WordPress Glossary (A–Z): Beginner-Friendly Guide
Welcome to the WordPress Glossary.
This page explains common WordPress, blogging, hosting, SEO, and web development terms in simple words. It is designed especially for beginners who want to understand WordPress without technical confusion.
Use the alphabet index below to jump to any term quickly.
Alphabet Index
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X
A
Absolute Path
The complete location of a file or folder on a server, starting from the root directory.
Action
A WordPress hook that allows developers to run custom code at specific points.
Admin Area
The backend control panel where you manage posts, pages, themes, plugins, and settings.
Admin Bar
The top toolbar shown when logged in, providing quick access to WordPress features.
Administration Screens
Different dashboard pages like Posts, Pages, Media, and Settings.
Administrator
The highest WordPress user role with full access.
AJAX
A technology that loads content without refreshing the page.
Apache
A popular web server software used by many hosting providers.
API (Application Programming Interface)
Allows different applications or services to communicate.
Archive
Pages that display posts grouped by category, tag, author, or date.
Array
A programming structure used to store multiple values.
Atom
A feed format similar to RSS.
Attachment
Media files such as images, PDFs, or videos uploaded to WordPress.
Author
A user role that can write and publish their own posts.
Autosave
Automatically saves your post while writing.
B
Backend
The admin area of WordPress not visible to visitors.
Backlink
A link from another website pointing to your site.
Backup
A saved copy of your website used for recovery.
Bandwidth
The amount of data transferred between your website and users.
bbPress
A WordPress plugin used to create forums.
Block Editor (Gutenberg)
The modern WordPress editor based on content blocks.
Block Patterns
Pre-designed block layouts.
Breadcrumbs
Navigation links showing a visitor’s location on the site.
Brotli Compression
A compression method that improves page loading speed.
C
Cache
Stored data that helps websites load faster.
Canonical URL
The preferred URL version of a webpage for search engines.
CAPTCHA / reCAPTCHA / hCAPTCHA
Security tools that protect against spam and bots.
Category
A way to group related blog posts.
Child Theme
A theme that inherits features from a parent theme.
chmod
Controls file and folder permissions on a server.
Classic Editor
The older WordPress editor before the block editor.
Classic Theme
Traditional PHP-based WordPress themes.
Cloud Hosting
Hosting that uses multiple servers for reliability.
Content Management System (CMS)
Software used to create and manage digital content (WordPress).
Code Repository
A place where code is stored and shared.
Comments
User responses displayed below posts.
Cookies
Small browser files storing user data.
Contributor
User role that can write posts but cannot publish.
cPanel
A hosting control panel for managing websites.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
Controls website design and layout.
Custom Backgrounds
Theme feature for background customization.
Custom Fields
Extra data added to posts or pages.
Custom Headers
Theme feature to customize header images.
Custom Post Type
Special content types like portfolios or products.
D
Dashboard
The main admin screen of WordPress.
Database
Stores website content, settings, and user data.
Dedicated Hosting
A server used exclusively by one website.
Default Theme
The theme included with WordPress installation.
DNS (Domain Name System)
Connects domain names to servers.
Domain Name
The website address (example.com).
Draft
An unpublished post or page.
Drag and Drop
A visual method to arrange content easily.
DDoS
A cyberattack that floods a website with traffic.
E
Editor
The tool used to create and edit content.
Excerpt
A short summary of a post.
F
Featured Image
The main image representing a post.
Feed
A stream of updated content like RSS.
Filter
A WordPress hook used to modify data.
Fluid Layout
A design that adapts to different screen sizes.
Footer
The bottom section of a website.
Front End
The public-facing part of a website.
Free Software
Software that can be freely used and modified.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
Used to upload files to a server.
functions.php
A theme file for adding custom features.
G
Gallery
A collection of images displayed together.
GitHub
A platform for storing and managing code.
GPL (General Public License)
The license used by WordPress.
Group Block
A block that groups multiple blocks together.
Gzip Compression
Reduces file size to improve loading speed.
H
Header
The top section of a website.
Home Page
The main landing page of a site.
Hooks
Allow developers to add or modify functionality.
Hotlinking
Using images hosted on another website.
HTML
The language used to create web pages.
HTTP / HTTPS
Protocols used to transfer web data securely.
.htaccess
A configuration file used on Apache servers.
I
iFrame
Embeds content from another website.
IP Address
A unique identifier for devices on the internet.
J
JavaScript
Adds interactivity to websites.
jQuery
A JavaScript library used by WordPress.
K
Keywords
Search terms users type into search engines.
L
localhost
A local server environment for testing.
Loop
The WordPress system that displays posts.
M
MariaDB
A database system used by WordPress.
Media
Images, videos, and files.
Media Settings
Controls image sizes and uploads.
Memory Usage
The amount of server RAM used.
Metadata
Extra information about content.
Multisite (MU)
Multiple websites under one WordPress installation.
MySQL
A database system used by WordPress.
N
Navigation Menus
Menus used for site navigation.
NGINX
A high-performance web server.
Nonce
A security token preventing unauthorized actions.
O
Open Source
Software with publicly available code.
P
Page
Static content like About or Contact pages.
Page Builder
Visual tools for creating layouts.
Page Cache
Stores rendered pages for faster loading.
Parent Theme
The main theme a child theme depends on.
Parked Domain
A domain pointing to another website.
Permalinks
The URL structure of posts.
PHP
The programming language WordPress uses.
Pingback
A notification when another site links to you.
Plugin
Adds features to WordPress.
Plugin Directory
Official WordPress plugin library.
Plugin Editor
Tool to edit plugin files.
Post
Blog content shown in reverse order.
Post Formats
Different post display styles.
Post Meta
Extra data attached to posts.
Post Slug
URL-friendly version of a title.
Post Status
Draft, Published, or Scheduled.
Post Types
Different content structures.
Press This
Tool to publish content quickly.
Primary Menu
Main navigation menu.
Profile
User account settings.
public_html
Main website folder on hosting.
phpMyAdmin
Database management tool.
PuTTY
SSH client for Windows.
Q
Query
A request for data from the database.
Quick Draft
Fast draft creation tool.
R
Responsive Theme
Adapts to all screen sizes.
Revisions
Saved versions of content.
Robots.txt
Controls search engine crawling.
RSS
Feed format for content updates.
S
Screen Options
Customize dashboard layout.
SEO
Search Engine Optimization.
Security Keys
Protect login sessions.
Shared Hosting
Multiple sites on one server.
Shortcodes
Small codes that add features.
Sidebar
Widget-ready area.
Slug
URL-friendly text.
Slider
Rotating content display.
SMTP
Email sending protocol.
Spam
Unwanted content.
Splog
Spam blog.
SSL
Encrypts website data.
Static Front Page
A fixed homepage.
Subscriber
User role with read-only access.
Subdomain
A part of a main domain.
SVG
Scalable vector graphics.
Settings
Website configuration options.
T
Tag
Keywords for posts.
Taxonomy
Content classification system.
Template
Theme layout file.
Template Tag
PHP functions used in themes.
Terms
Items inside taxonomies.
Text Editor
HTML editing mode.
Theme
Controls website design.
Theme Editor
Edit theme files.
Theme Framework
Base theme structure.
Theme Options
Customization settings.
Thumbnail Sizes
Image dimensions.
TLS
Secure communication protocol.
Toolbar
Admin bar.
Tools
Utility features.
Trash
Deleted items storage.
U
Updates
WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates.
Uptime
Website availability time.
URL
Web address.
User Permissions
Access control levels.
User Role
Defines user capabilities.
V
Visual Editor
WYSIWYG editor.
VPS Hosting
Virtual private server hosting.
W
WAMP
Local server for Windows.
Website Title
The main name of the website.
Widgets
Small content blocks.
WHOIS Lookup
Domain ownership details.
WordCamp
WordPress community event.
WordPress Core
Main WordPress software.
WordPress.com
Hosted WordPress service.
WP-CLI
Command-line WordPress tool.
WP_Query
Custom content query class.
wp-config.php
Main WordPress configuration file.
wp_enqueue
Properly loads scripts and styles.
WYSIWYG
What You See Is What You Get editor.
X
XAMPP
Local server environment for development.