WordPress allows developers to build great websites with ease. However, in order to truly use WordPress to its full extent, one must have a good knowledge of PHP. WordPress is based on PHP, and it is fundamental for being able to truly manipulate the functions, design and interface of websites. While WordPress allows novice developers to develop websites visually using plugins and templates. Medium-level users who know CSS and HTML are able to modify websites and create themes.
However, without the knowledge of JavaScript and PHP, developers will be unable to develop advanced features, add functions, modify websites extensively or create dynamic immersive web pages. In order to truly be a full-stack developer using WordPress. One needs to be fluent in multiple programming or scripting languages along with our mandatory markup language, HTML. Let us look at the best programming languages out there that professional WordPress users should definitely be proficient in.
1. PHP
PHP refers to Hypertext Preprocessor, renamed from “Personal Home Page”. PHP used to develop WordPress itself and all its plugins and environments are based on PHP as well. Knowledge of PHP allows developers to truly be able to modify or customise the design or build of WordPress websites as much as possible. Skilled developers can use PHP to create new themes, templates and even native WordPress editors that allow users to visually make changes instead of coding. PHP empowers most of the websites on the internet, continuingly dominating the development world. Without PHP, one cannot expect to truly master WordPress. A .php extension can be observed in WordPress PHP.
PHP is one of the core components of web development skills and one of the most preferred programming languages out there. PHP is open-source and allows developers to easily utilise PHP when working on HTML documents. Its a server-side programming language or a back-end language. Fundamentally requiring users to also know front-end technologies such as HTML and CSS along with PHP in order to truly become a full-stack developer. Harder to learn in comparison with HTML or CSS, however, it is truly worth it. PHP allows users to develop extremely immersive web applications through the use of syntax systems and other members of the LAMP stack such as MySQL and Apache. PHP is a multi-paradigm language, fundamentally being capable of imperative, functional and object-oriented programming.
2. HTML
HTML is an acronym for Hypertext Markup Language and is a front-end markup language. In the list of programming languages, it fails in many of the criteria as a programming language. Initially introduced as a language that empowers static pages that were basic and mostly text-based. HTML has evolved to become almost self-sufficient through the gradual introduction of minimal graphics implementation, dynamic structures and support for visual elements. Without CSS, it still cannot be used to design web pages to that extent, especially when designing sophisticated designs, themes and elements or objects.
HTML5 is the latest version with plenty of new features that allow developers to do more from the front-end directly. HTML allows developers to control the browser-side or the client-side interactions. Fundamentally making it compulsory for WordPress developers to know HTML when building pages. Even with pre-built themes or templates, HTML allows developers to make necessary modifications on the front-end. To understand how pages are presented on the browsers. HTML is definitely the easiest language in this list. Developers can learn and is the most fundamental language that is compulsory in order to not just build WordPress sites but simply to understand the concept of how web pages work.
HTML follows an easy set of rules and concepts, allowing one to extensively use it alongside other languages. Even if not combined with other languages, HTML still allows developers to build the website structures alongside inserting tables, media, text and links. Developers are even allowed to insert separate paragraphs and headings. HTML is a declarative language and does not require users to declare the logic without stating control flows.
3. CSS
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheet and is the most centrally focused upon language for web developers alongside PHP or JavaScript. It is the rage globally, and increasingly, more people are learning CSS in order to build websites on their own or through WordPress. It goes extremely well with HTML and completes it. Fundamentally, this means that CSS is used for declaring graphical or visual-based changes inside HTML documents. CSS allows developers to style web pages or modify the design on a macro and micro level. CSS even allows one to build graphical elements or animate elements from the front-end itself. WordPress themes are not any different, containing a .css file that determines the visual formatting of the web page.
This file is a style.css file that contains the style and design information of the WordPress theme. If medium-level users know CSS, then they are able to alter and modify themes or create themes to develop more accurate or customised web pages. However, if developers know CSS very well, then they grow to be capable of building web pages without the help of themes by styling HTML elements and documents directly through CSS.
CSS is one of the best languages ever for web developers, empowering the designing of millions of web pages across the globe. It is easy to understand due to it following a very declarative approach towards programming and is ruled by very simple key concepts. CSS is also supported by many development environments. It is one of the most learnt and applied front-end languages as well. Learning HTML alongside CSS fully empowers developers to become experts of the front-end. CSS, like HTML, is also a declarative language, not requiring developers to declare the control flow.
4. JavaScript
JavaScript is one of the popular languages that is used for web development. It is a functional programming language also object-oriented. Allowing developers to program declaratively as well as through imperative approaches. JavaScript has been focused upon by the developing community ever since its release. One of the only languages that can truly be used as both a front-end and a back-end language.
JavaScript allows developers to create truly immersive designs and dynamic elements that allow web pages to become highly interactive. It empowers the building of sophisticated programs inside web environments, being the most popular choice for building web applications, browser-based applications and even mobile applications. JavaScript is fast, clean and promotes efficiency, being a language that allows faster programming and lesser code. JavaScript has taken off massively due to the incredible contributions it is able to make in User Interaction (UI) and User Experience (UX). It is the best option for animations, slideshows, interactive objects or elements and web programs.
In WordPress, JavaScript allows developers to make massive changes in graphics and UI, also allowing users to embed programs or add complex functions (or features) into the pages. Similar to how JavaScript helps in other web development projects, it is able to make WordPress websites dynamic while enabling faster interactions. JavaScript places a lot of importance on the client-side or the browser, allowing developers to build web pages that are responsive and of high quality.
Even though the availability of pre-built or default themes does not require WordPress developers to have knowledge of JavaScript, we have gradually begun to notice that it is being extensively used for WordPress themes and core functions of WordPress. Due to the core concept behind WordPress, JavaScript goes very well with it due to its dual nature. A good hold over JavaScript allows developers to understand both the front-end and back-end very well, allowing them to build better WordPress web pages or themes.
5. SQL
SQL stands for Structured Query Language and is a declarative language allowing users to write declarations that are executed by the Database Management System or inside databases. Even though it is not a programming language, it is highly effective for managing databases across multiple environments using queries. WordPress is known for using MySQL as its inherent DBMS, allowing for integrations with other open-source tools, web servers, Operating Systems and PHP. Yes, PHP can be used to write a .php file that executes CRUD action inside databases that authorised users or admins can access. This allows the code to be embedded in a WordPress page, allowing the execution of data transactions or returning of data.
Both WordPress databases and local databases can be used natively using PHP functions, and WordPress allows users to access or interact with databases through SQL or shortcode methods. SQL knowledge allows developers to align files and direct them for particular sections or functions inside WordPress. Knowing SQL might not be compulsory but for advanced users, it is very helpful when migrating data, recovering web pages, ensuring the security of the website and especially when implementing sophisticated databases across WordPress installations. MariaDB is a highly preferred replacement for MySQL, even though it is built by the same people.
In order to truly be proficient in working with servers, installations and databases, standard knowledge of SQL can be deemed highly necessary. Server installations require users to maintain MySQL databases, thus, one cannot work on the server-side without proper knowledge of SQL.
Terminal Access, Servers and Libraries
Other than the markup, scripting and programming languages are mandatory in order to develop WordPress websites. A few other skills, libraries and terminal knowledge make it easy to become a professional WordPress developer. WordPress requires web server knowledge and database knowledge alongside PHP to function effectively. Knowing how to execute commands in Operating Systems, such as Linux, and in terminals comes really handy, for instance, when locally installing WordPress and activating plugins without accessing the dashboard. As for installations on Apache, developers need to know how to apply their programming skills alongside configuring MySQL and Apache servers to make it host static (HTML) or dynamic pages built with PHP.
Ubuntu is another Linux-based OS that allows developers to execute WordPress installations directly from the terminal as well as configure MySQL databases. Developers are able to locally or through terminals completely manipulate WordPress installations, configure users, assign databases, work on servers, install human languages and even modify plugins and themes.
As for libraries, jQuery is one of the most preferred JavaScript libraries in existence. It is known for being fast, clean and minimal. jQuery provides the same benefits in WordPress as it does in other web environments. jQuery allows developers to write less code but enjoy great results due to jQuery simplifying event handling and requiring only the bare minimum to be written. jQuery, similar to JavaScript, is capable of offering dynamic animations, DOM interface and cross-browser support. jQuery can directly be embedded into HTML code and runs great on local or hybrid environments.
Key Takeaway
With the release of Gutenberg, the JavaScript-based WordPress editor, JavaScript has become increasingly important and influential for WordPress developers. This has caused massive confusion in developers when choosing whether to learn JavaScript or PHP first. Yes, HTML and CSS are mandatory and they are the building blocks of web environments, being required by both JavaScript and PHP. However, when preparing to become a fully capable WordPress developer. One must learn additional languages in order to build truly customised websites with additional or advanced features.
When it comes to WordPress, PHP is arguably the best choice due to the fact that WordPress plugins, themes and functions do not necessarily need JavaScript, but without PHP developers cannot do any of that. JavaScript provides options and the ability to implement dynamic elements and interactive features but without PHP all this be of no use. PHP is part of WordPress’s core, being the engine that runs WordPress on web servers. Even if something is possible to implement without PHP, JavaScript will simply make it more complex.
Regardless of the interactivity JavaScript offers, without PHP, one cannot make server-side changes either. It is highly recommended that WordPress developers acquire a set of skills and learn a combination of languages in order to truly be an expert.
