The importance of knowing code when developing in WordPress

Nowadays we can have a website made in WordPress in just 5 minutes. But not all are advantages, behind this simplicity and speed there are many other disadvantages. So, before starting a digital project, we must decide what level of professionalism we want to obtain and if we want our website to be focused on success.

Today we are honored to have Álvaro Torres, founder of WebHeroewrote us this post, where he comments his experience in this area.

Why it's important to know code when developing in WordPress

Knowing how to program is very important to develop in WordPress because it allows you to create and customize any website in a more detailed and precise way.

Knowing languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, React, PHP and native WordPress will allow us to create custom themes and plugins, as well as modify the look and feel of a WordPress website more efficiently.

In addition, knowledge of code can also be useful for troubleshooting technical problems and debug any bugs that may arise during WordPress development.

Does knowing code help to improve Google rankings?

Programming in itself does not directly help improve SEO. But the proper use of these languages can help improve the structure and appearance of a website, which in turn contributes to improving the user experience and makes the site more navigable and user-friendly. This undoubtedly helps to improve a website's ranking in Google. 

Knowledge of SEO in combination with programming is a very powerful tool when creating successful digital projects..

Something that we can be sure that influences positioning, and that is optimized through code, are the Web Vitals, a series of measurable values among which we find the loading speed of a website.

Improve the speed of your WordPress website

Have an advanced knowledge of WordPress will allow us to optimize its operation and loading speed. For example, the proper use of HTML, CSS, PHP or JavaScript can help optimize the structure and layout of a website so that it loads faster and more efficiently. 

In addition, if we know the structure and language in which the databases interact (MySQL) we could also optimize the databases, one of the strong points of web optimization.

Differences between a website made in WordPress with visual layout and one made with code

The main difference between a website built in WordPress with a visual builder and another made in WordPress with Gutenberg and native code is the level of control and customization you have over the website.

A visual layout tool is a tool that allows users to create and customize their website in an intuitive way, without the need for programming knowledge. But we must keep in mind that the use of these tools also greatly impairs the quality of the web code.

On the other hand, Gutenberg is a block content editor that allows users to create and customize their website in a very detailed and precise way. This editor, in conjunction with advanced coding skills, would allow us to have complete control over the design and behavior of the website. In addition, the quality of the code would give signals to Google about the professionalism of the project.

Themes in WordPress

A WordPress theme is a compilation of files that define the look and layout of a WordPress website. When making a WordPress website you can choose from a wide range of free or paid themes to customize the look and feel of a website, with almost no design or development required.

Benefits of having a custom 100% theme instead of using a template theme

There are several benefits of having a customized website instead of using a template. Among others we can highlight:

1. A customized website is 100% genuine. This would help us differentiate ourselves from the competition, creating a more engaging, enjoyable and memorable experience for users.
2. A customized website can be designed and developed according to the needs and preferences of each project. This allows you to have total control over the design, functionality and content of the website.
3. The code quality of a customized 100% web site would be unmatched.
4. A custom website can be easier to maintain and update in the long run. This is due to not relying on a pre-made template or third-party plugins.
5. A customized website can be easier to optimize for SEO. 

What is WordPress headless?

WordPress headless allows us to create a website without using the traditional WordPress user interface. In a headless development, WordPress would be used exclusively as a content database, while the user interface and content presentation would be handled by a separate frontend application, such as a mobile app or a website developed with React or Angular. This allows developers to create highly customized and optimized user experiences without being constrained by the traditional WordPress UI.

What are the benefits of creating a WordPress headless website?

There are many benefits of creating a WordPress headless website. Some of them are:

1. Greater flexibility and customization of the user interfaceBy using a separate frontend application to handle the user interface, developers have greater freedom to create highly customized and optimized user experiences.
2. Improved performance and loading speed:
   By not relying on the traditional WordPress user interface, a headless website can load and run faster and more efficiently.
3. Easier integration with other applications and platforms:
   By using an API to access WordPress content, a headless website can be easily integrated with other applications and platforms, making it easier to create more complex and consistent user experiences.
4. Increased scalability and ease of maintenance:
   By using a more modular and separate structure, a headless website can be easier to scale and maintain as it grows and changes.

Conclusion

There are a large number of technologies to develop websites in just a few clicks. This does not mean that the quality of this type of websites is the same as a work done by professionals who know how to program. In reality, in programming there are no limits, only the resources (such as time) that we want to invest.

Knowing this, we must consider what level of professionalism we want our website to have. If you are thinking about creating a website, or you need a WordPress web developer for your agency, do not hesitate to contact me and I will make you a non-biding quotation.