WordPress is a website builder and content management system. It is open-source software that anyone can use to make any kind of website imaginable. It started out as a blogging platform in 2003 but soon transformed into a CMS and later a full-fledged website-building platform. Today it powers more than 43% of all websites on the internet. To learn more about its evolution, history, and pros & cons, you can see our comprehensive guide on what is WordPress, and how much it costs to build a WordPress site.

Why Should You Learn How WordPress Works?

WordPress is an open source software, which means anyone can study its code and write their own apps (plugins) and templates (themes) for it. Learning how WordPress works and what goes on behind the scenes can help you understand what you can do with it. You can learn about improving WordPress performance and how to write better code for your projects. This guide will walk you through the whole process step by step. We will start when a user requests a page and end when that page is fully loaded.

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How WordPress Actually Works Behind the Scenes (Infographic)

Last updated on June 21st, 2023 by Editorial Staff | Reader DisclosureDisclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. See how WPBeginner is funded, why it matters, and how you can support us. Here's our editorial process.

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Editor's Note: Want to see our expert analysis? See the full article on: How WordPress Actually Works Behind the Scenes (Infographic)

Want to see our expert analysis? See the full article on: How WordPress Actually Works Behind the Scenes (Infographic)