What is WordPress? Complete Beginner's Guide (2025)
Are you wondering what WordPress is and why millions of websites use it? WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, making it the world’s most popular content management system (CMS). Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to understand WordPress better, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know.
In this article, you’ll learn what WordPress is, how it works, essential WordPress terminology, and step-by-step tutorials to get started. By the end, you’ll understand why WordPress is the go-to platform for bloggers, businesses, and developers worldwide.
What is WordPress? Understanding the Basics
WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that allows you to create, manage, and publish websites without needing to code. Originally launched in 2003 as a blogging platform, WordPress has evolved into a powerful website builder that can handle everything from simple blogs to complex e-commerce stores and business websites.
Key Features of WordPress:
- User-Friendly Interface: Easy drag-and-drop functionality
- Customizable: Thousands of themes and plugins available
- SEO-Friendly: Built-in features that help your site rank better
- Mobile-Responsive: Works seamlessly on all devices
- Community Support: Massive global community for help and resources
- Scalable: Grows with your business needs
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: What's the Difference?
Many beginners get confused between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Here’s the breakdown:
WordPress.org (Self-Hosted):
- Free to download and use
- Complete control over your website
- Requires separate hosting and domain
- Access to all plugins and themes
- Best for businesses and serious bloggers
WordPress.com (Hosted):
- Free plan available with limitations
- WordPress handles hosting for you
- Limited customization on free plan
- Easier for absolute beginners
- Paid plans offer more features
What Programming Language is WordPress Built With?
WordPress is primarily built with PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor), a server-side scripting language. Additionally, WordPress uses:
- PHP: Core functionality and backend logic
- MySQL: Database management system
- JavaScript: Interactive frontend features
- HTML/CSS: Structure and styling
- AJAX: Dynamic content loading
Understanding this helps you realize that while WordPress doesn’t require coding knowledge to use, knowing PHP can help you customize it further.
Essential WordPress Terminology Every Beginner Should Know
Before diving into WordPress, let’s clarify some essential terms you’ll encounter frequently.
What is a Slug in WordPress?
A slug is the user-friendly and URL-valid name of a post, page, or category in WordPress. It’s the part of your URL that comes after your domain name.
Example:
- Your post title: “10 Best WordPress Plugins for SEO”
- Your slug:
10-best-wordpress-plugins-seo - Full URL:
yourdomain.com/10-best-wordpress-plugins-seo
Why Slugs Matter for SEO:
- Makes URLs readable and user-friendly
- Helps search engines understand your content
- Improves click-through rates
- Should include your target keyword
Best Practices for WordPress Slugs:
- Keep them short and descriptive
- Use hyphens (-) to separate words, not underscores
- Include your target keyword
- Avoid stop words (a, the, and, etc.)
- Use lowercase letters only
How to Edit a Slug in WordPress:
- Open your post/page editor
- Look for the “Permalink” section in the right sidebar (Block Editor)
- Click “Edit” next to the URL
- Type your new slug
- Click “Save” or “Update”
What is a Permalink in WordPress?
A permalink is the complete, permanent URL to a specific post, page, or piece of content on your WordPress site. Unlike slugs (which are just part of the URL), permalinks are the full web address.
Example of a Permalink: https://yourdomain.com/blog/what-is-wordpress-complete-guide/
What is the Purpose of Permalinks in WordPress?
Permalinks serve several critical purposes:
- SEO Optimization: Search engines use permalinks to understand content
- User Experience: Clean URLs are easier to remember and share
- Link Stability: Permanent links that don’t break over time
- Shareability: Clean URLs get more clicks on social media
- Site Structure: Helps organize your content logically
WordPress Permalink Structures:
WordPress offers several permalink structure options:
- Plain:
?p=123(Not SEO-friendly) - Day and Name:
/2025/10/27/sample-post/ - Month and Name:
/2025/10/sample-post/ - Numeric:
/archives/123/ - Post Name:
/sample-post/(RECOMMENDED for SEO) - Custom Structure: Create your own format
How to Change Permalink Structure:
- Go to Settings → Permalinks in WordPress dashboard
- Select “Post name” option (most SEO-friendly)
- Click “Save Changes”
Warning: Changing permalink structure on an existing site can break links. Use a redirection plugin like “Redirection” to avoid losing traffic.
How to Edit a Slug in WordPress:
- Open your post/page editor
- Look for the “Permalink” section in the right sidebar (Block Editor)
- Click “Edit” next to the URL
- Type your new slug
- Click “Save” or “Update”