Today, we are talking about a custom WordPress theme and how we can get started with it. I will be explaining three paths to develop your sites. Also, we will explain about the files required for WordPress and how that works. The website could have a different theme if you are creating something that matches it. We know there are lots of different themes. Lucky, you would create ideas from scratch.
What are the three paths to develop your sites?
- Building a theme from scratch
- There are lots of different kinds of coding, like Visual Studio, Notepad++, Phoenix Code, and more.
- There are lots of require strong knowledge of PHP, WordPress template hierarchy, and front-end development.
- Make sure you take your time and check your coding, make sure if working and no errors.
- Starter theme or Framework
- First, you can use paper or Photoshop to start creating your vision of what your site wants to look like. Sometimes you see something in the file that was already pre-created for the start of the theme.
- You want to make sure that you have experience with coding and you can go ahead started. If you are basic, you could try to practice and learn about different kinds of coding.
- Also, make sure your theme is balanced and does not repeat.
- At least a Child Theme to create
- The child theme is the functionality and styling of any parent theme, where you can change anything for the theme.
- They are easiest and fastest for ideas of customizing any kind of theme.
- Also, you can create the layout or change some design for your theme, like what you create.
Which path could I take and why?
I will say Number 2: Starter theme or Framework, because I like to create from scratch on Photoshop to create my sites as I want. I can plan to get ideas before I go do coding stuff. I have experience with some coding before, and I have always used Phoenix coding because this coding can show a live preview, and see what I am creating.
Six commonly included or required files.
- Style.css
- This contains the theme (name, author, description) and CSS styling.
- The wordpress will use this file to recognize and will register the theme.
- Index.php
- The template file that is used when there are no other template matches
- They are required for every theme to render the content.
- Functions.php
- This is the theme, like the engine room.
- Also, they are used to scripts/styles, register the menus, add the theme support, and at least custom functionality.
- Header.php
- This part of the opening HTML structure, the site header, and the navigation are in the section.
- Also, at the top are the most templates that are used.
- Footer.php
- This part of the bottom closing HTML tags, the footer content, and the scripts must be before the body part.
- Sidebar.php
- This is part of the side for the widget areas or the sidebars.