WordPress Theme Development Tutorial Manual - Getting Started with Theme Development
Welcome to the WordPress Theme Development Handbook, an essential resource for learning WordPress theme development.
The Theme Developer's Handbook is a repository for WordPress theme development related questions. Whether you are new to WordPress theme development or an experienced theme developer, you can find answers to your theme-related questions here.
- If you're not familiar with developing WordPress themes, start with Part 1, where you can What to know about the subjectUnderstanding WordPress License(math.) genus Setting up the development environmentas well as Creating the first topicThe
- Once one understands what a WordPress theme is, the Theme BasicsThe section will introduce you to the knowledge board of WordPress theme development.
- The Theme Features section shows you the various core features that can be used in a WordPress theme.
- If you want to provide flexibility and make your theme easier to install, see theCustom API respond in singing safetyChapter.
- Once you've mastered the basics of theme development, check out the chapters on child themes, best UI practices, and theme testing.
- Once you're ready to share your topic with the world, the final section will introduce the How to post your topicThis article will teach you some of the best practices for theme releases, as well as various things to do to get your WordPress.org theme catalog ready.
WordPress Theme Developer Manual was created by the WordPress community for the WordPress community. We're always looking for more contributors; if you're interested, please visit theDocumentation Team Blog, understand how to get involved.
introduction (a subject)
Ready to start developing WordPress themes? Congratulations, you've come to the right place.
In the opening chapters, we willLearn what WordPress themes are and how they work. We will then discuss GPL -- License for WordPress core and all themes in the WordPress theme directory.
Next, we'll introduce you to some of the tools in the WordPress Theme Development Toolkit and teach you how to Setting up the local development environment The
We will do this by checking out a couple of reliable WordPress Theme Examples to complete this chapter .
Who should read this brochure
The Theme Development Manual is a standalone resource to help you learn the basics of WordPress theme development. After reading this manual, you can:
- Make a child theme based on the parent theme
- Develop new themes based on existing ones
- Understanding the inner workings of the theme
- Develop a brand new theme based on your imagination
Required Skill Levels
In order to take full advantage of this manual, you should have some knowledge of and experience with web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and PHP, in addition to being familiar with how to install and configure a site using WordPress.
Understanding how MySQL databases work and some common server technologies is useful, but not necessary for developing a WordPress theme. Similarly, while knowledge of JavaScript would be useful, it is not essential.
What this manual covers
This manual providesRequired for developing WordPress themes (used form a nominal expression) Basic Information This includes a review of theTemplate Tagsrespond in singingfunctionalityThe in-depth presentation of the
WordPress is a wide-ranging topic, and it is impossible for this manual to cover every aspect regarding WordPress development. If you need help with documentation for a specific feature, you can find it in theIn Code ReferenceFind relevant information .
The purpose of this manual is to provide you with the basics of WordPress theme development, the basic steps to building a theme, some tips and resources that will help you improve your development skills.
What is the theme
WordPress themes are responsible for the appearance of a site, including layout, color scheme, functional modules, and more. Changing your theme changes the look and feel of your site, i.e. the content and layout that users see when they browse your site. While many WordPress websites useCustom-developed themesDemocratic Republic of the Congo WordPress.org theme directory There are thousands of free WordPress themes available for you to use.
What can a theme do?
WordPress themes fetch data from the database and then display it in the browser. When creating a WordPress theme, we can decide how that content will look and display. For example:
- Use one-column, two-column, multi-column layouts, whether they are responsive or not, etc.
- Display content anywhere in the site.
- Specify which devices or which actions your content is visible on.
- Use CSS to customize its typography and design elements.
- Include other design elements (such as images and videos) anywhere in the theme.
WordPress themes are very powerful. But, like any other web design project, themes are more than just colors and layouts. Great themes not only have a beautiful appearance, but they also improve website engagement .
What's the theme?
Essentially, a WordPress theme is a collection of template files that work in concert with each other to create the content you see, controlling how the site looks and interacts.
Documentation required for the theme
basic WordPress In the theme only Two files are required ::
index.php- Master template filestyle.css- Main Style File
The following files are not required, but we will likely see them in various threads:
- PHP files - includingTemplate files
- Localization files
- CSS file
- imagery
- JavaScript files
- Text file - usually license information (math.) genus
readme.txtDescription and update of log files
What's the difference between a theme and a plugin?
Theme functionality can appear in both themes and plugins, however, best practices for:
- Themes control the look and feel of the site
- Plugins control the behavior and functionality of the site
No key features should be added to any theme we create. Doing so means that when a user changes themes, they will not be able to use that feature. For example, a user needs a portfolio feature in their site, and if we include this feature in the theme, sites that have created portfolios using your theme will not have access to the content of those portfolios when they change themes.
By transferring key functionality to the plugin, we can change the theme while keeping the site content intact.
Themes on WordPress.org
WordPress.org Theme Directory is one of the safest places to download WordPress themes, and all themes are carefully reviewed to meet strictGuidelines for the review of themesto ensure quality and safety.
introduction (a subject)
Now that you should know what a theme is, it's time to start developing a WordPress theme. If you haven't alreadySetting up the local development environment Please set one up first. Then Check out some WordPress theme examplesIf you're in a hurry, you can simply Get an in-depth look at how to develop your first theme The
WordPress Certificates and the GPL
If you are opening your WordPress theme for public use (free or paid), you need to know about the WordPress GNU General Public License(GPL).
GPL Fundamental Freedoms
The spirit of openness and sharing that forms the basis of the GPL license thrives in the WordPress community.The GPL is an open source software "Bill of Rights" The following four freedoms are provided for:
- freely for any purposerunning program The
- freelyHow the research program works and modify the program so that it performs the way you want it to.
- freelyredistribution of copies. in order to help others.
- freeDistribution of copies of modified software , giving the community the opportunity to benefit from your changes.
What is "FREE" in a software environment?
The "free" in free software means freedom, not price. The Free Software Foundation likes to say "free speech, not beer." Free software is software that users can use and modify as they wish, not that free software has to be free software, though WordPress.org Theme Directory The software hosted in is indeed free.
Free software can be sold with a price tag. In other words, we can create a GPL theme and sell it for $50 and it's still free software. Why? Because users are free to run, modify and distribute the software or make changes to it.
Maintaining freedom for all
The freedom of the GPL does not apply only to the original software; works modified under the GPL must be under the same license, without any restrictions or additional terms.
In this sense, the GPL provides the ultimate protection of freedom by ensuring that anything derived from free software cannot be "locked down" at a later date; it must always be free to facilitate future experimentation and exploration.
Do I need to add a GPL license to my theme?
If you are not going to distribute your theme, you don't need to license it under the GPL. the GPL only applies to software that can be distributed, and you don't need to license it if you are not distributing the software (e.g., if you are developing a custom theme for your own web site that is only used by you).
If you are going to submit your theme to the free theme repository on WordPress.org, it must be 100% GPL compliant, including CSS and image files. Because the freedoms outlined in the GPL are a core principle of WordPress, we encourage developers to distribute their themes under a 100% GPL-compliant license.
Freedom is an important part of developing a WordPress theme. If you are going to distribute your theme, it is best to fully license it under the GPL! So that others can enjoy the same freedom you enjoyed in creating your theme.
Further Reading
Deepen your understanding of WordPress and the GPL:
