WordPress
WordPress is a widely used web-based content management system (CMS) that enables individuals to create and publish blogs or websites using pre-designed templates and plugins. Launched in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, it evolved from a blogging tool into a versatile platform capable of supporting various types of websites. As an open-source software, WordPress allows users to access and modify the code freely, fostering a collaborative community that continuously enhances its functionality.
With its user-friendly interface, WordPress supports the creation of websites for diverse purposes, ranging from personal blogs to complex business sites. The introduction of themes in 2005 simplified design choices, while the ability to manage multiple sites was added in 2010. By 2012, WordPress powered a significant portion of the web, including a notable percentage of the most visited sites. The platform also adapted to mobile technology, offering support for smartphones and tablets. Additionally, WordPress provides a wealth of resources, including forums and educational events, to assist users in maximizing their website-building experience.
WordPress
WordPress is a web-based content management system (CMS) that gives users the option to use a pre-established plugin or template design to build and publish a blog or website. The service runs on free and open-sourced software, a type of computer software that is not copyrighted and gives users free license to copy or change the programming. The source code for the software is openly shared, encouraging users to improve the software's design. First released as a free download in 2003, WordPress has since grown to be the most popular online publishing software on the Internet, powering more than 43 percent of websites in 2024.
History
WordPress was created by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little in 2003. The service was the successor to the blogging tool known as b2/cafelog. Mullenweg wanted to combine elements of b2/cafelog with improved features he had developed himself. He and Little eventually launched their version, which they dubbed WordPress, in May 2003. WordPress originally acted as a CMS service used to create and design blogs, but continued improvements eventually allowed users to create any kind of website. Mullenweg and Little released updated versions of the program every year. Each version was named after a famous jazz musician.
In 2005, WordPress introduced a feature called themes, pre-designed website templates users could apply to their web pages instead of having to design their own layout. Developers then added a feature allowing users to manage multiple websites in 2010. By 2012, WordPress had become the primary software used by CMS-run websites. With the advent of smartphone technology, the WordPress team developed a mobile-friendly version of the software for use in devices such as smartphones and tablets. WordPress continued to grow in popularity, remaining the most popular website design suite on the market throughout the 2010s. By 2024, more than 43 percent of all websites were operated by WordPress.
Usage and Features
People mainly use WordPress to build blogs and other types of websites. The software is open source, meaning that different people are able to reprogram its code to improve its functionality. This method of community development allows WordPress to offer its software without a licensing fee. The system lets users create websites for almost any purpose. Users download and install a software script, or a series of automated computer commands embedded in a program, through a web host. A web hosting service provides the Internet connectivity needed to make a website accessible on the World Wide Web. WordPress's community of developers has also created a host of plugins, themes, and software applications that further enhance and simplify the site-making process. WordPress also offers forums and other instructive events to help educate users.
Bibliography
"About WordPress." WordPress.org. WordPress. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. https://wordpress.org/about/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
Caloa, J.J. "With 60 Million Websites, WordPress Rules The Web. So Where's the Money?" Forbes, 18 Nov. 2015, www.forbes.com/sites/jjcolao/2012/09/05/the-internets-mother-tongue/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
Melanson, Mike. "18 Million WordPress Blogs Land on the iPad." ReadWrite. Wearable World Inc. 23 March 2011, readwrite.com/2011/03/23/18‗million‗wordpress‗blogs‗land‗on‗the‗ipad. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
"Our Journey to Powering 40% of the Web." WordPress.org, 2021, wordpress.org/40-percent-of-web/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
"WordPress Now Available." WordPress.org. WordPress. 27 May 2003, wordpress.org/news/2003/05/wordpress-now-available/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.