WordPress is a widely popular, open-source CMS (Content Management System) that has achieved mass adoption since its launch in May 2003. As of December 2023, WordPress powers approximately 43.1% of the top 10 million websites, according to Wikipedia. Earlier estimates showed nearly 65% adoption among all websites with a known CMS as of May 2021. Created by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, WordPress originated from the b2/cafelog platform.
Highly extensible, WordPress supports a vast ecosystem of themes, plugins, and extensions developed by a global community, in addition to contributions from the WordPress Foundation. Built in PHP and relying on databases like MySQL or MariaDB, WordPress has evolved from a blogging tool into a versatile platform used for informational sites, major news outlets, and even eCommerce platforms.
Getting started with WordPress is straightforward. With a domain and hosting from providers such as WordPress.com, Bluehost, DreamHost, GoDaddy, or Namecheap, users can build a site within minutes. Many hosting services offer one-click installations, simplifying the process for beginners while allowing flexibility and control.
WordPress includes robust features “out of the box,” such as customizable layouts, themes, pages, posts, and user management tools. Additionally, its flexibility is enhanced by thousands of plugins and extensions that add new capabilities or integrate with external platforms via APIs. Like other open-source platforms (e.g., Drupal and Joomla), WordPress offers limitless opportunities for customization and innovation.
TL;DR list of pros/cons
Pros:
- Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins.
- Large, active community providing support and resources.
- Suitable for a wide range of websites, from blogs to eCommerce.
- Open-source and free to use (with costs for hosting and premium features).
- Beginner-friendly one-click installations available through many hosting providers.
Cons:
- May require technical knowledge (including some coding skills) for advanced customization.
- Frequent updates for plugins, themes, and the core platform can cause compatibility issues.
- Relies on third-party hosting, which adds variability in performance and cost.
- Security vulnerabilities can become a major issue if patching and plugin management is not conducted properly.