WordPress Glossary from A to Z — WordPress

WordPress glossary — 144 definitions

All the terms defined across the guide's 35 sections, sorted alphabetically.
Tip: Ctrl + F to search for a term on the page.

2FA (two-factor authentication): A second factor beyond the password when signing in to the admin: blocks almost all account hijacking.
A good theme (criteria): Lightweight, fast, recently updated, well rated, block-compatible, without a pile of unnecessary features.
ACF (Advanced Custom Fields): The go-to plugin for adding custom fields (text, image, date, relationship…) to any content, without coding.
Action: A hook that EXECUTES code at a given moment (add_action): “when WordPress renders the header, add this”.
Additional CSS: Style rules added without touching the theme (Customize → Additional CSS): colors, spacing, hiding elements.
Admin menu: The left-hand column: Posts, Pages, Media, Appearance, Plugins, Settings… — the table of contents of your work.
Administrator account: The master account of the site: create it with a NON-obvious username (never “admin”) and a strong password — security from day one.
Alternative text (alt): An image description, read by screen readers AND by Google: essential for accessibility and SEO.
Anti-spam: Protection against bot submissions: honeypot, reCAPTCHA, simple questions — otherwise the inbox fills with spam.
Attack surface: Everything that can be attacked: weak admin account, outdated plugins/themes, forms. Reducing it = protecting yourself.
Backup: A complete copy of the site (files + database): the ultimate defence against hacking, failure and accidental mistakes.
Backup before updating: The absolute rule: always a fresh backup BEFORE updating — to restore in minutes if things go wrong.
Block: The unit of content: paragraph, heading, image, button, columns, video… Each block moves and configures on its own.
Browser inspector: The tool (F12 → right-click → Inspect) that reveals an element's CSS: essential for finding the right selector to target.
Cache: A pre-generated version of pages, served instantly instead of being rebuilt on every visit: the number-one speed lever.
Caching plugin: WP Rocket (paid, complete, simple), LiteSpeed Cache / WP Super Cache / W3 Total Cache (free): they generate and serve the cache.
Call to action (CTA): The button/link that invites action (“Request a quote”, “Our services”): every section should guide toward the goal.
Categories & tags: The classification of POSTS only: categories (broad topics) and tags (keywords) — detailed in 1.4.
Category: The main, hierarchical classification of posts (broad topics, subtopics): every post has at least one category.
CDN: A network of worldwide servers that brings files closer to the visitor (Cloudflare…): speeds things up mainly for an international audience.
Child theme: A theme that INHERITS from a parent theme and holds your changes (CSS, functions.php, templates): they survive parent updates.
Classic theme vs block theme (FSE): Classic = customized via the Customizer; block theme = full site editing in the Gutenberg editor (modern).
CMS (content management system): Software that lets you create and manage a website without coding: pages, posts, media and menus are managed from an interface.
Common mobile issues: Text too small, buttons too close together, overflowing images, columns not stacking, unreadable menu — hunt them down.
Content restriction: The mechanism that makes a page/a post/a video visible only to authorized members (by level).
Content translation: The real work: actually translating pages, posts and menus. The plugin provides structure; translation is human (or via a service).
Cookie banner (CMP): The consent module (Complianz, CookieYes, Tarteaucitron plugins) that collects agreement BEFORE non-essential trackers are set.
CSS selector: The target of a style rule (.class, #id, tag): precisely aim at the element to change without breaking the rest.
Custom field: Structured data attached to a piece of content (a member's role, a service's price, an event's date): beyond plain free text.
Custom post type (CPT): A new content type beyond posts/pages: Projects, Members, Custom Products, Events… — a separate “post” with its own management.
Customizer: The tool in classic themes (Appearance → Customize): appearance settings with a live preview (logo, colors, header, menus, widgets).
Dashboard (/wp-admin): The site's administration interface: the cockpit where you create content and configure everything.
Data subject rights: Access, rectification and deletion of data: a visitor can exercise them (contact form, dedicated email) — see the Cybersecurity guide 4.2.
Database: The structured storage of all content (posts, settings, users): created at installation, separate from the files.
Dated vs evergreen content: The choice rule: it's tied to time (news) → post; it's timeless and structural → page.
Decoupled front end: The display application (often in modern JavaScript) that consumes the REST API: maximum performance and design freedom.
Device preview: The Desktop/Tablet/Mobile buttons in the editor: see how each screen renders without leaving WordPress.
Displaying fields: Retrieving and displaying fields in the theme (ACF blocks, templates, or builders): structured data becomes visible.
DNS / propagation: Pointing the domain name to the new host (DNS records): propagation can take a few hours.
Domain name: The site's address (mysite.com), rented annually from a registrar: your online identity.
Drip content: The gradual release of content (module 1 on sign-up, module 2 after 7 days…): typical of online courses.
Duplicator / All-in-One WP Migration: The plugins that package the site into one archive and redeploy it elsewhere: migration without handling the database by hand.
Field group: A set of ACF fields assigned to a content type: the structured “form” the editor will fill in.
Filter: A hook that MODIFIES data as it passes (add_filter): “before displaying the title, transform it like this”.
Footer: The bottom of every page: contact details, secondary menu, legal notice, social networks — often in several columns.
Form plugin: Contact Form 7 (free, lightweight), WPForms / Fluent Forms (intuitive drag and drop): create and manage forms without coding.
Freemium plugin: Free version + paid “Pro” version: very common. The free one is often enough; Pro unlocks options and support.
Front end vs back end: Front = the public site seen by visitors; back = the administration (wp-admin) reserved for authorized people.
Full Site Editing (FSE): The tool for block themes (Appearance → Editor): edit the WHOLE site (header, footer, templates) with Gutenberg blocks.
functions.php: A theme's functions file: add your code there — ALWAYS in a CHILD theme, never in the parent (updates).
GDPR: The European regulation on personal data: applies as soon as a site collects data from identifiable visitors.
Global styles: The colors and fonts of the WHOLE site, set in one place (FSE → Styles): centralized visual consistency.
Gutenberg: WordPress's block-based content editor: the modern way to compose posts and pages.
Headless WordPress (decoupled): Using WordPress only as a content back end, with display handled by a separate front end (React, Next.js, mobile app).
Hero section: The large opening section: catchy title, subtitle, call-to-action button, often a background image — the decisive 3 seconds.
Hook: An anchor point for inserting your code into WordPress execution, without touching the core: the foundation of every plugin/theme.
Hosting: The rented server space that stores the site's files and database, and makes it accessible 24/7 on the Internet.
hreflang (multilingual SEO): The tag that tells Google the language/region of each version: avoids duplicate content and serves the right audience. Handled by the plugin.
HTTPS / SSL certificate: The security padlock that encrypts exchanges: essential (SEO, trust, often free via Let's Encrypt).
Image optimization: Reducing weight with no visible loss: resize to the right dimensions + compress (WebP, ShortPixel/Imagify plugins).
Information architecture: The overall organization that makes the site navigable: a good menu + clear categories = a visitor who doesn't get lost.
Inserting (+ or /): Add a block via the + button or by typing “/” followed by the block name (/image, /button): the regulars' shortcut.
JSON: The standard web data exchange format: structured, machine-readable — what the REST API returns.
Language switcher: The menu (flags or labels) that lets the visitor change language: place it in the header or the menu.
Lazy loading: Deferred loading of images (they only load as they approach the viewport): native in WordPress, a speed gain.
Legal notice & privacy policy: The mandatory pages: site publisher, host, data processing, data subject rights, cookies used.
Local installation: WordPress on YOUR computer (Local by Flywheel, XAMPP, MAMP): learn, test, develop without going live or taking risks.
Maintenance: The ongoing upkeep of the site: updates, backups, monitoring, fixes — a site is living software.
Manual installation (FTP): Upload the WordPress files via FTP then run the installer: the historic “5-minute install” — a great learning exercise.
Measurement (PageSpeed/GTmetrix): The tools that score speed and point out problems: optimize based on measurements, never on feelings.
Media library: The central storage for all your files (Media → Library): images, PDFs, videos — reusable everywhere.
Membership area: A site where registered users access restricted content: community, courses, premium resources.
Membership level: A tier of access (free, standard, premium): each level unlocks a defined set of content.
Membership plugin: MemberPress, Paid Memberships Pro, Restrict Content Pro: manage sign-up, levels, recurring payment and content restriction.
Menu location: The areas where a menu is displayed (main menu, footer, mobile) as defined by the theme.
Migration: Moving a complete site (files + database) to a new host or domain, or from local to production.
Minification: Reducing code weight (CSS/JS) by removing spaces and line breaks: a few KB saved, adjustable in the caching plugin.
Mobile-first (Google): Google evaluates and indexes the MOBILE version of the site first: a site poorly suited to mobile is penalized in search.
Multichannel (omnichannel): The same WordPress content distributed everywhere via the API: website, mobile app, screens, other services.
Navigation menu: The bar of links that structures the visit (Appearance → Menus, or the site editor): pages, categories, custom links.
Never edit the parent: The golden rule: any direct change to a parent theme is OVERWRITTEN on its next update — hence Additional CSS and the child theme.
Notification: The email sent to the admin (and/or the user) on each submission: configure it with the right recipients and fields.
Official directory: wordpress.org/plugins: the safe source, verified plugins installable from the admin. Avoid “nulled” plugins (pirated = malware).
Official directory (wordpress.org/themes): The safe source: verified, free themes installable directly from the admin — avoid nulled/pirated themes (malware).
One message per section: The principle: each section carries ONE idea (who I am, my services, the proof, the action) — not a catch-all.
One-click install: The host's automatic installer (Softaculous and equivalents): WordPress deployed in a few clicks, database created for you.
Open source: Free, modifiable code backed by a huge community: the strength and longevity of WordPress.
Page: Static content, outside the chronology and without categories: About, Contact, Services, legal notice — the permanent structure.
Parent theme / child theme: The child theme inherits from the parent but allows lasting changes (preserved through updates) — detailed in 4.4.
Pattern: A ready-made layout (hero, pricing, testimonials) inserted in one click, then customized: a major time saver.
Payment gateway: The service that collects payment (Stripe, PayPal…) through a plugin: secure, it handles the bank transaction.
Per-device settings (blocks): Some blocks let you hide an element on mobile, or adjust font size/columns depending on the screen.
Permalink: The permanent URL of a piece of content (mysite.com/my-post). Its structure is set globally in Settings → Permalinks.
PHP & MySQL: The required technologies: PHP (WordPress's language, a recent version recommended) and MySQL/MariaDB (the database).
Plugin: A module that adds a feature to WordPress (form, SEO, cache, store…): Plugins → Add New.
Plugin overload: Too many plugins = slowness, conflicts and vulnerabilities. Every plugin must justify itself; uninstall (not just deactivate) the useless ones.
Plugin structure: A plugin = a folder with a PHP header file + code using hooks: the anatomy to know for development.
Polylang / WPML: The two reference multilingual plugins: Polylang (free, lightweight), WPML (paid, complete). They organize versions by language.
Post (article): Dated, chronological content, sorted by categories/tags: blog posts, news, regular publications.
“Post name” structure: The SEO-friendly format: the URL reuses the title (mysite.com/our-services) — readable for humans and Google. The recommended choice.
Post-migration checks: The check after deployment: links, images, forms, logins — hunt down anything still pointing to the old address.
Prior consent: The rule: no tracking/advertising cookies set BEFORE the accept click. A simple informational banner is not enough.
Quality criteria: Recently updated, high rating, many active installs, compatibility with your version: the marks of a trustworthy plugin.
Required field: A field required to submit the form (name, email, message): frames input and guarantees useful information.
Responsive design: The automatic adaptation of the layout to screen size (desktop, tablet, mobile): one version, all screens.
REST API: The built-in interface that exposes WordPress content as JSON to other applications: /wp-json/wp/v2/posts returns your posts.
Restraint: The rule: a few useful elements per area. An overloaded footer or sidebar drowns the information instead of serving it.
Reusable / synced block: A block saved and reused on several pages: editing it in one place updates it EVERYWHERE — perfect for a recurring callout.
Security plugin: Wordfence, Sucuri, Solid Security: firewall, intrusion detection, blocking of login attempts, file scanning.
SEO (search engine optimization): All the optimizations that make a site visible in search engines, without advertising.
Shared vs managed hosting: Shared = economical, shared server (for getting started); managed WordPress = optimized/secured/backed up for WordPress (more expensive, more peace of mind).
Shipping zone & taxes: The settings that define where you ship, at what rate, and how VAT applies depending on the customer's country.
Sidebar: The side column of the content: secondary navigation, search, highlights — present or not depending on the theme and page.
Simple vs variable product: Simple = a product with no variants; variable = with variations (size, color) and their own prices/stock.
Site title & tagline: Settings → General: the site's name and description, displayed and used by search engines and social networks.
Slug: The customizable part of a content's URL (the “our-services”): editable per content item, keep it short and clear.
SMTP (deliverability): A reliable email sending service (WP Mail SMTP plugin + a service like Brevo): the solution for notifications that go to spam or disappear.
Staging environment: A copy of the site where you test updates BEFORE production: if it breaks, the public site is untouched.
Static homepage: Setting (Settings → Reading): display a page designed as the homepage (business site) rather than the list of posts (blog site).
Static homepage vs blog: The homepage can show the latest posts (blog site) or a fixed designed page (business site) — your choice (setting 1.5).
Tag: A cross-cutting, non-hierarchical keyword: describes a post in detail, links content from different categories.
Target keyword: The term a page wants to rank for: place it naturally in the title, URL, subheadings and body text.
Technical debt: The buildup of delays (outdated versions, abandoned plugins): the longer you wait, the riskier updates become.
Template: The structure of a page type (homepage, post, 404 page): editable in FSE, reused for all content of that type.
Template part: A reused element (header, footer) edited once and applied everywhere: the FSE counterpart of the synced block.
Theme: The complete skin of the site: layout, colors, fonts, header/footer. Changes the whole look at once.
Theme / Plugin: The theme defines the APPEARANCE; the plugin adds FEATURES — the two pillars of customization (levels 2 and 3).
Title tag & meta description: The title and summary shown in Google results: optimizing them improves the click-through rate (define them per page).
Toolbar (admin bar): The black bar at the top when you're logged in: quick navigation between the admin and the site, edit shortcuts.
Update (core/theme/plugins): New versions released regularly: security, fixes, features. Apply them, but methodically.
UpdraftPlus: The most popular backup plugin: automates backups and stores them off-server (Google Drive, Dropbox…) — essential.
URL architecture: The shape of URLs per language: subdirectory (mysite.com/en/), subdomain (en.mysite.com) or a dedicated domain — the subdirectory is the most common.
URL replacement (search-replace): Updating old URLs to new ones in the database (migration tools do this): otherwise broken links and images.
User role: The level of rights: Administrator (everything), Editor (everyone's content), Author (their own content), Contributor, Subscriber — security through roles.
Value proposition: What must be clear at the top of the page: who you are, what you bring, to whom — before any scrolling.
WebP format: The modern image format, much lighter than JPEG/PNG at equal quality: recommended for performance.
Widget / area block: An element placed in a secondary area (sidebar, footer): search, categories, latest posts, text, social networks…
Widget area: A location defined by the theme where you place widgets/blocks (Appearance → Widgets, or template parts in FSE).
WooCommerce: The reference e-commerce plugin for WordPress: products, cart, orders, payment, shipping, taxes — free at its core.
WooCommerce extensions: The ecosystem of add-ons (payment, shipping, subscriptions, bookings): the store expands as needed — in moderation.
WordPress.com: The turnkey hosted service (Automattic): simpler but limited depending on the plan (plugins/themes restricted on free, ads).
WordPress.org (self-hosted): The free, open-source software installed at YOUR host: full control, unlimited plugins and themes, e-commerce possible.
XML sitemap: The site map intended for Google (generated by the plugin): submit it in Google Search Console to speed up indexing.
Yoast SEO / Rank Math: The two reference SEO plugins: per-page title/meta, Google preview, content analysis, XML sitemap, structured data.