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Inside WordPress

At its core, WordPress consists of:

  • A backend administration area (called the Dashboard) for content management
  • A CERN WordPress Theme that controls the appearance and layout of your website
  • Plugins that extend functionality (similar to Drupal modules)
  • User-generated content organised as posts and pages

WordPress, like Drupal, separates content from presentation, allowing you to change your website's appearance without affecting your content. However, unlike Drupal, WordPress uses a true "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWIG) editor called Gutenberg where content appears in the editor almost exactly as it will for end-users on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones alike. Specifically, in WordPress:

  • Content is created using discrete "blocks" that function as content components
  • Each element of your page - paragraphs, images, headings, tables, videos, widgets, and more - is its own block
  • Blocks can be moved, edited, and styled independently inside the editor
  • The visual editor shows you exactly how your content will appear to visitors
  • Complex layouts can be created without requiring HTML or CSS knowledge

Additionally, the process of creating content on WordPress websites will always be the same.

Learn it once, use it everywhere!