Web development is growing rapidly and developers should use the right tools and technologies to create high-quality sites. WordPress is one of the most used content management systems in the world with 43% of websites using it and is utilized by web developers everywhere.
WordPress is a versatile open-source platform that offers a wide range of features that make it an ideal choice for many web developers. It has evolved into a powerful website builder that can be used to create a variety of websites, after originally finding its feet as a blogging platform.
Web developers use WordPress for a variety of websites ranging from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. Its ease of use, flexibility, and extensive library of plugins and themes make it perfect for client projects.
Let’s take the reasons why developers use WordPress and the benefits of doing so.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that enables users to create and manage websites without much knowledge of coding or web development. Many advanced themes require no coding knowledge at all.
It was first released in 2003 and has since become one of the most popular CMS platforms in the world, powering over 40% of all websites on the internet.
There are two main versions of WordPress: WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
WordPress.org is an open-source, self-hosted version of the CMS, which means users download and install the software on their web hosting service. This version allows for greater customization and control over the website’s design and functionality.
WordPress.com, on the other hand, is a paid service that offers website and blog hosting, but with limited customization options. It is more costly to set up and overall far more restrictive.
WordPress is known for its user-friendly interface, extensive plugin library, and a vast array of themes and templates. It also offers a robust community of users and developers who contribute to its ongoing development and improvement.
Why do web developers use WordPress?
Why do web developers choose to use WordPress? It is relatively simple to set up and the fact it’s a CMS makes it a great option for clients who aren’t tech-savvy. The plugins and themes also mean that you can offer a wide variety of solutions to customers without having to code everything from scratch.
Let’s take a closer look at why developers use WordPress.
Ease of Use
One of the main reasons why web developers use WordPress is its ease of use. WordPress provides a user-friendly interface that allows developers to create, edit, and publish content quickly and easily. The wide range of themes and plugins means it’s easy to customize the look and functionality of a website without requiring extensive coding knowledge.
Customization
Flexibility and customization options are a big reason why web developers use WordPress.The wide range of themes and plugins can be used to create custom designs and add new features to a website. Developers can also create bespoke themes and plugins, allowing them to tailor a website to a customer’s specific needs.
SEO-friendly
WordPress is also known for being SEO-friendly, meaning it is designed to help websites rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). WordPress allows you to modify content, meta descriptions, and other elements to improve its search engine visibility.
There are also a lot of plugins that automate much of this process.
Large Community Support
Finally, WordPress has a large community of developers and users who contribute to its ongoing development and support. This means that web developers can access a wealth of resources, including tutorials, forums, and documentation, to help them build and maintain their WordPress websites.
Do All Web Developers Use WordPress?
Not all web developers use WordPress. There are plenty of websites that are built with different technologies. A lot of web apps are built using React or Javascript and don’t use PHP like WordPress.
Pros of Using WordPress
- Ease of use: WordPress is a user-friendly platform that allows web developers to create and manage websites without any coding knowledge. Many hosting providers offer a one-click setup and maintain backups for free.
- Flexibility: The platform allows web developers to customize the platform to meet their specific needs. The wide variety of themes, plugins, and add-ons means you can do nearly anything n the platform.
- Scalable: WordPress is highly scalable. It can handle large amounts of traffic and can be easily optimized for search engines. It makes it an ideal choice for businesses that are looking to grow their online presence.
Cons of Using WordPress
While WordPress has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages that web developers should be aware of.
- Security: WordPress is a popular platform but that makes it a target for hackers. Web developers need to take extra precautions to ensure that their WordPress sites are secure.
- Speed: There is no replacement for simple code and unfortunately because of this WordPress sites can be slow to load, which can negatively impact user experience. Bloated plugins can slow down a site a lot. Web developers need to optimize their WordPress sites to ensure that they load quickly.
- Resource-intensive: It requires a significant amount of server resources to run smoothly. This can be a problem for web developers who are working with limited resources or clients without good hosting.
Alternatives to WordPress
As well as the options mentioned below Wix and Webflow have become fantastic WordPress alternatives for those who want a simple code-free experience. There are several alternatives to WordPress that web developers can consider.
- Joomla: Joomla is a content management system that is similar to WordPress in many ways. It is user-friendly, flexible, and highly customizable.
- Drupal: Drupal is a powerful content management system that is highly scalable and can handle large amounts of traffic.
- From scratch: Many web developers build websites from scratch using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It requires more coding knowledge but it allows web developers to create highly customized websites that are optimized for speed and security.
Should Web Developers Learn WordPress?
Web developers should consider learning WordPress because it is widely used, easy to use, flexible, and scalable. The fact it is free and open means it’s easy to customize it to their needs. The large community of users and developers who contribute to its development and provide support means someone has always come across a problem you’ve had.
Learning WordPress is beneficial for developers who want to create websites quickly and efficiently. The user-friendly interface makes it easy to create and manage content, and the wide range of plugins and themes can be used to add functionality and customize the look and feel of a website.
However, it is essential to understand that WordPress may not be the best solution for all types of websites. For example, if a website requires complex functionality or high levels of security, a custom solution may be more appropriate. Additionally, web developers who specialize in other technologies, such as Ruby on Rails or Node.js, may not find it necessary to learn WordPress.
Web developers should consider learning WordPress as part of their skill set, especially if they want to create websites quickly and efficiently. However, they should also be aware of its limitations and consider other technologies when appropriate.
Conclusion
Web developers do use WordPress. WordPress is still the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world today, and it is used by millions of people and organizations, including the White House and NASA.
Web developers should use WordPress if they think it will be able to meet the website requirements. It’s built-in functionalities and trustworthy third-party or custom-developed add-ons, make it great for a range of requirements.
A significant number of professional web developers use WordPress for web development. It powers a lot of websites so the demand for developers with this skillset has remained consistent.
Overall, while there may be other CMS options available and the ability to build from scratch, WordPress continues to be a popular choice for web developers.
Resources
Nathan Britten, the founder and editor of Developer Pitstop, is a self-taught software engineer with nearly five years of experience in front-end technologies. Nathan created the site to provide simple, straightforward knowledge to those interested in technology, helping them navigate the industry and better understand their day-to-day roles.
