Intro to WordPress Child Themes

What the heck is a child theme?
“ A WordPress child theme is a theme that inherits the functionality of another theme, called the parent theme, and allows you to modify, or add to, the functionality of that parent theme.”
- The WordPress Codex

What can I use a child theme for?
Customize the parent site design
Add in additional functionality
Save a bunch of time

Why would I use a child theme?
Update the parent theme without losing your customizations
Did I mention the part about saving time?

Example of a child theme

What do I need to get started?
Choose a parent theme (check out twentyten & twentyeleven)
A new folder in /wp-content/themes/
A CSS file in your new theme

Keep in mind…
Your child theme can contain as many or as few files as you want
Files in your child theme folder override files in the parent theme folder
Adding a functions.php will add-to rather than override functions.php from your parent theme

The CSS file * Template = folder name of the parent theme

Themes page For bonus points, add a screenshot.png file to your child theme folder. 300 x 225 pixels

Overriding style elements
Parent Theme
Child Theme

Overriding style elements

Overriding files
Parent Theme
Child Theme

Overriding files

Pluggable functions
A function in a parent theme wrapped in function_exists() can be overridden by defining it in your child theme’s functions.php file

Overriding functions Parent Theme Child Theme

Theme Frameworks
Genesis – studiopress.com
Thematic – themeshaper.com
Hybrid – themehybrid.com
“ A Theme framework is a Theme designed to be a flexible foundation for quicker WordPress development, usually serving as a robust Parent Theme for Child Themes. ” - The WordPress Codex

Resources
http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development
http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes
http://codex.wordpress.org/images/1/18/Template_Hierarchy.png
http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API
http://aaron.jorb.in/thirtyten/

Questions?

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Intro to WordPress Child Themes

by vegasgeek on Jul 17, 2011

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