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How WordPress Works
Austin WordPress Beginner’s MeetupOctober 17, 2016
Presented by Sandi & Nick Batik
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WordPress is a Content
Management System
A Content Management System gives non-technical folks the ability to publish
their content on the Web
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Understanding Some Content Management
System BasicsA Content Management System (CMS) is a Database-driven software applicationThe CMS runs on a computer (server) connected to the webWebsite content is stored in the databaseThe software queries (Asks) the database for the content to present on a web page
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How Does It Ask?Your WordPress themeA theme is a collection of templatesEach template contains the programming code to get specific content from the databasee.g. display the 5 most recent posts
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Content vs. AppearanceWordPress separates the content
(database) from how it appears (theme)WordPress holds ALL Content in the Database How that Information is Presented on the web is the Job of the ThemeWith WordPress You can Change the Theme without affecting The Content
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Hosting WordPressIn order for your site to be viewed / visited on the web, your site has to be “Hosted” on a ServerThe Hosting companies that manage these website servers charge a monthly feeThe Internet as you know it ,is simply a network of of interconnected servers which share information with each otherThis interconnectivity gives us the ability to call up and view sites
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How The Internet Finds Your Site
Your Site is identified by your Web Address: Your URL (Universal Resource Locator)Buying and Registering your URL is Similar To Registering Your Business Name With The Secretary of State
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How The Internet Finds Your Site
Some Hosting Companies offer both Domain Registration and HostingSome Just sell and manage Domain Name Registration and management
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How The Internet Finds Your Site
Your Hosting Company provides you an IP AddressThe Domain Registrar Connects your domain Name to your IP Address
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WordPress.Com vs
WordPress.orgWhat Are The Differences?
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How To Get Into Your WordPress Site
To you “Log-in” to WordPress you type:
https://yoursitename.com/wp-admin
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What is WordPress?WordPress Is an ApplicationYour Hosting Server Is a Computer, the same as your desktop or laptop computerYou have to install applications on your hosting server the same as on personal computerThis is typically done with a “Control Panel” or a Dashboard
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They May Look Different …But They
Work the Same
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Every WordPress Site
Is UniqueEach of the millions of WordPress Sites has Its Own Address and Password and it’s own install of WordPress files.Your Sites Dashboard is how you control the Words and Pictures that are part of your site
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Automated InstallThe following things happen during the automated install:
A MySQL database is createdWordPress files are copied to the web hosting server directory.A configuration file connects WordPress to your database.The installer prompts you for a site title, username, and passwordThe installer adds starter information to the database
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What Exactly is a MySQL Database?MySQL is The Database That Works With WordPressFunctionally a database is way to organize information so you can find it when you need itIt also connects related Information such as:
Pictures with CaptionsPictures with their Posts or PagesRelated Posts or Pages
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This Is What WordPress Does
WordPress is a programIts written in a language called PHPIt communicates with the MySQL database to retrieve and display your content in a web browser
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Understanding the WordPress
“Dashboard”You Reach Your WordPress Dashboard by adding the /wp-admin to your site URLWorking In The Dashboard is Referred to working in the “Back-End” of the site
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Understanding the WordPress
“Dashboard”There are Two Parts To WordPress: The Public Part, andThe Private Part
This is similar to the public area and back office of any businessThe front end of the site is what the site visitor sees in their Browser
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The WordPress ThemeThe theme you choose
determines the look of your site.The theme consists of PHP files with HTML, CSS, and Javascript all working together to display your site in a unique wayYou can change your theme without effecting the content of your site.
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Theme Demohttp://www.csszengarden.com/
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WordPress PluginsWordPress Plugins are bits of code that extend the functionality of your WordPress siteWordPress Plugins add functionality such as e-commerce, scheduling calendars, and site visitor analytics.Plugins help you upload, manage or manipulate images, documents, audio, video and much more
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PresenterSandi Batik
WordPress evangelist, consultant, trainer, curricula developer, author, unapologetic geek, unrepentant capitalist, lucky enough to do what I love everyday. I’ve served as Austin WordPress Meetup co-organizer since 2010. With my husband Nick Batik, co-founded Pleiades Publishing Services in 1992 and Hands-On WordPress Training in 2010.
Follow me @sandi_batik / @WPATX
Contact me at: handsonwp.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsandrachevalierbatik
HandsOnWP.com @nick_batik@sandi_batik
PresenterNick Batik
Started in web development in 1994 and have been a WordPress consultant, and web developer since 2007. A WordPress evangelist, I’ve served as Austin WordPress Meetup co-organizer since 2010. With my partner, co-founded Pleiades Publishing Services in 1992 and Hands-On WordPress Training in 2010.
Follow me @nick_batik / @WPATX
Contact me at: handsonwp.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasbatik