Glossary

A WordPress function that lets you execute custom code at specific points in the WordPress loading process without modifying core files.

The process of storing pre-generated versions of web pages or data so future requests are served faster without repeating expensive processing.

Content Delivery Network. A global network of servers that stores copies of your static files and serves them from a location closest to each visitor.

A WordPress theme that inherits all functionality from a parent theme but lets you override templates and styles without modifying the parent directly.

Cumulative Layout Shift. A Core Web Vital that measures how much page elements move unexpectedly during loading. Target: under 0.1.

The percentage of website visitors who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase, filling a form, or signing up. A key ecommerce metric.

A set of Google metrics that measure real-world user experience on web pages: loading (LCP), interactivity (FID/INP), and visual stability (CLS).

A WordPress mechanism that lets you modify data as it passes through WordPress. Use add_filter() to intercept and change values like content or titles.

An architecture where WordPress manages content via its REST API or GraphQL, while a separate frontend (React, Next.js) handles the display layer.

Largest Contentful Paint. A Core Web Vital that measures how long it takes for the largest visible content element to load. Target: under 2.5 seconds.

The relational database system used by WordPress to store all content, settings, users, and metadata. WordPress also supports MariaDB.

A WordPress plugin that provides a drag-and-drop visual interface for building pages without writing code. Examples include Elementor and Divi.

How fast a web page loads in a browser. Measured by tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. Affects both user experience and Google search rankings.

The server-side programming language that powers WordPress. PHP runs on the web server and generates the HTML that browsers display.

An interface that allows applications to communicate over HTTP using standard methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. WordPress has a built-in REST API.

Structured data added to a webpage in JSON-LD format that helps search engines understand your content and display rich results in Google Search.

Search Engine Optimisation. The practice of improving a website to rank higher in Google and other search engines for relevant keyword searches.

A hosted ecommerce platform that lets you build and run an online store without managing server infrastructure. Known for ease of use and fast setup.

An XML file that lists all the important URLs on your website, helping search engines like Google discover and index your content efficiently.

A digital certificate that encrypts data between a browser and a web server. Required for HTTPS. Websites without SSL are flagged as "Not Secure" by Chrome.

A free ecommerce plugin for WordPress that lets you sell products and services directly from your website. It powers over 25% of all online stores.

An open-source content management system (CMS) that powers over 43% of all websites. It uses PHP and MySQL and is known for its large plugin and theme ecosystem.

A package of code that adds or extends functionality in WordPress without modifying core files. Plugins use WordPress hooks to integrate cleanly.

A set of template files that control the visual appearance and layout of a WordPress website. Themes can be changed without affecting your content.

A command-line tool for managing WordPress installations via a terminal. Used by developers for bulk operations, database management, and deployments.