In recent years, the development of WordPress has made it a popular choice for many website owners looking to build their sites.
It offers a wide range of features, such as a drag-and-drop interface, custom plugins, and themes, that make it easier than ever to create a website.
But, one question remains: Will WordPress replace web developers? This question is often asked by those who are just starting in web development.
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In this blog post, we will explore the two technologies to determine where they stand in the tech industry.
First, let’s compare the two options and understand their paths in the industry.
WordPress Developer VS Web Developer
A WordPress developer is someone who has specialized in the WordPress platform. A WordPress developer builds websites mainly in WordPress. Some of the responsibilities of a WordPress developer are:
- Install WordPress
- Install themes
- Install WordPress plugins.
- Ensure WordPress security.
While a web developer is someone who creates websites regardless of the platform or tools used, a web developer is simply someone who creates websites and web applications.
The following is a breakdown of the differences between a WordPress developer and a web developer:
Job: The WordPress developer’s main job is to develop websites using the WordPress platform, while the web developer’s main job is to build websites and web applications using either CMS or programming languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Python, and many more.
Framework: The WordPress developer is accustomed to the WordPress platform, but the web developer is accustomed to numerous frameworks such as Bootstrap, React, Ruby on Rails, Angular, Laravel, Vue.js, Django, etc.
Programming Languages: The WordPress developer uses programming languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP on the WordPress platform; these are the core languages on which WordPress is built. While the web developer uses languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Python, Java, and C#, among many others.
Website Complexity: The WordPress developer builds small to medium-sized websites, whereas the web developer can build small to high-level websites.
Read more from us: Is WordPress Going To Die? The Future Of WordPress (2023 And Beyond)
Will WordPress Replace Web Developers?
Now let’s look at the big question: Will WordPress replace web developers?
WordPress makes it easy and affordable to build websites, which enhances the web development industry.
To answer this question. let’s think about this:
Will electrical appliances replace electricity?
The answer is No! because electrical appliances run at the of electricity.
And just like the scenario, WordPress runs at the of web development.
WordPress is a powerful tool, but it doesn’t have the capacity to replace a professional web developer.
The following are why WordPress will not be able to replace web developers:
First, the WordPress platform was built using web development programming languages (HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP), so to become a WordPress developer, you must be familiar with these languages.
WordPress can be used to create complex websites, but in order to do so, plugins are required, and the more plugins that are used on a website, the slower it becomes.
As a result, large tech companies with complex websites regularly build them using web development programming languages.
Another reason is that languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Python, and other web development languages form the basis of web applications.
Big tech firms prefer to work with applicants who have coding skills rather than those who can merely construct a WordPress website, so people will continue to learn these skills, keeping the web development industry alive.
WordPress has enhanced the web development industry rather than killing it.
Here is why:
How has WordPress Enhanced Web Development?
When you think about it, a lot of people start by using WordPress to create websites because it is simple, but because the WordPress environment is challenging and errors on the platform occasionally force users to understand the platform’s foundation, they eventually learn web programming languages.
With its plugins and theme development, the WordPress platform has created a new market for web development.
One example is the creation of the Elementor page builder, a plugin that makes it simple to create web pages by simply dragging and dropping.
WordPress keeps encouraging web developers to create more plugins and themes to improve the platform, which in turn improves the web development sector.
All of these indicate that the WordPress platform is working together with web development rather than killing it.
Read more: Are WordPress Plugins Free?
Why Learn WordPress?
Why do you need to learn WordPress?
1. A Great Community of Support
When learning something new, it is critical to have support. When you get stuck, you need help.
WordPress is huge, open-source, and free; it is used by a large number of people, allowing a large community to form around it.
There are numerous resources online to help you on your WordPress journey.
For the benefit of the physical community, Central.wordcamp.com organizes conferences all over the world to discuss everything WordPress.
2. Easy to Install and Use
WordPress is the best option for you if you want a simple way to build a website for yourself or your clients because it’s simple to install and use.
Due to its widespread use, most hosting companies have incorporated the platform into their hosting plans for a simple server installation.
Installing it on your local computer so you can practice is also simple.
Themes and templates are the foundation upon which WordPress websites are built, making website creation simple. WordPress websites can be set up in under five minutes.
3. Loads of Features
You can build any feature you can imagine with WordPress thanks to its numerous plugins.
A plugin is a piece of software that enhances the functionality of a WordPress website, and WordPress has an abundance of them.
There are over 60,000 free plugins available on the WordPress repository that can be used for features such as e-commerce, news portals, job portals, forums, business directories, and many more.
4. SEO Friendly
When developing websites, SEO is crucial, and WordPress makes it simple to create an SEO-friendly website because the platform’s foundation is SEO-friendly.
Additionally, there are many SEO plugins that make it simple to optimize your website for search engines, including Rank Math, Yoast SEO, and All-in-One Seo.
These features make it easy for you to optimize websites as a WordPress developer.
5. Attractive Job Prospects
With the internet expanding and more businesses getting online, WordPress will continue to be the ideal choice for businesses to build their websites because it is easy to use and an affordable way to build a website. This in turn will push the demand for WordPress developers higher.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment for web developers and digital designers will grow by 23% between 2021 and 2031.
Additionally, the average annual salary for a WordPress developer in the United States is $69,927, which makes it a lucrative career path to pursue.
If you don’t want to work for someone, you can use your WordPress development skills by freelancing.
Your earning potential as a freelance WordPress developer is limitless as long as you can market your skills to a large number of businesses and individuals.
Why Learn Web Development?
Why should one learn web development when WordPress is a great platform for building websites?
The following are some of the benefits of learning web development:
1. Improve Your Development Skills.
Learning web development will help you develop your skills.
Coding skills are required for web development, which will improve your development skills and allow you to do more than just customize themes and templates.
2. Enhance Your Job Prospects
Companies prefer web developers with coding skills; additionally, not all companies use WordPress to build websites; therefore, knowing computer languages will increase your job opportunities.
3. Not limited by WordPress
Don’t be limited by WordPress.
WordPress is just one of many CMS options available, and as a web developer, you don’t want to be limited to a single platform.
You should be able to create websites using basic computer languages.
As a web developer, you should be able to build any website with any features without the use of plugins.
4. Work for an Amazing Tech Company.
Truth be told Facebook, Google, and Apple will not hire someone who can only build WordPress websites.
If you want to work for big tech companies like Facebook, Google, Apple, and others, you must learn to code.
Being able to edit WordPress themes and templates will not be enough to land a job at these large tech firms.
These companies seek developers with algorithmic skills and knowledge of data structures.
What is the best way to acquire these skills than learning web development?
5. Enhance Your Problem-solving Skills.
Consider how social media has improved our communication and the jobs it has created.
Consider how search engines have provided us with quick answers to our questions.
These and other life-changing technologies are the results of coding.
With coding skills, you can also create the next big thing that will be able to solve a world problem.
If you have any big ideas, web development will be able to bring this to life.
Final Thoughts: Will WordPress Replace Web Developers?
As the WordPress platform grows in popularity, the question: Will WordPress replace web developers? will continue to emerge.
Web developers will be the ones to improve the platform for it to stay popular.
As a result, web development will be around for a long time.
If you’re wondering whether you should pursue a web development career, I’d say go for it; you’ll have a great career as a web developer.
As a web developer, especially if you go the freelancing route, the WordPress platform will make your job easier but will never replace your coding skills.
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Is WordPress Good For Professional Websites?
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