This document discusses child themes in WordPress. It defines a child theme as a theme that inherits functionality from a parent theme. Child themes allow modifications or additions to be made to the parent theme. Using a child theme is considered the best, safest, and easiest way to modify an existing theme. The document provides instructions on how to create a child theme and explains how child themes can be used to override CSS, template files, and functions from the parent theme. It also compares child themes to theme frameworks.

1. Child Themes
WordPress Meetup Bangkok, 2014/08/17
Shinichi Nishikawa

2. What is a Child
Theme?

3. Codex
A child theme is a theme that inherits the
functionality of another theme, called the
parent theme.
!
Child themes allow you to modify, or add to the
functionality of that parent theme.
!
A child theme is the best, safest, and easiest
way to modify an existing theme.

4. Codex
A child theme is a theme that inherits the
functionality of another theme, called the
parent theme.
!
Child themes allow you to modify, or add to the
functionality of that parent theme.
!
A child theme is the best, safest, and easiest
way to modify an existing theme.

5. Codex
A child theme is a theme that inherits the
functionality of another theme, called the
parent theme.
!
Child themes allow you to modify, or add to the
functionality of that parent theme.
!
A child theme is the best, safest, and easiest
way to modify an existing theme.

6. Codex
Child Theme:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes

7. Parent Theme?
Any WordPress themes can be a Parent
Theme.
Exception: You can’t make a Child Theme
of another Child Themes.

8. How to make a child theme
1. Create a folder in wp-content/themes
2. Put style.css with
“Template: ParentThemeDirName”
in Comment.
3. Add what you want.

9. Demo 1
Parent Theme: Twenty Fourteen
Child Theme: Shin 2014

10. Concept of Child Theme
Don’t reinvent the wheel.
Change only what you need.
Protect changes from theme updates.

11. Override
You can override 3 things
1. css
2. template files
3. functions in functions.php

12. 1. Override css
a presentation by Brandon Dove.
http://www.slideshare.net/
brandondove/parentchild-themes-vs-
theme-frameworks/5

13. Demo 2
Parent Theme: Twenty Thirteen
Child Theme: nu2013
https://wordpress.org/themes/nu2013
Example: nskw-style.com

14. 2. Override template files
If Child Theme has a template file,
WordPress uses that.
If not, WordPress uses a template file in
Parent Theme.

15. 3. Override functions.php
2 ways.
1. add functions.
→ example in nu2013
2. override functions.
→ devdmbootstrap3

16. Demo 3
Parent Theme: devdmbootstrap3
Child Theme: devdmbootstrap3-child
https://wordpress.org/themes/
devdmbootstrap3

17. Child Themes vs
Theme Frameworks.

18. Theme Framework
Examples
Underscores: underscores.me
Roots: roots.io/starter-theme

19. Which to choose?

20. Child themes?
When you find a good parent theme.
And it’s almost what you want.
And you need to change a little bit.
( When the budget is very small )

21. Theme Framework?
When you create from scratch.
When you have your own design.
When you change a lot from the original
theme.