WordPress is a free, open-source website creation platform. On a more technical level, WordPress is a content management system (CMS) written in PHP that uses a MySQL database. In non-geek speak, WordPress is the easiest and most powerful blogging and website builder in existence today.
A WordPress website is any website that uses WordPress as its content management system (CMS). WordPress powers both the backend of the website (the interface where a user logs in to make changes or add new content) and the frontend (the visible part of the website that your visitors see on the web).
Below are the types of Websites you can create using WordPress:
Blogs
E-commerce Website
Business Website
Event Website
Education Website
Wedding Website
Portfolio
Membership Website
Forum Website
Benefits
Here are some of the benefits of WordPress as a website platform:
Simplicity: WordPress allows you to publish and build your website content quickly. Even as a beginner, you can easily use WordPress.
The cost is free – The actual WordPress software available on WordPress.org is free to download and use. You will, however, need to pay for web hosting and a domain name.
Flexibility: WordPress allows you to create many types of websites from personal blogs and online stores to online magazines and newspapers.
Easy to use – If you can use a word processing software like Microsoft Word, you can use WordPress to build and manage a website.
Open-source software – WordPress is open-source software that is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), meaning it isn’t owned by a single company or entity. Hundreds of developers and users collaborate and contribute to the software to make it better. The spirit of open-source means constant improvements, accountability and free usage for everyone.
No need to know code – WordPress removes the requirement of needing to know how to code in order to build a website. While WordPress utilizes a variety of coding languages, there’s no need to know any of them to use WordPress.
Website security – While no website platform is 100% secure, WordPress security continues to improve with a vigilant security team of core developers and users. Common WordPress security issues are usually due to user error, rather than the software itself.
Features:
As a website building platform and CMS, WordPress boasts an impressive feature set. Here are just a few of the many features of WordPress.
Show/Hide things using Screen Options
Click on Screen Options button in admin area. The Screen Option will show and hide items in WordPress admin screen. It allow you to simplify admin pages like post edit scree to meet workflow
Move, Add, and delete Dashboard Widgets
When user login, user is redirected to the dashboard page where there are many shortcuts to different sections of your website. The Sections are divided into different boxes called dashboard widgets. Click on the Screen option and you can drag and drop the sections to rearrange items on your dashboard.
URL to make links in Visual Editor:
Just select a text and press CTRL+V (Command+V on mac) to paste the URL. The visual editor automatically converts it into a link.
WordPress 4.5 have introduced inline link editing in visual editor.
Accessibility Mode for Widgets
WordPress also comes with a hidden accessibility mode for widgets. This accessibility mode makes it easier to add widgets without dragging and dropping the items. Accessibility mode for WordPress widgets can be activated by clicking on Screen Options button on the Appearance » Widgets page.
Preview Themes Without Activating Them
Users have concern about changing their WordPress theme will have unwanted consequences for their website. Simply install your new WordPress theme and then go to Appearance » Themes page.
Edit Images in WordPress
WordPress makes it easy to add images to your posts and pages. Simply visit Media » Library page and then click on any image. From the image details popup you can click on the Edit Image button. You can also Crop, Rotate, Scale , and Flip images in WordPress
Split Single Post into Multiple Pages:
This feature is particularly helpful if you are writing an unusually lengthy article and don’t want users to scroll to much. Simply add <!–nextpage–> tag in your post and WordPress will split it into two pages. Add the tag again if you want to split it into more pages.
Embed Links, Videos, and Multimedia:
WordPress automatically embeds content from some of the most popular websites like YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. All you need to do is paste a URL from one of the supported sites and WordPress will automatically embed it for you.
Hidden Secret Options Page in WordPress:
WordPress comes with a hidden master page for all your blog options. This page is hidden because users can easily mess things up here, so we don’t want you to use it. But you should definitely check it out. You can access it by visiting this URL:
http://example.com/wp-admin/options.php
Markdown and Keyboard Shortcuts Help you Write Faster:
WordPress comes with a whole range of keyboard shortcuts that you can use to write faster. Apart from these shortcuts, you can also use Markdown like formatting shortcuts. Just enter the formatting shortcuts and WordPress will convert them into HTML.
Using * or – will start an unordered list.
Using 1. or 1) will start an ordered list.
Using # will transform into h1. ## for h2, ### for h3 and so on.
Using > will transform into blockquote.
Resources: wpbeginners, wikipedia
The Tech Platform