are looking for a career change or if you are at the beginning of your career and can’t decide where you’re heading, have a look at this article that will explain the basics of WordPress, what a WordPress Developer is and what you should know or learn.

Introduction to WordPress

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage websites easily. It is an open-source platform, which means it is free to use and can be customized to suit various needs.

WordPress offers a user-friendly interface, a wide range of themes and plugins, and robust features for creating and publishing content. It is known for its flexibility, scalability, and SEO-friendly nature, making it a preferred choice for individuals, businesses, and organizations looking to establish a strong online presence.

WordPress History

The content management system (CMS) WordPress was created in 2003 by British blogger Mike Little and American blogger Matt Mullenweg. WordPress is most frequently used to make blogs, but it is versatile enough to be used to build and design any type of website. Additionally, because it is open-source, users are free to alter it to suit their needs.

WordPress was the successor to b2/cafelog, a blogging tool created in 2001 by French programmer Michel Valdrighi. Valdrighi quit developing b2 in 2002, but Mullenweg, a university student who was using it at the time, announced on his blog in January 2003 that he would be prepared to “fork” the blogging tool (that is, continue enhancing it without Valdrighi’s assistance). The next day, Little commented on Mullenweg’s post, saying he’d be happy to help.

They published the initial version, 0.7, of WordPress in May 2003, a name supplied by blogger Christine Selleck. WordPress started naming major releases after famous jazz musicians in January 2004, with version 1.0 (Davis), named after American trumpeter Miles Davis. In May 2004, version 1.2 (Mingus) was launched, which included support for plug-ins, which are independently built programs that give additional features to WordPress sites.

Version 1.5 (Strayhorn) was released in February 2005, and it featured themes, which are layouts for the designs of WordPress sites, many of which were made by WordPress users. Version 3.0 (Thelonious) provided the ability to administer multiple sites in June 2010. By 2011, WordPress’s simplicity of use and flexibility had established it as the dominant CMS software, with more than half of all websites using a CMS using it.

WordPress Popularity

WordPress was 20 years old this year (which is a long time in internet years), but its creation was an important turning point in the last two decades.

According to TechJury.net:

• More than 810,000,000 active websites use WordPress as of 2023.
• As of April 2023, 43.5% of all active sites worldwide run on WordPress.
• More than 500 websites are created via WordPress daily.
• Over 409 million users visit WordPress pages monthly.
• Users publish blog posts in over 120 languages on WordPress sites
• WooCommerce, an e-commerce plugin for WordPress, has over 6.3 million active shops.
• WooCommerce powers over 39% of all online shops.

What is a WordPress Developer?

Roles and Responsibilities of a WordPress Developer

A WordPress developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites using the WordPress content management system (CMS). They work with clients and other stakeholders to create custom WordPress themes, plugins, and other features that meet their specific needs.

Here are some of the specific roles and responsibilities of a WordPress developer:

• Design and develop custom WordPress themes: WordPress developers create custom themes to give websites a unique look and feel that aligns with the client’s brand. They use HTML, CSS, and PHP to create themes that are both visually appealing and functional.
• Develop custom plugins: WordPress developers also develop custom plugins to add specific features and functionality to WordPress websites. Plugins can be used to add things like contact forms, e-commerce functionality, and social media integration.
• Maintain WordPress websites: WordPress developers are responsible for maintaining WordPress websites by performing regular updates and security patches. They also troubleshoot any problems that may arise with the website.
• Train clients on how to use WordPress: WordPress developers often train clients on how to use WordPress so that they can make changes to their website themselves. This can save clients money in the long run by eliminating the need to hire a developer for every small change.
• Stay up-to-date on WordPress trends: WordPress is constantly evolving, so it is important for WordPress developers to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. This includes learning about new features, plugins, and security vulnerabilities.

In addition to these specific roles and responsibilities, a WordPress developer should also have the following skills:

• Strong knowledge of HTML, CSS, and PHP: WordPress is a PHP-based CMS, so it is essential for WordPress developers to have a strong understanding of these programming languages.
• Experience with WordPress themes and plugins: WordPress developers should have experience with creating and using WordPress themes and plugins. This will allow them to quickly and easily create custom websites that meet the needs of their clients.
• Problem-solving skills: WordPress developers should be able to troubleshoot problems and find solutions quickly and efficiently. This is important because WordPress websites can be complex and there are often unexpected problems that can arise.
• Communication skills: WordPress developers should be able to communicate effectively with clients and other stakeholders. This is important to ensure that the website meets the client’s needs and that any changes or updates are communicated clearly.

WordPress Development Specializations

There are a lot of specializations you can dive into, but the main common are:

• Front-end development: Front-end developers focus on the visual aspects of a website, such as the design, layout, and user interface. They use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create websites that are both visually appealing and functional.
• Back-end development: Back-end developers focus on the non-visual aspects of a website, such as the database, the server, and the security. They use PHP, MySQL, and other programming languages to create websites that are efficient and secure.
• Theme development: Theme developers create custom themes for WordPress websites. Themes can be used to change the look and feel of a WordPress website without having to modify the underlying code.
• Plugin development: Plugin developers create custom plugins for WordPress websites. Plugins can be used to add specific features and functionality to a WordPress website, such as contact forms, e-commerce, and social media integration.
• Security development: Security developers focus on the security of WordPress websites. They identify and fix security vulnerabilities in WordPress websites and plugins.
• Performance development: Performance developers focus on the performance of WordPress websites. They optimize WordPress websites for speed and efficiency.

In addition to these specializations, there are also a number of other areas of WordPress development, such as API development, mobile development, and translation development.

The specific specialization that you choose will depend on your interests and skills. If you are interested in the visual aspects of websites, then front-end development may be a good fit for you. If you are interested in the non-visual aspects of websites, then back-end development may be a better fit. And if you are interested in creating custom themes or plugins, then theme development or plugin development may be a good option.

No matter which specialization you choose, it is important to have a strong understanding of WordPress and its underlying technologies. You should also be able to troubleshoot problems and find solutions quickly and efficiently. And finally, you should be able to communicate effectively with clients and other stakeholders.

Career Opportunities for WordPress Developers

• Web development agencies: WordPress developers are in high demand at web development agencies that create websites for clients across various industries. Agencies typically need WordPress developers to:
  • Design and develop custom WordPress themes and plugins
  • Maintain and update WordPress websites
  • Troubleshoot WordPress problems
  • Provide support to clients
• Freelancing and consulting: WordPress developers can also find work as freelancers or consultants. This can be a great option for developers who want the flexibility to work on their own terms and choose their own projects. As a freelancer or consultant, you could:
  • Develop custom WordPress themes and plugins
  • Maintain and update WordPress websites
  • Troubleshoot WordPress problems
  • Provide training and support to clients
• Corporate positions: WordPress developers are also in demand at larger corporations and tech companies. These companies often need WordPress developers to:
  • Maintain and update their company websites
  • Develop custom WordPress applications
  • Integrate WordPress with other systems
  • Provide support to employees
• Entrepreneurship: WordPress developers with the right skills and experience can also start their own businesses. This could involve developing and selling premium themes, plugins, or online courses related to WordPress development. As an entrepreneur, you could:
  • Develop and sell premium themes and plugins
  • Create and market online courses about WordPress development
  • Provide consulting services to businesses and individuals

The career opportunities available to WordPress developers are vast and varied. With the right skills and experience, you can find a job that is both challenging and rewarding.

What are the Web Development Basics?

HTML Fundamentals for WordPress Developers

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the foundation of web development, and understanding its fundamentals is essential for WordPress developers.

Here are the HTML fundamentals that are particularly important for WordPress developers:

1. HTML Structure:

• Understanding the basic structure of an HTML document: `<html>`, `<head>`, and `<body>` elements
• Creating headings with `<h1>` to `<h6>` elements for structuring content hierarchy
• Using paragraphs with the `<p>` element to organize textual content

2. HTML Elements:

• Text formatting: Utilizing formatting elements like `<strong>`, `<em>`, `<u>`, and `<span>` to emphasize and style text
• Lists: Creating ordered lists `<ol>` and unordered lists `<ul>` with list items `<li>`.
• Links: Adding hyperlinks using the `<a>` element with the `href` attribute
• Images: Embedding images using the `<img>` element with the `src` attribute

3. Semantic HTML:

• Semantic elements: Using semantic elements like `<header>`, `<nav>`, `<main>`, `<article>`, `<section>`, and `<footer>` to give meaning to different parts of the content
• Accessibility: Incorporating elements like `<alt>` attributes for images and `<label>` elements for form fields to enhance accessibility

4. Forms and Inputs:

• Form structure: Building forms using the `<form>` element and various form controls
• Input types: Utilizing input types such as `<input>` (text, password, checkbox, radio), `<textarea>`, `<select>`, and `<button>`

5. Divs and Spans:

• <div>: Using `<div>` elements to create containers for grouping and styling content blocks
• <span>: Employing `<span>` elements to apply inline styling or scripting to specific parts of the content

6. HTML Comments:

• Adding comments: Inserting comments using `<!– … –>` to provide explanations for code sections or for temporary notes

7. HTML Entities:

• Special characters: Utilizing HTML entities like `&lt;` for `<`, `&gt;` for `>`, and `&amp;` for `&` to display reserved characters

Understanding these HTML fundamentals will enable WordPress developers to effectively structure and organize content within WordPress websites, create custom themes, and make informed decisions about styling and layout

CSS Essentials for Styling the WordPress Websites

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is essential for styling WordPress websites and ensuring they have an appealing visual design.

Here are the CSS essentials that WordPress developers should be familiar with for effective website styling:

1. Selectors and Properties:

• CSS selectors: Understanding how to select HTML elements for styling using tag names, classes, IDs, pseudo-classes, and pseudo-elements
• CSS properties: Familiarity with a variety of properties such as color, font-size, background-color, margin, padding, and border

2. Box Model and Layout:

• Box model: Grasping the concept of the box model, which includes content, padding, border, and margin around elements
• Display property: Using the display property to control the layout behavior of elements, such as block, inline, and inline-block

3. Typography and Text Styling:

• Fonts and typography: Setting font families, sizes, weights, and styles for text content using properties like font-family, font-size, font-weight, and font-style
• Text color and alignment: Applying text colors with color property and controlling text alignment using text-align

4. Colors and Backgrounds:

• Color properties: Specifying colors for text, backgrounds, and borders using color values or color names
• Background properties: Setting background colors, images, and positions with properties like background-color, background-image, and background-position

5. Layout and Positioning:

• Positioning: Understanding CSS positioning techniques like static, relative, absolute, and fixed to control element placement
• Layout methods: Using float, clear, and modern CSS Flexbox or CSS Grid for creating responsive layouts

6. Spacing and Sizing:

• Margins and padding: Utilizing margin and padding properties to control spacing around elements
• Width and height: Specifying element dimensions using width and height properties

7. Borders and Box Shadows:

• Borders: Adding borders to elements with properties like border, border-width, border-color, and border-radius
• Box shadows: Applying box shadows for depth and visual effects using the box-shadow property

8. Responsive Design and Media Queries:

• Media queries: Implementing media queries to create responsive designs that adapt to different screen sizes and devices
• Breakpoints: Defining breakpoints where styles change based on screen width

9. Pseudo-classes and Pseudo-elements:

• Pseudo-classes: Applying styles to elements based on user interactions, such as :hover, :active, and :focus
• Pseudo-elements: Using ::before and ::after to add virtual elements and content to the page for styling purposes

10. CSS Preprocessors and Frameworks:

• CSS preprocessors: Introduction to preprocessors like Sass or LESS for enhanced styling capabilities
• CSS frameworks: Mentioning popular frameworks like Bootstrap that provide pre-designed components and grids for faster styling

JavaScript Basics for Functionalities

JavaScript is a crucial programming language for adding interactivity and dynamic functionality to websites, including WordPress websites.

1. Introduction to JavaScript:

• JavaScript is a scripting language used for client-side interactions on web pages
• JavaScript runs in web browsers and ensures compatibility across different browsers

2. Variables and Data Types:

• Variables are used for storing data, and they are declared using var, let, and const
• Data types: strings, numbers, booleans, arrays, objects, and null/undefined values

3. Functions and Control Structures:

• Functions are used to encapsulate reusable blocks of code
• There are control flow statements like if, else if, else, switch, and they are looping with for, while, and forEach

4. DOM Manipulation for WordPress:

• Document Object Model (DOM) is the structure that represents the HTML elements on a webpage
• Using methods like getElementById, getElementsByClassName, querySelector, and querySelectorAll you can select elements in the DOM
• You can change text, attributes, styles, and classes of HTML elements using JavaScript

5. Event Handling and Interactivity:

• You can set up event listeners to respond to user interactions like clicks, form submissions, and mouse movements.
• Event objects provide information about the event and the element it occurred on.
• You can stop the default browser actions with preventDefault

6. AJAX and Asynchronous Programming:

• Using asynchronous operations and learn the importance of callbacks, promises, and async/await for non-blocking execution
• Using AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) to make asynchronous requests to the server, update content without refreshing the page

7. Working with JSON and APIs:

• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data interchange format
• Use the Fetch API to retrieve data from external APIs and integrating it into WordPress websites

8. WordPress-Specific JavaScript:

• Enqueue JavaScript files in WordPress themes and plugins
• Leverage WordPress action and filter hooks to integrate custom JavaScript functionality into the site

Integration of Web Technologies in WordPress

Integrating various web technologies into WordPress is essential for creating dynamic, feature-rich, and interactive websites

1. HTML Integration:

• WordPress Content: Integrating HTML within WordPress content to structure and format text, images, and multimedia elements
• Custom Templates: Creating custom page templates using HTML to design unique layouts for different sections of the website
• Embedding Media: Embedding HTML-based media like videos, audio players, and interactive maps into WordPress posts and pages

2. CSS Styling:

• Custom Styling: Applying custom CSS styles to WordPress themes for personalized designs and improved aesthetics
• Responsive Design: Using CSS media queries to create responsive layouts that adapt to different screen sizes and devices
• Theme Customization: Leveraging CSS to modify fonts, colors, spacing, and layout properties to align with the desired design

3. JavaScript Functionality:

• Interactivity: Implementing JavaScript to add interactive elements such as sliders, accordions, pop-ups, and form validation
• AJAX Requests: Utilizing JavaScript and AJAX to fetch data from the server without refreshing the entire page
• Custom Features: Developing custom JavaScript functionalities like live search, dynamic content loading, and real-time updates

4. Third-Party APIs:

• Social Media Integration: Embedding social media widgets and buttons to enable sharing, following, and displaying social content
• Payment Gateways: Integrating payment APIs for e-commerce websites to process online transactions securely
• External Services: Connecting to third-party APIs for services like maps, weather forecasts, analytics, and email marketing

5. Database Integration:

• Custom Tables: Creating and managing custom database tables to store additional data beyond WordPress’s default content
• Advanced Queries: Using SQL queries and the WordPress Database Class for complex data retrieval and manipulation

6. Server-Side Scripting (PHP):

• Custom Plugins: Developing PHP-based plugins to extend WordPress functionality and add new features
• Template Tags: Embedding PHP code using template tags to dynamically generate content within themes
• Custom Functions: Writing custom PHP functions to modify core functionality, implement hooks, and filters

7. External Libraries and Frameworks:

• JavaScript Libraries: Integrating popular libraries like jQuery, React, or Vuejs for enhanced JavaScript capabilities
• CSS Frameworks: Incorporating frameworks like Bootstrap or Foundation to expedite responsive design and layout development

8. Content Management Systems (CMS) Integration:

• Headless CMS: Combining WordPress’s back-end capabilities with other platforms’ front-end technologies for flexible content delivery
• API Integration: Using WordPress’s REST API to share content and data with external applications and websites

To become a WordPress developer, you will need to have a strong understanding of HTML, CSS, and PHP. You should also be familiar with the WordPress API and the WordPress Codex. Additionally, it is helpful to have experience with Git and GitHub.

If you are interested in becoming a WordPress developer, there are many resources available to help you learn. You can find online tutorials, books, and courses that can teach you everything you need to know about WordPress development. You can also get involved in the WordPress community by attending meetups and conferences, and by contributing to the WordPress project.

WordPress development is a rewarding career path that offers many opportunities. With the right skills and experience, you can find a job that is both challenging and fulfilling.

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