ZeroToWP

WordPress

Quick Definition

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that powers 42.4% of all websites on the internet. It lets you create and manage a website without writing code.

WordPress.org homepage — the official site for downloading WordPress

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is the world's most popular content management system (CMS). Originally created in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little as a blogging platform, it has evolved into a full website builder used by everyone from personal bloggers to Fortune 500 companies.

As of March 2026, WordPress powers 42.4% of all websites on the internet and 59.8% of all sites using a known CMS, according to W3Techs. That means nearly half of the entire web runs on WordPress.

WordPress is built with PHP and uses a MySQL or MariaDB database to store your content. It's released under the GPLv2 license, which means it's completely free to use, modify, and distribute. The software itself costs nothing — you only pay for hosting and a domain name to put it online.

WordPress in Practice

When people say "WordPress," they usually mean WordPress.org — the self-hosted version you download and install on your own web hosting. There's also WordPress.com, which is a hosted platform run by Automattic (the company Matt Mullenweg co-founded). They're related but different — see our full comparison.

With self-hosted WordPress, you install plugins to add features (contact forms, SEO tools, online stores) and themes to control how your site looks. There are over 60,000 free plugins and 12,000 free themes available in the official directories.

Why It Matters

WordPress matters because it democratized web publishing. Before WordPress, building a website required hiring a developer or learning to code. Today, anyone can launch a professional website in an afternoon. If you're reading ZeroToWP, you're already on the right track — start with our complete beginner's guide.

Related Terms

PluginA plugin is a package of code you install on your WordPress site to add new features or extend existing ones — like adding a contact form, improving SEO, or setting up an online store.ThemeA WordPress theme is a collection of files that controls how your website looks — its layout, colors, fonts, and overall design. You can switch themes to completely change your site's appearance without losing any content.

Related Articles

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