It is estimated that there are around 75 Million WordPress web sites, which is around 30% globally.
WordPress is an application running under PHP and a MySql database that allows ‘bolt-ons’ or ‘plug-ins’ to be installed to provide additional functionality and styling to your site with little development experience.
It was originally associated with Blogging sites but now supports the more traditional web sites. Its CMS (Content Management System) allows users with different access rights to login to the control panel and make changes from a subscriber, who can read posts and write comments, to and administrator who can install new themes and plug-ins.
Installed onto WordPress are themes. Themes allow users to change the look and functionality of a WordPress website without altering the core code or site content. You can download multiple themes and edit each one to give your site a different look but only one can be active at any time.
Plug-ins are small applications that allow you to extend the features and functionality of the site. They provide a quick solution for the modern requirements of today’s sites.
Security, as with all Internet facing sites is a big concern. Updates to WordPress, themes and plug-ins are released on a regular basis for enhancement of features and security patches. It is important that your site is updated on a regular basis.
