Ian Stewart will lead customer experience at WordPress.com, utilizing his 14 years of experience on the WordPress.com team and a passion for themes.
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7 Best Small Business Website Builders (Tested & Compared)
For over 15 years, we have built and managed our websites using WordPress.org, and it has been an amazing platform for our needs. That’s why we thoroughly recommend it to anyone looking to start a small business website.
However, we recognize that every company has unique needs, which is why we have explored other small business website builders, including Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress.com.
We reviewed and tested the most popular website builders by downloading and making real websites with them. This helped us gain firsthand experience with their features, user interfaces, and overall performance.
It also allowed us to identify each builder’s strengths and weaknesses, ensuring we can offer accurate recommendations tailored to your specific needs.
In this article, we will share our list of the best small business website builders, along with their pros and cons.
If you are in a hurry, then take a quick look at our expert picks to make a decision.
| # | Website Builder | Best For | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | WordPress.org | Powerful small business website | Free |
| 🥈 | Wix | Appointment bookings and management | $4/month + Free |
| 🥉 | Squarespace | Photographers and subscription-based services | $25/month |
| 4 | HubSpot | Basic small business websites | Free |
| 5 | Gator Website Builder | Freelancers and simple business sites | $3.46/month |
| 6 | WooCommerce | Small online stores | Free |
| 7 | WordPress.com | Managed website builder | $9/month + Free |
How We Tested and Reviewed Small Business Website Builders
If you want to launch a small business website without having to write any code, then using a website builder is the quickest and most cost-effective option. That being said, there are a lot of website builders to pick from.
We have downloaded and built real websites with the most popular website builders to help you choose the right one for your business. When doing that, we paid special attention to the following criteria.
- Ease of use: We have prioritized website builders that have a beginner-friendly interface, an easy onboarding process, a huge community, and extensive documentation.
- Features: An ideal builder for a small business site will have features like a drag-and-drop interface, premade templates, scalability, and affordable pricing.
- Reliability: We have only included the small business website builders that we have tested ourselves. We also paid attention to customer reviews and support to look for common issues.
Why Trust WPBeginner?
WPBeginner is a team of experts with 15+ years of experience in WordPress, SEO, design, website creation, and more.
We thoroughly tested and reviewed each website builder on this list to give you the best recommendations. For more information, see our complete editorial process.
Having said that, let’s take a look at the best small business website builders on the market.
1. WordPress.org
WordPress.org is the best website builder for small businesses because it is free, open source, and scalable.
For over 15 years, we have built and managed successful websites like WPBeginner and WPForms using this website builder. WordPress.org has been instrumental in our growth because it’s easy to use and hasn’t slowed us down as our websites have become more popular.
For more details, see our complete WordPress review.
The platform is super flexible and allows you to add any kind of functionality to your site using its library of 59,000+ free WordPress plugins. Plus, you can use popular themes to customize your site and make it visually appealing for visitors.
For this reason, it is highly popular and used by over 43% of the sites on the internet.
WordPress.org gives you complete control over your site, and it can also integrate with popular page builders like SeedProd to launch your small business in just a few minutes.
Other than that, opting for WordPress.org allows you to own your website and its content. This means that you are free from limitations and intrusive ads often found in free website builder plans.
Plus, as your business thrives, your website can scale alongside it, as WordPress.org can easily handle high traffic volumes, allowing you to build a website that grows with your ambition.
Expert Tip: Looking for a WordPress website without all the hassle of creating it? Our team of experts can design a custom, attractive WordPress site that is optimized for SEO and conversions. Check out our WPBeginner Website Design Services today!
Pros
- We love WordPress.org’s huge community of users and developers because it makes it easier to find help and tutorials online if you run into any issues while building your website.
- This platform is used by many popular brands like Sony Music, Disney Books, Taylor Swift, and more.
- The website builder is translated into over 75 languages, meaning you can create a multilingual site with it.
- It can be used to create any kind of website like a blog, membership site, online store, travel business, selling furniture, and more. We have used WordPress.org to build online stores and blogs and have had a great experience.
Cons
- From years of using WordPress, we know how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to maintain all the WordPress core, plugins, and theme updates yourself. This means you may need to pay for WordPress maintenance.
- Even though WordPress.org itself is free, you will still need to purchase a domain name and hosting.
Why we recommend WordPress.org: Overall, WordPress.org is the best small business website builder because it is free and allows you to customize your site however you want. You won’t have to use a single line of code to launch your small business with this option.
For more details, see our beginner’s guide on how to make a WordPress website.
2. Wix
Wix is another great option for small businesses. It is a powerful website builder with a drag-and-drop editing interface and a vast library of pre-made templates for all kinds of industries and niches.
We evaluated Wix by creating a test website and found it to be a user-friendly platform particularly well-suited for people new to website building. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to create websites without requiring technical knowledge.
The platform is fully hosted, so you won’t have to purchase a hosting plan, and it offers a free SSL certificate to all its users. It also has hundreds of free and paid apps, which are like plugins, and will add different functionalities to your small business site.
Additionally, Wix offers basic SEO tools that suggest relevant keywords, generate sitemaps, optimize images, and customize meta tags.
We were highly impressed by Wix’s SEO Wizard, which simplifies the process of optimizing websites for search engines. Its step-by-step instructions make it an excellent choice for beginners who want to improve their website’s SEO.
For more information, you can see our comparison of Wix vs. WordPress.
Pros
- When we were testing Wix, we were impressed by its built-in artificial design intelligence (Wix ADI) that can design a website for you.
- It offers security tools to help protect your site from hackers and malicious viruses.
- Wix is optimized for mobile phones and offers an analytics feature to track your business site performance.
- It has a Wix booking feature that lets you manage appointments and bookings online.
Cons
- The platform shows Wix-branded ads on your website, which can annoy users and hurt your branding. You will need to upgrade to the paid plan to remove these ads.
- When building a website with the platform, we realized it can be difficult to move your website from Wix to any other builder.
Why we recommend Wix: We recommend this platform if you have a hotel and want to open a website to manage bookings online. This is because it has a built-in Wix Bookings feature, which can really help you.
It is also a good option for an online store because it offers features like product listings, secure payments, and shipping management.
3. Squarespace
Squarespace is a great website builder known for its collection of modern templates. When creating a site with it, we found that the platform’s flexibility allows for easy switching between these layouts.
This enables users to explore different options and find the ideal design for their business.
You can create stunning websites in minutes thanks to the builder’s drag-and-drop interface and mobile-responsive design. Squarespace’s powerful features let you showcase your work using portfolios and galleries, making it ideal for creatives and businesses.
The platform even comes with a huge app market with thousands of apps that you can add to your website to extend its functionality, like contact forms, social media integration, popups, and more.
Other than that, Squarespace has a special eCommerce plan to create an online store, manage inventory, accept payments, and more.
Pros
- You can also sell subscription-based services and products with the platform.
- Upon testing, we found out that Squarespace lets you upload and edit images efficiently right in its builder.
- It is a self-hosted platform, so you won’t have to worry about hosting plans.
- Squarespace has some basic SEO and analytics features.
Cons
- The website builder offers limited integrations with third-party tools, which can restrict your growing site.
- We didn’t like that it offers limited customization options for its premade templates. This can be a con for those looking for a more flexible builder.
- Squarespace can be a bit expensive if you are on a shoestring budget.
Why we recommend Squarespace: If your small business is related to photography, art, or design, then Squarespace is a good choice due to its huge library of visually appealing templates.
It is also a good choice for selling subscription-based services. For more details, see our comparison of Squarespace vs. WordPress.
4. HubSpot Website Builder
HubSpot Website Builder is an amazing choice for building a small business website. Our experience in building a demo site with it showed us its potential to streamline website creation and boost your online presence.
For more information on our experience with HubSpot, you can see our complete HubSpot review.
HubSpot has a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder, comes with a bunch of pre-built themes, and integrates with the HubSpot CRM, where you can store all your customer data.
The builder also provides special SEO tools to optimize pages for search engines and offers built-in security to protect your website from malware and other attacks.
Additionally, we love that the website builder is free and comes with free hosting, making it a great choice if you are just starting your small business.
Pros
- HubSpot has an AI-powered tool to help create a simple website by answering a few questions about your business.
- We particularly liked the adaptive testing feature where you can choose up to five variations of a page, and HubSpot will monitor and serve the best-performing option.
- You can create WordPress forms, landing pages, live chat, and chatbots on your website.
- You can also track your website traffic and see how visitors are interacting with your website.
Cons
- When evaluating the tool, we realized that HubSpot itself doesn’t have built-in eCommerce functionality. That is why we don’t recommend it if you plan on starting an online store.
- As your site grows, the pricing can be expensive.
Why we recommend HubSpot Website Builder: If you have a small business and are planning to just have a small website, then this is an ideal solution.
5. Gator Website Builder
Gator is a popular website builder by HostGator that is a great option for making a small business site. We thoroughly tested the tool to evaluate its user interface and overall effectiveness in creating a visually appealing website and found it pretty easy to use.
Gator offers a free domain name, SSL certificate, and hosting plan to all its users at affordable prices, making it a great choice if you are just starting your business.
Other than that, it even has a library of stock photos that you can use in your blog posts to make your content visually appealing.
Pros
- You can easily link a website created by Gator to any social media platform like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
- We like its SEO and analytics tools that can improve site rankings and track your business performance.
- Gator has eCommerce features like product listings, shopping carts, and payment processing to set up an online store.
Cons
- Gator does not have a free plan.
- When making a website with the tool, we found that it offers limited design and customization flexibility for your website.
Why we recommend Gator Website Builder: If you are looking for a tool to build a simple business site that shows your opening hours, contact information, and services, then Gator is a great choice.
It is also a good option if you are a freelancer and want to build a resume site to attract more clients.
6. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is the best website builder for eCommerce sites. If you plan to sell any products on your small business site, then this is the best option for you.
Our experience with WooCommerce has been super positive. We have used the tool in the past to sell products online. It’s reliable and user-friendly, and you can learn more in our WooCommerce review.
Additionally, WooCommerce can seamlessly integrate with WordPress and has an easy onboarding process that allows you to set up a store in just a few minutes. You can efficiently manage your inventory, display products, and collect payments with 83+ payment options and many WooCommerce plugins and extensions.
WooCommerce also has a large and active community of users, which means you can find plenty of support and resources online if you run into any errors. Other than that, it is designed to be SEO-friendly and helps your store rank higher in the search results.
For more information, you can see our beginner’s guide on WooCommerce made simple.
Pros
- The platform has a lot of free and paid WooCommerce plugins that can add all kinds of functionality to your website.
- Upon testing, we realized that WooCommerce integrates with most third-party tools, such as email marketing services, help desk software, and live chat software.
- With the help of All in One SEO, which is the best SEO plugin, you can also add product schema to your WooCommerce store products. This can boost your site rankings.
Cons
- WooCommerce itself is free. However, to launch your small business site, you will need to purchase a domain name and hosting.
- We didn’t like that you have to manually update WooCommerce, create backups, and perform routine maintenance tasks. This can be time-consuming and annoying for some users.
Why we recommend WooCommerce: If you plan to sell products like clothing, pet supplies, and more on your business site, then WooCommerce is the best option for you.
7. WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a managed WordPress hosting service and user-friendly platform for creating websites without technical knowledge.
Keep in mind that WordPress.com is completely different from WordPress.org, which is a self-hosted platform. For more details, see our comparison on WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.
This platform offers pre-designed themes, core blogging features like creating and scheduling posts, and basic media management.
Plus, it handles backups and site maintenance automatically, so you won’t have to worry about anything.
However, while WordPress.com offers a free plan to get started, it displays ads and restricts plugin access, which can limit your website’s functionality and customization. The Personal and Premium plans also have these limitations.
That is why we recommend the Business plan for $25 to create a fully customizable small business website with access to plugins. On the other hand, if your goal is to sell products online, then the Commerce plan for $45 is the better option. It includes all the features of the Business plan with WooCommerce integration.
Pros
- WordPress.com has a clean interface, which makes it ideal for beginners.
- We particularly liked its mobile responsiveness because about 60% of website traffic comes from mobile devices.
- WordPress.com offers great customer support to all the users who have upgraded to the paid version of the platform.
Cons
- If you opt for the Commerce plan, then you will have to pay a transaction fee of 4-8% in addition to standard processing fees.
- While WordPress.com offers a user-friendly platform to build websites, it functions more like a managed WordPress hosting service compared to self-hosted WordPress.org. This means you have less control over customization and functionality due to limitations on plugins.
Why we recommend WordPress.com: If you want to create a simple business site, then WordPress.com can be a good solution. However, if you are on a budget, then you are better off using self-hosted WordPress.org with other affordable hosting companies like Bluehost, Hostinger, or SiteGround.
Which Is the Best Small Business Website Builder?
In our expert opinion, WordPress.org is the best small business website builder because it is free, scalable, and flexible. Plus, it gives you complete control over your site by allowing you to add kinds of functions using different plugins and themes.
However, if your small business manages bookings and appointments, then Wix is also a great solution due to its Wix Bookings feature.
Similarly, Squarespace is a good choice for photographers, artists, and designers because it has modern template designs.
But if you just plan to create an online store, then we recommend WooCommerce.
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business Website Builders
Here are some questions that are frequently asked by our readers about website builders for small businesses.
How much do website builders typically cost?
An average website builder can cost you about $3-$30/month. However, most builders also offer a free plan or a trial period where you can try out the builder before purchasing it.
You can also opt for WordPress.org, which is self-hosted and completely free. Just remember that you will still need to purchase a domain name and hosting plan and that can increase overall costs.
Can I switch website builders later on?
Yes, you can switch your website builder later on. However, the process can be difficult depending on the website builder you used previously and the complexity of your site.
That is why we recommend choosing the builder that meets all your needs right from the start. To get an idea of how to switch builders, see our tutorial on how to move your blog from WordPress.com to WordPress.org.
Do website builders offer SEO tools?
Some website builders like Gator offer basic SEO tools like keyword optimization, meta description editing, and sitemap creation.
However, to completely optimize your site for SEO, we recommend using a plugin like All in One SEO and following all the best practices. For more information, see our ultimate SEO guide.
Related Guides for Small Business Websites
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
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11 Best Side Hustles to Take Up In 2024 For Extra Income
The concept of a side hustle has evolved dramatically in recent years. Once seen as a temporary means to make ends meet, side hustles have now become a mainstream way for people to diversify their income streams, pursue passions, and achieve financial goals. As we enter 2024, the gig economy continues to expand, offering more opportunities than ever for people to earn extra income. Whether you’re looking to supplement your full-time job, save for a big purchase, or even transition into self-employment, there’s a side hustle out there for you. Here are the 11 best side hustles to take up in 2024.
1. Freelance Writing and Content Creation
As businesses increasingly rely on digital content to connect with customers, the demand for skilled writers and content creators has surged. Freelance writing offers flexibility, the opportunity to work on diverse projects, and the potential to earn a significant income. If you have a knack for storytelling, persuasive writing, or expertise in a particular niche, freelance writing could be an excellent side hustle.
- Platforms to Consider: Upwork, Fiverr, and Contently are popular platforms where you can find freelance writing gigs.
- Income Potential: Depending on your experience and the type of content, freelance writers can earn anywhere from $50 to $500 per article or more for specialized work.
2. Online Tutoring and Teaching
The shift towards online learning during the pandemic has created a sustained demand for online tutors and educators. Whether you excel in academic subjects, languages, or even skills like music or coding, online tutoring can be a lucrative side hustle.
- Platforms to Consider: Websites like VIPKid, Tutor.com, and Teachable allow you to connect with students and create courses.
- Income Potential: Online tutors can earn between $15 to $50 per hour, depending on the subject and your qualifications.
3. Dropshipping and E-commerce
E-commerce continues to grow, and with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, starting your own online store has never been easier. Dropshipping is an attractive option because it allows you to sell products without holding inventory. You simply partner with suppliers who ship products directly to your customers.
- Platforms to Consider: Shopify, WooCommerce, and Oberlo for dropshipping services.
- Income Potential: The income from dropshipping can vary widely, but successful stores can generate thousands of dollars per month.
4. Social Media Management
With businesses increasingly relying on social media for marketing, the demand for social media managers has skyrocketed. If you’re savvy with platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, you can help businesses grow their online presence, engage with their audience, and develop brand loyalty.
- Platforms to Consider: You can find clients through Upwork, LinkedIn, or by networking with local businesses.
- Income Potential: Social media managers can charge $300 to $1,500+ per month per client, depending on the scope of work.
5. Virtual Assistance
As remote work becomes the norm, the need for virtual assistants (VAs) has increased. VAs handle tasks like email management, scheduling, customer service, and even content creation. This side hustle is ideal for organized individuals with strong communication skills.
- Platforms to Consider: Upwork, Zirtual, and Belay are popular platforms for finding VA gigs.
- Income Potential: Virtual assistants can earn between $15 to $50 per hour, depending on their skill set and the services offered.
6. Podcasting
Podcasting has exploded in popularity, and it’s not just for entertainment—many podcasters earn money through sponsorships, advertising, and listener donations. If you have a passion for a particular topic and enjoy speaking, starting a podcast could be a rewarding side hustle.
- Platforms to Consider: Anchor.fm, Buzzsprout, and Patreon for monetization options.
- Income Potential: While it takes time to build an audience, successful podcasters can earn hundreds to thousands of dollars per episode through ads and sponsorships.
7. Stock Photography
If you have a good eye for photography, stock photography can be a passive income source. Websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images allow photographers to upload their images and earn money each time someone purchases a license.
- Platforms to Consider: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images.
- Income Potential: Earnings depend on the number of downloads your photos receive, but stock photographers can make anywhere from a few dollars to several thousand dollars monthly.
8. Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
Blogging remains a viable way to earn extra income, especially when combined with affiliate marketing. By creating content around a niche you’re passionate about, you can attract an audience and monetize through affiliate links, advertising, and sponsored posts.
- Platforms to Consider: WordPress for blogging, Amazon Associates, and ShareASale for affiliate marketing.
- Income Potential: Income can vary widely, but successful bloggers can earn anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month.
9. Online Coaching and Consulting
If you have expertise in a particular field, offering online coaching or consulting services can be a highly profitable side hustle. Whether you’re skilled in business, fitness, life coaching, or another area, you can help others achieve their goals while earning extra income.
- Platforms to Consider: LinkedIn for networking, Zoom for virtual sessions, and websites like Coach.me.
- Income Potential: Coaches and consultants can charge $50 to $300+ per hour, depending on their expertise and the market demand.
10. Airbnb Hosting
If you have extra space in your home or a property you’re not using full-time, renting it out on Airbnb can be a lucrative side hustle. With the right location and amenities, you can earn a significant income by hosting travelers.
- Platforms to Consider: Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com for short-term rentals.
- Income Potential: Depending on your location and the property, Airbnb hosts can earn anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars per month.
11. YouTube Content Creation
YouTube remains one of the best platforms for content creators to earn money. Whether you’re interested in vlogging, tutorials, product reviews, or any other niche, you can monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
- Platforms to Consider: YouTube for content hosting, and Teespring or Patreon for additional monetization.
- Income Potential: Successful YouTubers can earn anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000+ per year, depending on their audience size and engagement.
How to Choose the Right Side Hustle for You
With so many options available, it can be challenging to decide which side hustle is the best fit for you. Here are some factors to consider:
- Time Commitment: Consider how much time you can realistically dedicate to a side hustle. Some opportunities, like freelance writing or virtual assistance, can be done part-time, while others, like running an Airbnb, may require more of your attention.
- Skill Set: Reflect on your strengths and interests. If you’re a strong communicator, consider tutoring or coaching. If you’re tech-savvy, e-commerce or social media management might be a good fit.
- Income Goals: Determine how much income you hope to generate from your side hustle. Some side hustles offer quick cash, while others may require more time to build but offer higher long-term potential.
- Flexibility: Choose a side hustle that fits your lifestyle. If you need flexibility, look for opportunities that allow you to set your own hours or work from home.
- Passion: Ideally, your side hustle should align with your passions. When you enjoy what you’re doing, it won’t feel like work, and you’re more likely to stick with it and succeed.
Conclusion
As we move further into 2024, the opportunities for earning extra income through side hustles are more abundant than ever. Whether you’re looking to build a full-fledged business or simply want to supplement your current income, there’s a side hustle out there that can help you achieve your financial goals. From freelance writing to Airbnb hosting, the options are diverse, and the potential for success is within reach.
Choosing the right side hustle involves considering your time, skills, and passions, but with the right approach, you can turn any of these opportunities into a profitable venture. So why wait? Start exploring these side hustles today and take control of your financial future in 2024.
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What is PHP? A Thorough Explanation for Absolute Beginners – WordPress.com News
If you find yourself diving deeper into the topic of WordPress, content management systems, and websites, a term you will quickly stumble upon is “PHP.” You will likely hear how crucial PHP is for the Internet and that it is what’s powering WordPress websites.
However, what exactly is PHP, and why is it so important?
The short answer is that it’s a general-purpose, server-side scripting language. That said, unless you are already knowledgeable in programming and web development, that probably doesn’t make things much clearer.
In order to help you better understand this topic, we’ll cover PHP in detail below. You’ll learn what PHP is, why it matters, and how it relates to WordPress and pretty much everything you do online. We promise you’ll be surprised to hear how much you likely rely on PHP every day.
- What is PHP? History, features, and benefits
- How PHP works: Creating dynamic web content
- PHP and WordPress: The CMS’ heart and soul
- PHP in everyday life: You rely on it more often than you think
- What is PHP? It is the web’s backbone
What is PHP? History, features, and benefits
The original developer of PHP was a Danish-Canadian programmer named Rasmus Lerdorf. He first created the language in the mid 1990s to build tools for his own website; that’s why PHP originally stood for “Personal Home Page.” Today, it stands for the recursive acronym “Hypertext Preprocessor” and development and support has been taken over by the PHP Group.
PHP features
PHP has some notable features, many of which are applicable to the way WordPress works:
Open Source: The first thing that is important to note is that, like WordPress, PHP is open source. That means it does not belong to any one business entity. It also means that it’s free to download and use for any purpose.
Also like WordPress, PHP is maintained by a number of volunteers around the world. The next major release, 8.4, will be available November 21, 2024.
Finally, both WordPress and PHP are community-funded––while WordPress has the WordPress Foundation, The PHP Foundation’s mission is to “ensure the long-term prosperity of the PHP language.” Automattic is a proud Platinum Sponsor of The PHP Foundation.
Server Side: PHP is a server-side language, which means it executes on the server and not in the user’s browser.
For example, PHP’s most frequent application is for creating HTML documents for websites. Even though there are PHP files on the server, the browser does not receive the PHP code; instead, it receives the finished HTML documents for display. This is different from client-side languages like JavaScript where the processing happens directly in the user’s browser after downloading the JavaScript files.
To make things clearer, server-side languages are a bit like going to a restaurant. You send an order to the kitchen, they prepare the meal, and it arrives at your table ready to eat. Client-side languages, on the other hand, are like meal-delivery services. While they provide you with all the necessary ingredients, you still have to put them together in your own kitchen.
General Purpose: PHP is also a general-purpose programming language. You can use it for command-line scripting, creating desktop applications, and more. However, its primary application is in web development.
Ubiquitous: According to W3Techs, the language is present on 75.7% of all websites. That includes some famous ones, as you will see below.
In addition, it forms the backbone of many content management systems like Drupal, Joomla!, and—the most popular of them all—WordPress.
PHP is one of the biggest open source success stories, as much of the modern Internet depends on it to work.
Benefits of PHP
You might be asking yourself why the usage of PHP is so widespread. There are many good reasons for that, but here are just a few:
- Beginner-Friendly: PHP is relatively easy for beginners to learn due to its intuitive syntax. There are also plenty of tools and frameworks available to make coding easier.
- Wide Community: The language has a vast and active community of developers worldwide. This means there are loads of online resources, forums, and other places where users can seek help and find ready-made solutions to common problems.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: PHP is compatible with popular operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Unix. It also works on various web servers such as Apache, NGINX, and Microsoft IIS.
- Database Connectivity: In addition, it works with a number of different database formats, such as MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, and more. PHP can execute SQL queries, retrieve, update and delete data, and handle database connections and transactions.
- Cost-Effective: As we have already learned, the programming language is free to use, distribute, and modify. That eliminates the need for expensive licensing fees and reduces development costs, making it an economical choice for web development projects.
- Scalability: PHP is capable of handling high traffic loads and can easily scale. You can use it together with caching techniques and other optimization strategies to enhance performance. Plus, it’s generally faster than some other programming languages, such as Python.
How PHP works: Creating dynamic web content
One of the main reasons why PHP is so popular for web development is that it seamlessly integrates with various technologies and services commonly used in this area. Examples include HTTP, POP3, IMAP, and more.
One of its main advantages is that it is highly compatible with HTML, the main language used to create and display websites. In fact, it’s possible to use PHP code in HTML files and vice versa.
Above you can see how both languages appear in the same file. The PHP markup is delineated by opening and closing brackets ( and ?>) so that the server knows where it ends and begins. However, the PHP code itself is inside an HTML element. The _e function is a WordPress function used for localization, which allows for easy translations across the WordPress software.
The main benefit of this is that using PHP allows web developers to display dynamic content in otherwise static web pages. For example, PHP is able to pull content directly from databases, making it great for templating. You can create a fixed layout for all web pages but then display different content depending on the page a user is on.
This is vastly different from pure HTML, where the content needs to be hard-coded in the page file in order for the browser to show it. PHP, on the other hand, can add it on the fly as needed. That’s one of the main benefits of this programming language—the ability to dynamically combine and display content from different sources and of different kinds according to what the user requests.
PHP and WordPress: The CMS’ heart and soul
As a WordPress user, PHP is especially important. The programming language forms the basis of much of what WordPress can do. It’s what allows you to create, edit, and delete pages, posts, media, and other content. That’s why you see that a lot of files that end in .php when you look in the directory of any WordPress installation.
It’s also why, when installing WordPress on a server, the system requirements insist that PHP be present. In recent years JavaScript has been playing a bigger and bigger role in the WordPress ecosystem, mainly because of the adoption of the Gutenberg editor. That said, PHP is still the main workhorse in the background.
Powering themes and plugins
What are some of WordPress’ main tasks powered by PHP? Before the advent of block themes, WordPress themes were all written mostly in PHP, especially page template files. In fact, if you look at the template hierarchy, you can see that WordPress has PHP files for pretty much all pages and theme components.
Why? So we have the ability to create a single layout for one type of content and then dynamically display what’s saved in the database for a particular piece of content.
That way, if you have 300 pages of the same kind on your site, you don’t need a file for each as you would on a pure HTML website. Instead, you just need one single page template file; PHP can then populate each individual page with its specific content.
PHP also makes it easy to compartmentalize different parts of your theme. For example, it’s very common to not have the markup for a footer in each file. Instead you can create a separate footer.php file and call it into your templates where needed. That way, if you want to modify the footer layout, you only have to make changes in a singular place—the footer.php file.
The same is true for plugins, aka collections of PHP files that contain the necessary markup for adding extra functionality to your WordPress site. When you activate a plugin, it gets added to the rest of your website code and can provide the functionality you are looking for.
Without PHP, there would be no WordPress
All of the above is only made possible by the flexibility that PHP offers. Besides the benefits we have discussed before, this is the main reason why WordPress relies on PHP to the extent that it does; PHP offers a ton of flexible functionality specifically for web development. PHP’s capabilities in content management, working with databases, and its modularity all make it a perfect candidate for powering the most popular website builder there is.
This also means that if you know PHP, it opens up a lot more possibilities to modify your WordPress website. You can write custom plugins, make changes to (non-block) themes and page templates, introduce functionality to functions.php, and so much more. So, if you want to improve your WordPress skill set, learning PHP is not a bad place to start.
PHP in everyday life: You rely on it more often than you think
Besides WordPress, you might actually be unaware how much of your general everyday online interactions are enabled by PHP. There are a number of very well-known websites that use PHP to run and many common processes that the programming language performs online:
- Facebook: The largest social network in existence was initially built using PHP. While they have moved away from the programming language over time, it still plays a significant role in their infrastructure.
- Wikipedia: The world’s biggest online encyclopedia also relies heavily on PHP for its back end operations, content management, and user interactions.
- Tumblr: This microblogging and social networking platform employs PHP to power its vast network of user-generated content and social interactions. We’re actually in the process of migrating Tumblr’s backend to run on WordPress; if you’re interested in being a part of this exciting project, leave your information here.
- Slack: This widely-used team collaboration and communication platform utilizes PHP for its back-end operations, real-time messaging, and API integrations.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless other examples of well-known web staples that exist in part because of PHP.
Other abilities of PHP
Up until this point, we’ve mostly talked about PHP in the context of creating and outputting HTML markup; however, the programming language is involved in a lot more that you probably take advantage of on a daily basis:
- Form Processing: PHP can process and validate data submitted by users via forms. It’s also capable of performing actions such as storing data in a database, sending email notifications, or generating dynamic responses based on user input. Plus, it comes with encryption to keep the submitted data safe.
- User Authentication: It can also handle user authentication by verifying login credentials. PHP allows you to implement user registration and login/logout functionality, and it can control access to different areas of your website or application. For example: user roles.
- Session Management: PHP can also manage user sessions, store session data, and track user activity. Among other things, this allows you to save user preferences. PHP can also set cookies and receive cookie data.
- File Manipulation: The programming language provides a wide range of functions for file manipulation, such as reading and writing files, uploading files from forms, creating directories, and modifying file permissions. This comes in handy for managing files on the server through other applications (like WordPress).
- Email Handling: PHP comes with functions to send emails from a server. This allows you to build features like contact forms, email notifications, and automated email responses.
- Third-Party Communication: With PHP you can interact with external APIs and web services. It makes it possible to integrate with other applications, retrieve data from remote servers, and perform actions like posting to social media platforms.
What is PHP? It is the web’s backbone
If you’re an everyday WordPress user or non-developer, you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how much of your online experience is possible thanks to the humble PHP. However, the more you dive into this topic, the more you’ll realize how much you rely on it.
Who knew an open source solution was at the heart of what makes the World Wide Web tick? From the largest content management system in the world to well-known web entities, so much of what we take for granted exists because of it.
There are good reasons why it’s so widespread; from its powerful capabilities over its wide support system to ongoing development and support, there is a lot that speaks for PHP as the go-to solution for web projects.
Since it’s also beginner friendly, learning some PHP skills is definitely a good place to start if you want to dive deeper into the technical aspects of WordPress and web development.
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WORDPRESS
Ian Stewart to Lead WordPress.com – WordPress.com News
We are pleased to announce that Ian Stewart (blog, LinkedIn, GitHub, X) has been chosen to lead end-to-end customer experience for WordPress.com as its Artistic Director and product lead.
In a nod to LVMH’s organizational structure, Ian will lead in the style of a maison head, ensuring that every part of WordPress.com remains the best managed WordPress experience available. He has been a part of the WordPress.com team for over 14 years, and we’re excited to see what changes he will implement on WordPress.com in this new role.
“I got involved with WordPress after growing tired of using Blogger for my personal blog,” Ian says. “This quickly led to the demise of my regular blogging habits as I spent most of my time messing around with my theme…My fooling around with WordPress themes quickly became a delightful obsession as I tried to publicly figure out what I thought about them.”
We’re grateful for your obsession with WordPress, Ian, and we certainly know the feeling.
Please join us in welcoming Ian in his new role.
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