WordPress is open-source software used to create and manage websites, licensed under the GPL. The system is built on PHP and stores all content in a MySQL or MariaDB database. Its core functionality is extended through a modular architecture of plugins and themes, allowing developers to alter site logic without touching core files.
The CMS operates by processing server-side requests: PHP scripts query the database to retrieve content and render HTML dynamically. Users interact with the system via a web-based dashboard, managing posts, media, and permissions through the Gutenberg block editor or the classic interface.
Usage and Performance
The platform is utilized for blogs, corporate websites, and e-commerce solutions via the WooCommerce plugin. With integrated REST API support, WordPress can function as a Headless CMS, providing data to frontend frameworks like Next.js or mobile applications.
- Market share: WordPress powers over 40% of all websites globally.
- Extensibility: The official directory offers over 59,000 free plugins for SEO, security, and caching.
- Compatibility: It runs on standard LAMP or LEMP stacks (Linux, Apache/Nginx, MySQL, PHP).