WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage a website or blog.
It was initially released in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little as a basic blogging tool, but it has evolved into a full-fledged CMS that powers more than a third of all websites on the internet.
WordPress uses a plugin architecture and a template system, which means you can easily extend its functionality and customise the look and feel of your website.
Its features include:
- Themes: WordPress themes allow you to change the design of your website quickly. There are thousands of free and premium themes available.
- Plugins: WordPress plugins allow you to extend the functionality of your site. They can add new features like contact forms, galleries, shopping carts, forums, and more.
- User Management: WordPress has a built-in user management system, so you can have multiple authors and assign them different roles and capabilities.
- Media Management: WordPress makes it easy to manage images, audio, and video content. You can even use it to manage documents and downloadable files.
- Easy Installation and Upgrades: Most web hosts offer a one-click install of WordPress, and it has a built-in update system for security releases.
- SEO: WordPress is designed to be SEO-friendly out of the box. You can also use WordPress SEO plugins to further optimize your site.
- Mobile-friendly: Most WordPress themes are designed to be mobile-friendly, and the backend is designed to be used on smartphones and tablets.
WordPress is available in two forms: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. WordPress.org, often called self-hosted WordPress, requires you to have your own web hosting but offers more flexibility and control.
WordPress.com is a hosting service that makes it easy to set up a website, but it has more limitations unless you upgrade to a premium plan.
