Learn the basics of WordPress theme development.

1. WordPress Theme
Development
By Ankita Raikundalia

2. About Myself
Developer | Photographer |
Learner

3. What is WordPress??

4. Basic Components of WordPress

5. Main Components of WordPress
Plugins Themes

6. Main Components of WordPress
Plugins
Plugins are the add-ons and
modifications to your car: a
GPS system, a bigger
engine, heated seats
Themes
Theme is like the car’s
exterior. It controls the
visual aspect of your
website: the design, colors,
layouts, etc.

7. WordPress Themes
WordPress Themes are files that work together
to create the design and functionality of a
WordPress site.

8. Why build a WordPress Theme?

9. ● For Your Own Use/Website
● For a client’s project
● To submit it to the WordPress Theme Directory
● To sell it on marketplaces
Why build a WordPress Theme?

10. Finalised the Scope & Design of
the theme? Let's start with
Development

11. Coding Standards
● Error Free PHP Code
● Valid HTML
● Clean & Valid CSS
● Design Guidelines ( https://codex.wordpress.
org/Site_Design_and_Layout )

12. Anatomy of a Theme
● Is placed inside the wp-content/themes folder
● Holds all the theme’s stylesheet, template files, PHP
files, javascript files and assets
Tip: Avoid using numbers for the theme name

13. Main Types of files in a theme
1. The Stylesheet i.e style.css
2. Template Files
3. Optional functions file i.e functions.php

14. Stylesheet

15. Functions File
● Optional File
● Acts like a plugin
● Is loaded automatically for both, admin and front-end

16. Suggested Uses of Functions File
● Enqueue scripts and stylesheets
● Enable theme features like - Post thumbnails, Post
formats, Sidebars, Navigation Menus, etc.
● Defining functions to be used in template files
● Setting up Customizing options

17. Template Files - Template Hierarchy

18. Basic Anatomy

19. Final Touch - Theme Screenshot
● Should be named screenshot.png
● Recommended size - 880 px * 660 px

20. Child Themes

21. If not Scratch Theme Development, Then
What?
● Child Themes of Existing themes
● Frameworks - _s, Genesis, Unyson

22. Thank You..