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WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS). Features include a plugin architecture and a template system, referred to within WordPress as “Themes”.

WordPress was originally created as a blog-publishing system but has evolved to support other web content types including more traditional mailing lists and Internet fora, media galleries, membership sites, learning management systems (LMS) and online stores. One of the most popular content management system solutions in use, WordPress is used by 42.8% of the top 10 million websites as of October 2021.

The code

WordPress was released on May 27, 2003, by its founders, American developer Matt Mullenweg and English developer Mike Little, as a fork of b2/cafelog. The software is released under the GPLv2 (or later) license.

// Add check icon to list 
register_block_style(
	'core/list',
	array(
		'name'         => 'list-check',
		'label'        => __( 'Check', 'ollie' ),
		'style_handle' => sanitize_title( __NAMESPACE__ )
	)
);

To function, WordPress has to be installed on a web server, either part of an Internet hosting service like WordPress.com or a computer running the software package WordPress.org in order to serve as a network host in its own right. A local computer may be used for single-user testing and learning purposes.

One of the most popular content management system solutions in use, WordPress is used by 42.8% of the top 10 million websites as of October 2021.

— W3Techs

“WordPress is a factory that makes webpages” is a core analogy designed to clarify the functions of WordPress: 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.

Another snippet

WordPress users may install and switch among many different themes. Themes allow users to change the look and functionality of a WordPress website without altering the core code or site content. Every WordPress website requires at least one theme to be present. 

// Add circle check icon to list
register_block_style(
	'core/list',
	array(
		'name'         => 'list-check-circle',
		'label'        => __( 'Check Circle', 'ollie' ),
		'style_handle' => sanitize_title( __NAMESPACE__ )
	)
);

Themes may be directly installed using the WordPress “Appearance” administration tool in the dashboard, or theme folders may be copied directly into the themes directory.

WordPress’ plugin architecture allows users to extend the features and functionality of a website or blog. As of December 2021, WordPress.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 WordPress.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.