{"id":17772,"date":"2017-05-13T18:25:04","date_gmt":"2017-05-13T18:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.javiercarmonabenitez.es\/?p=17772"},"modified":"2026-10-19T17:45:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T17:45:53","slug":"que-es-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.javiercarmonabenitez.es\/en\/que-es-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"What is WordPress? A guide for business websites"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Introduction<\/p>\n

What is WordPress?<\/h2>\n

WordPress is a content management system (CMS)<\/strong>: software for creating, organising and publishing website content. You can use it for a business website, a blog or a broader project that combines information, enquiries and online sales.<\/p>\n

When clients ask me for a website, they often know what their business needs but have not chosen a platform. That is a sensible starting point. Before discussing themes or plugins, we should clarify who the website serves, what visitors need to do and who will maintain it.<\/p>\n

This introduction explains the main ideas behind WordPress and the questions worth asking before choosing it. For background, you can also read my guides to getting started with ecommerce (in Spanish)<\/a> and content management systems (in Spanish)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"WordPress<\/p>\n

What can you use WordPress for?<\/h2>\n

A typical business website needs service pages, contact information, images and a way to publish updates. WordPress provides an editing environment for managing that content. Themes control much of the presentation, while plugins extend the site’s features.<\/p>\n

Many everyday editing tasks do not require programming. However, planning an effective website still involves structure, design, accessibility and testing. More specialised features may require development work or integration with other systems.<\/p>\n

For example, publishing an article and connecting a customer database are different jobs. The first may be a routine editorial task; the second needs requirements, permissions, testing and someone responsible for maintenance. Choosing a flexible platform does not remove those responsibilities.<\/p>\n

A short history of WordPress<\/h2>\n

WordPress began in 2003, when Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little created a fork of b2\/cafelog. It developed from a publishing project into an open-source platform supported by a community of contributors. The official WordPress introduction<\/a> explains its origins and software freedoms.<\/p>\n

That background matters when evaluating the platform: WordPress is an ecosystem, rather than a single supplier responsible for every theme, plugin and hosting service you might choose.<\/p>\n

How a WordPress website works<\/h2>\n

In a self-hosted setup, the website runs on a hosting service. Its theme, plugins, content and configuration work together to deliver the pages visitors see. WordPress.org provides the open-source software; WordPress.com is a separate hosted service. Their responsibilities and available options should not be confused.<\/p>\n

Before starting, agree who manages hosting, updates, backups and technical support. Also clarify how content changes will be made and what happens if a paid extension is no longer renewed. These practical details influence the long-term cost of the website.<\/p>\n

My own website uses WordPress. That gives me direct experience of maintaining a site that combines service pages, articles, project examples and training information. It does not mean that every business should copy the same setup.<\/p>\n

Is WordPress right for your business?<\/h2>\n

I do not recommend WordPress automatically.<\/strong> The right choice depends on the project. A content-focused website, a specialist online shop and a custom internal application can have very different requirements.<\/p>\n

Consider the following questions before deciding:<\/p>\n