If you’re looking to personalize your WordPress website, the core platform provides a decent range of options. However, if you want true flexibility but don’t have the time or experience required to make changes by hand, you’ll need some additional tools. This is where WordPress themes and plugins come in.
Themes and plugins are individual pieces of software that function as add-ons to the core WordPress platform. A WordPress website needs a theme to exist, but it doesn’t need any plugins. However, the likelihood of you eschewing plugins is extremely remote.
WordPress themes control your site’s appearance – what it looks like and how it’s laid out. Some themes are very simple and might only change basic things about your site’s design, such as colors and fonts. Many themes, however, offer a variety of new layouts and styles. Either way, you usually have the ability to customize your theme to suit your needs.
WordPress plugins, on the other hand, add new features or functionality to your site (or expand on what already exists). No matter what you want to do with your site, there’s almost certainly a plugin that can make it possible. Some enable simple changes, such as adding new widgets for use in your sidebars, while others give you access to entirely new features, such as a WordPress event calendar or an online store. There are also plugins that can help you with practical tasks like ensuring your site’s security.
There are thousands of themes and plugins available online, and they come in many varieties – free and premium, simple and complex. You can often find the ones you need by conducting a simple search. However, since anyone who wants to can build a theme or plugin, it can be difficult to know which ones are reliable and won’t negatively impact your site.
That’s why it can be helpful to visit a directory where themes and plugins are listed, rated, and commented on. You can also go straight to the website of a reputable company that is known for creating dependable add-ons.
To install a theme, first navigate to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress back end. Then, click on the Add New button at the top of the screen. From here you can browse the free themes offered by WordPress. If there’s one you like, just click the blue Install button then the Activate button to begin using the theme.
Or you can upload your own WordPress theme you’ve downloaded from a third-party website or marketplace (like Themeforest). To do this, click on the Upload Theme button and select Choose File. Navigate to the place where you saved the zipped theme file, and open it. You’ll be taken back to the Add Themes screen, where you can select Install Now. The installer will take a moment to run, after which you’ll get a message telling you that the theme has been successfully installed. At this point, you can preview the theme or choose Activate to start using it right away.
Plugins are installed in essentially the same way as themes. Start by navigating to Plugins and choosing Add New at the top of the screen. Just like with themes, you can find all of the free WordPress.org plugins listed here for your convenience. To install a free plugin, you’d click on the Install then Activate buttons.
Or you can upload a plugin using the Upload Plugin button and selecting Choose File. Find and open the zipped plugin file on your computer, then click the Install Now button. After a moment, a message will display telling you if the plugin was installed successfully. At this point, simply click on Activate Plugin.
The ready availability of themes and plugins is one of the most compelling reasons to use WordPress. The core platform is pretty fantastic on its own, but when you start including themes and plugins, you suddenly have access to nearly limitless options. No matter the type of site you want to create, the wider world of WordPress offers a tool to get the job done – most likely in a simple and affordable way.
To start taking advantage of WordPress themes and plugins, you’ll first want to check out a reliable directory. Some excellent options are WordPress.org itself, ThemeForest and CodeCanyon, and our own website. Make sure you know how to select the best theme and choose the right plugin for your needs. Then you can simply follow our directions above to install your new theme or plugin, and you’ll be all set!
