WordPress is the biggest content management system (CMS) online today, powering over 43% of the world’s websites. It can be used to build websites and even web applications.
So, do web developers use WordPress in their activities? Or do they code websites and web applications from scratch?
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some Links Are Affiliates, Which Means That If You Purchase Something Through One Of My Links, I Will Receive A Small Commission At No Additional Cost To You
In this article, we are going to compare WordPress and web development, then look at whether web developers use WordPress, and if they do, why?
WordPress is used by a significant number of web developers because, as the largest CMS online, the demand for developers is extremely high.
Let’s go into details:
WordPress vs. Web Development
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows you to build websites and web applications easily.
The platform was initially developed for blogging, but with the development of plugins, it is now a full-fledged CMS that can be used to build all kinds of websites.
WordPress is written in PHP and uses MySQL as a database. The platform also employs HTML for webpage structuring, CSS for styling, and JavaScript for interactive web pages.
The WordPress platform is centered around no coding, meaning you can build a fully functional website without writing a single line of code.
Although WordPress does not require coding knowledge to create basic websites, to become a WordPress developer, one must have a good understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP
Web development, on the other hand, is a term that encompasses the creation of websites and web applications using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Python, and many others.
Web development consists of two parts: the front end and the back end.
A front-end developer is responsible for building the visual representation of a website or web application using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
The back-end developer, as the title suggests, is responsible for the back-end of the website or web application.
They work on the server side of a web application using programming languages such as PHP, JavaScript, SQL, Python, and many more.
Then we have a full-stack web developer, who is a person who can develop both the front end (client side) and back end (server-side).
Read More: What Programming Languages Does WordPress Use? 5 Must-Know Languages
Do Web Developers Use WordPress?
Do Web Developers Use WordPress? The answer is yes.
As you can see, both WordPress developers and web developers use similar programming languages in their activities.
And because WordPress is simple to use, small businesses and individuals prefer to use it to manage their websites and their content, and they often ask web developers to use it for their websites.
Furthermore, professional web developers use tools like Bootstrap, JQuery, and React to build web applications quickly and easily, and WordPress is one of them.
Read More: How Long Does It Take To Learn WordPress Development? The Right Way
Why Would a Web Developer Use WordPress?
Professional web developers would use the WordPress platform for different reasons.
Let’s explore:
1. It is popular.
Yes, the WordPress platform is the most popular of all the CMS on the internet today.
According to W3Tech, the WordPress platform powers 43% of the market, followed by:
- Shopify: 4.1%.
- Wix: 2.3%.
- Squarespace: 2.0%
- Joomla: 1.6%
Due to its popularity, when a web developer thinks of using a CMS to build a website, WordPress is what comes to mind.
Also, its popularity makes it easy to access help when a developer encounters a challenge.
And if you can’t beat them, join them, as they say. Web developers learn how to use the platform in order to satisfy the huge number of WordPress clients.
2. It Makes Web Development Faster and Easier.
The true aim of technology is to provide a quicker and simpler method of doing things.
So, if there is a quick and simple way to create websites. We’d all want to make use of it.
WordPress websites are centered around themes and templates; these make building websites faster and easier.
Themes make it simple for the developer to create the overall appearance of the website, which speeds up the development process.
With templates, a web developer doesn’t have to start from scratch; the developer can get a template for free or at a low cost and customize it to fit your needs.
3. To Build a Cost-Effective Website
The truth is that no startup or small business wants to spend a fortune on website development.
Businesses require a low-cost website, so web developers use WordPress to create faster and easier websites that are also low-cost and affordable for the website owner.
4. To Make More Money
Another reason web developers use WordPress is to increase their earnings.
Web developers who use WordPress to build websites will be able to build websites faster while earning more money.
5. For Easy Management
For small businesses, hiring a full-time web developer for their website management will not make financial sense, so web developers use WordPress to build their websites for the owners to easily manage them.
The WordPress dashboard is easy to navigate, even for new users. This makes it ideal for small business websites to be built on.
Read More: Is WordPress Good For Professional Websites?
Your WordPress site deserves a better host
Why Do Some Developers Hate WordPress?
Yes, not every web developer is a fan of the WordPress platform
But why?
1. Security
WordPress being the popular CMS, is prone to attackers. This makes some developers avoid the platform.
In general, hacking the WordPress platform is difficult because the WordPress community does an excellent job of releasing security updates.
However, outdated plugins and themes can make a website vulnerable to attacks, so update the plugins and the platform itself regularly.
2. Slow Performance
Another reason is that WordPress heavily depends on third-party plugins to gain some features. The more these plugins are used, the heavier and slower the website gets.
So, some web developers prefer developing functionalities without depending on plugins.
3. Threat to their Development Skills
WordPress is designed primarily for non-coders; thus, people who haven’t learned a single line of code can build a website in minutes or hours and make money with it.
While web developers spend years learning to code and perfecting their skills, someone who has not toiled in coding can build a website with a platform for a small fee.
Therefore, web developers see WordPress as a threat to their skills.
4. Limited Features
The WordPress platform has limited features, and to be able to build a complex website, developers have to build plugins.
This makes developers hate the platform because even small features need plugins to run.
To enable the “back to top” feature, for example, a plugin is required.
Read More: Are WordPress Plugins Free?
Why Should You Learn WordPress as a Developer?
As a web developer, why should you learn the WordPress ecosystem?
1. Open Source and Free
As a web developer, you should learn WordPress because it is free and open source.
You can build a fully functional website for free, and the source code is available for you to customize and build more advanced websites as a developer.
2. Get More Jobs
As a web developer, especially as a freelance web developer, you don’t want to lose projects because you can’t use the WordPress platform.
Since WordPress is the most widely used CMS available, more companies and individuals will ask you to build their websites on this platform.
3. Easier SEO Optimization
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial component for website survival, so it is important to consider that in the initial stage of the website.
The core code of the WordPress platform is SEO friendly, and moreover, the platform has numerous SEO plugins that make your SEO task easier.
4. Enhance Career Opportunities
As the WordPress platform grows, so does the demand for its developers.
The WordPress platform is booming, so learning the platform will increase your job opportunities as a full-time employee or as a freelancer.
As a WordPress developer, you can earn up to $69,927, per year.
5. Easy to Customize
WordPress websites are usually built with themes and templates.
These themes and templates are easy to customize to suit your needs.
And as a web developer, with your coding knowledge, you can easily customize the website’s UI per the client’s needs.
Furthermore, every WordPress page builder allows you to add your own CSS codes to change the styling of the website.
Read More: Is WordPress Going To Die? The Future Of WordPress (2023 And Beyond)
Why Should You Learn Web Development When There Is WordPress
Here are some of the reasons why you should learn web development:
1. Improve Your Development Skills
Building websites or web applications from scratch will greatly improve your development skills.
Debugging errors that arise from writing code from scratch will help you greatly improve your development skills.
2. Improve Your WordPress development
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP are the programming languages used mostly in web development, the same as the programming used in WordPress.
Your WordPress development skills will improve if you learn these programming languages.
You would be able to create plugins and themes, two essential elements of the WordPress platform.
Learning these coding skills will also help you debug WordPress sites.
3. Work for a Big Tech Firm
Microsoft, Facebook, Google, etc would rather hire someone who can use the WordPress programming languages than someone who can only use non-coding editing to build websites.
These large tech companies require a person who understands the code behind websites and web applications so that person can troubleshoot websites in the event of errors.
4. Increase Your Earnings
Yes, you can get freelance projects with just drag-and-drop website building.
However, by learning to code, you’ll be able to build any website a client requests, which will increase your earning potential.
Conclusion: Do Web Developers Use WordPress?
There you have it: WordPress is used by web developers.
Web developers improve the WordPress platform, which in turn facilitates their work.
WordPress and web development go hand in hand.
If you’re new to WordPress, don’t be discouraged; you’ve chosen a fantastic platform to work on.
Just keep in mind that learning the platform’s underlying programming languages will help you become more skilled.
And your portfolio website with Hostinger at the initial stage of your journey.
This helps you establish your web presence to show off your skills.
Your WordPress site deserves a better host
Best Cheap Web Hosting Services of 2022: Everything You Need to Know to Make a Decision
Shared Hosting vs VPS Hosting Made Simple: What You Need to Know
How Much Does Web Hosting Cost? The Latest Research On 5 Main Types of Web Hosting.
What Is Shared Website Hosting? 7 Reasons Why You Should Consider It For Your New Website
Hostinger Review Like Never Before – 2022: Is Hostinger a Good Host?
7 Best Shared Web Hosting Providers: The Ultimate List For Start-ups.
How to Build a Personal Website In 5 Minutes (The Easiest Way In 2022)
The Top Freelance Web Developers: The Ultimate Research and Analysis
The Best Custom WordPress Web Design Services For Every Budget
