So, you want to become a WordPress developer? Great choice! WordPress powers over 40% of the web, making it one of the most in-demand skills in the digital space. But where do you start? Whether you’re dreaming of crafting stunning themes, building powerful plugins, or simply maintaining existing sites, there’s a clear path to mastering WordPress development. Let’s dive in!
Step One: Define Your Path
Before you start, ask yourself: what do I want to do with WordPress? Do you see yourself designing beautiful pages with Elementor? Or are you more into coding custom themes and plugins? If your goal is to master page builders, you only need the WordPress basics: installing WordPress, managing posts and pages, tweaking menus and widgets, and understanding how Elementor works. But if you want to build custom solutions, you’ll need to dig deeper into technical skills.
Step Two: Master the Basics
Every web journey begins with HTML and CSS—the backbone of the web. Even if you plan to use builders like Elementor or WPBakery, a strong foundation in these languages will be invaluable. There are tons of resources to learn from, but MDN Web Docs is one of the best places to start.
Once you’re comfortable with HTML and CSS, you’re ready to take on the real challenge: becoming a full-stack WordPress developer. While you can specialize in either front-end or back-end development, true WordPress mastery requires knowledge of both.
Step Three: Front-End Development
JavaScript is the secret sauce of modern web interactivity. Even though WordPress includes jQuery, it’s crucial to learn JavaScript from the ground up. The more complex your projects become, the more you’ll rely on JavaScript for interactive elements, dynamic content, and API calls.
Start with vanilla JavaScript—understanding fundamental concepts like arrays, objects, and functions will make your life much easier down the road. Then, you can move on to jQuery, which simplifies event handling and animations. For example:
In plain JavaScript:
let s = document.getElementById('thing').style;
s.opacity = 1;
(function fade(){
(s.opacity -= 0.1) < 0 ? s.display = 'none' : setTimeout(fade, 40);
})();
In jQuery:
$('#thing').fadeOut();
Next, explore AJAX—a technique that allows pages to update dynamically without reloading. Ever submitted a form and instantly seen the result without refreshing? That’s AJAX in action.
For advanced development, dive into React, especially if you want to build custom Gutenberg blocks or work with the WordPress REST API.
Step Four: Back-End Development
WordPress runs on PHP, so learning this scripting language is non-negotiable. Start with the basics—syntax, functions, classes, error handling—before moving on to WordPress-specific functions and hooks.
Speaking of hooks, actions and filters are the heart of WordPress customization. These allow you to modify core WordPress behavior without hacking the core files (which you should NEVER do!).
Beyond PHP, familiarize yourself with MySQL, the database system that stores all WordPress content. Learning basic SQL commands will help you retrieve and manipulate data efficiently.
Step Five: Explore WordPress Core
Once you’re comfortable with PHP and MySQL, it’s time to dig into WordPress itself:
- Study WordPress coding standards to write clean, maintainable code.
- Learn how themes and plugins are structured.
- Understand the WordPress REST API to build modern, headless WordPress applications.
Your Roadmap to Success
Here’s a structured learning path to becoming a professional WordPress developer:
1. Front-End (UI & Styling)
- HTML & CSS (Start with MDN Web Docs)
- JavaScript & jQuery (Codecademy, MDN Web Docs)
- AJAX & Fetch API (MDN Web Docs)
- React (Official React Docs, W3Schools)
2. Back-End (Logic & Database)
- PHP (Official PHP Manual, W3Schools)
- MySQL (W3Schools, MySQL Docs)
- WordPress Core Functions (WordPress Developer Resources)
3. Advanced Topics
- WordPress Hooks (Actions & Filters)
- Theme & Plugin Development
- WordPress REST API
- Security Best Practices
Final Thoughts
Becoming a WordPress developer takes time, patience, and lots of hands-on practice. But the effort is worth it! Whether you’re building custom themes, creating plugins, or contributing to the WordPress community, mastering these skills will open doors to exciting opportunities.
What’s your WordPress journey been like? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your experiences!
Happy coding!