Wordpress

“WordPress is a factory that makes webpages is a core analogy designed to clarify the functions: it stores content and enables a user to create and publish webpages, requiring nothing beyond a domain and a hosting service.

WordPress has a web template system using a template processor. Its architecture is a front controller, routing all requests for non-static URIs to a single PHP file that parses the URI and identifies the target page. This allows support for more human-readable permalinks.

Themes

WordPress users may install and switch among many different themes. Themes allow users to change the look and functionality of a website without altering the core code or site content. Every website requires at least one theme to be present. Themes may be directly installed using the “Appearance” administration tool in the dashboard, or theme folders may be copied directly into the themes directory. themes are generally classified into two categories: free and premium. Many free themes are listed in the  theme directory (also known as the repository), and premium themes are available for purchase from marketplaces and individual developers. users may also create and develop their own custom themes.

Plugins

WordPress’ plugin architecture allows users to extend the features and functionality of a website or blog. As of December 2021, .org has 59,756 plugins available, each of which offers custom functions and features enabling users to tailor their sites to their specific needs. However, this does not include the premium plugins that are available (approximately 1,500+), which may not be listed in the .org repository. These customizations range from search engine optimization (SEO) to client portals used to display private information to logged-in users, to content management systems, to content displaying features, such as the addition of widgets and navigation bars. Not all available plugins are always abreast with the upgrades, and as a result, they may not function properly or may not function at all. If the plugin developer has not tested the plugin with the last two major versions of , a warning message will be displayed on the plugin directory, informing users that the plugin may not work properly with the latest  version. Most plugins are available through  themselves, either via downloading them and installing the files manually via FTP or through the  dashboard. However, many third parties offer plugins through their own websites, many of which are paid packages.

Web developers who wish to develop plugins need to learn ‘ hook system, which consists of over 2,000 hooks (as of Version 5.7 in 2021) divided into two categories: action hooks and filter hooks.

Plugins also represent a development strategy that can transform into all sorts of software systems and applications, limited only by the imagination and creativity of programmers. These are implemented using custom plugins to create non-website systems, such as headless WordPress applications and Software as a Service (SaaS) products.

Plugins also could be used by hackers targeting the site that use , as hackers could exploit bugs on WordPress plugins themselves instead of exploiting the bugs on itself.