Glossary
The terms defined in this glossary cover the key concepts and technologies in the WordPress ecosystem and WordPress.com hosting platform.
| Action | One of two types of hooks; Actions allow you to change how WordPress works at specific points during the execution of WordPress Core, plugins, and themes. More information about Actions can be found here. |
| Activity Log | The Jetpack Activity Log shows a record of all activities and events on your WordPress.com website so you can keep track of your site’s changes. |
| Backup | Create copies of your WordPress website’s files and database to protect against data loss or corruption. The Jetpack VaultPress Backup backs up your site automatically on eligible plans on WordPress.com. |
| Bandwidth | The amount of data that can be transferred between a website and its visitors within a specific period, usually measured in megabytes per second (MBPS). All websites hosted on WordPress.com have unmetered bandwidth, so you don’t have to compromise on speed and performance when your website receives large amounts of traffic. |
| Block Editor | The default content editor introduced in WordPress 5.0, also known as Gutenberg. Use it to create content like pages and posts using a block-based approach, providing a more intuitive and flexible editing experience compared to the classic editor. |
| Blocks | Blocks are the fundamental units of content in the block editor. Blocks exist for text, media, code, payments, menus, embeds, and much more. They are individual components that can be combined and arranged to create rich and dynamic page layouts. |
| Cache | A temporary storage mechanism used to store frequently-accessed data, such as web pages or database queries, to improve website performance and reduce server load. The global network of data centers on WordPress.com serves content to your visitors more quickly, no matter where they are in the world. |
| CDN | A Content Delivery Network consists of distributed servers strategically located across different geographic regions to deliver website content, such as images, CSS files, and scripts, to visitors more efficiently. Our built-in CDN, known as the Site Accelerator, improves website performance and reliability by reducing latency and bandwidth usage. |
| Child theme | A WordPress theme that inherits the functionality and styling of a parent theme. Developers use child themes to make modifications and customizations to the theme without altering the original theme files, making updates and maintenance easier. |
| CMS | A Content Management System is a software application used to create, manage, and publish digital content, such as websites, blogs, and online stores. WordPress is the most-used CMS in the world, powering over 43% of all websites! |
| CPUs | Central Processing Units determine the processing power available to handle website requests and server tasks. Websites hosted on WordPress.com use high-frequency CPUs to process queries at incredible speeds. |
| Cron | Cron jobs are used for time-based tasks, like publishing scheduled posts and performing background maintenance on WordPress sites. |
| Custom fields | Custom fields provide a way to store and display structured data beyond the default content fields. You can add additional metadata or custom information to posts, pages, or custom post types using manual development or a custom fields plugin. |
| Custom post type | Create diverse content structures with other content types (beyond standard posts and pages) that have custom fields, taxonomies, and templates. WordPress.com includes the portfolio and testimonial custom post types, plus the ability to add your own custom post types via plugins (like products via the WooCommerce plugin) and manual development. |
| Database | The database stores website content, settings, and user information. WordPress.com website owners can use phpMyAdmin to access the database and run a wide range of MySQL operations for efficient storage, retrieval, and manipulation. |
| DDOS | Distributed Denial of Service is a type of cyber attack in which multiple compromised computer systems, often infected with malware, are used to flood a target website or server with an overwhelming amount of traffic, causing it to become slow or unavailable to legitimate users. WordPress.com websites come protected against DDOS attacks as standard. |
| DNS | The Domain Name System translates human-readable domain names, such as yourgroovydomain.com, into numerical IP addresses that computers can understand. Add DNS records to your domain to give specific instructions for email, subdomains, verification with other services, and much more. |
| Domain | A unique and human-readable name that identifies a website on the internet, such as yourgroovydomain.com. You can register a domain name on WordPress.com for free with any annual plan, or transfer a domain name from another provider. |
| Elasticsearch | A distributed search and analytics engine used for indexing and searching large volumes of structured and unstructured data in real time. Elasticsearch is used for all posts on WordPress.com to implement advanced search functionality. |
| Filter | A function or hook in WordPress that modifies or manipulates data before it is displayed or processed. Filters are commonly used to customize the behavior of WordPress core features, themes, and plugins. |
| Five for the Future | An initiative supported by the WordPress community encouraging individuals and organizations to dedicate 5% of their time and resources to contributing back to the WordPress project, including code contributions, documentation, support, and community building. |
| GitHub Deployments | The process of deploying code changes or updates to a WordPress website using GitHub, a popular code hosting platform. Developers can use GitHub Deployments on WordPress.com to manage and track changes to their WordPress projects efficiently. |
| Gutenberg | The code name for the block editor introduced in WordPress 5.0, named after Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. Gutenberg revolutionized content creation in WordPress by introducing a block-based editing experience. |
| Hook | A point in the WordPress execution cycle where developers can insert custom code or modify behavior using action and filter hooks. Hooks allow developers to extend and customize WordPress functionality without directly modifying core files. |
| Jetpack | Our popular WordPress plugin that provides a suite of features and tools for website management, security, performance, backups, and content creation. Jetpack is included as standard with all WordPress.com sites. |
| JSON | JavaScript Object Notation is a lightweight data interchange format commonly used for transmitting data between a web server and a web application. JSON is human-readable and easy to parse, making it ideal for exchanging structured data. |
| Malware | Malicious software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a website through vulnerabilities in themes and plugins. Websites hosted on WordPress.com include automated malware scanning & one‑click fixes to keep your site ahead of security threats. |
| NGINX | A high-performance, open-source web server software used to serve web content and handle HTTP requests. We use NGINX on WordPress.com for its efficiency, scalability, and ability to handle large volumes of concurrent connections. |
| Patterns | Pre-designed combinations of blocks in the WordPress block editor that can be easily inserted into posts and pages to create complex layouts and designs. Patterns help users streamline the content creation process and maintain consistency across their website. |
| PHP | A popular server-side scripting language used for web development, particularly well-suited for creating dynamic web pages and interacting with databases. WordPress is primarily written in PHP. |
| Plugin | A piece of software that extends the functionality of a WordPress website by adding new features, modifying existing functionality, or integrating with third-party services. WordPress.com websites on eligible plans can choose from over 50,000 plugins (or upload your own plugins) to add virtually any capability to a WordPress site. |
| Query | A request made to the WordPress database to retrieve specific information, such as posts, pages, or custom content types, based on specified criteria. Queries are used to generate dynamic content on WordPress websites. |
| REST API | A set of rules and conventions for building web services that allow for communication between different software applications across the internet. The WordPress.org REST API provides developers with a way to access and interact with WordPress data programmatically. The WordPress.com REST API offers similar functionality to the WordPress.org REST API but is tailored to the WordPress.com environment and ecosystem. |
| SFTP | Secure File Transfer Protocol provides encrypted communication between a client and a server for transferring files. Use SFTP on WordPress.com to upload, download, and manage files on web servers securely. |
| Shortcode | A WordPress-specific code enclosed in square brackets used to embed dynamic content onto a page. For example, |
| Site Editor | Supported on modern block themes, the Site Editor provides the highest level of flexibility to design the entire website, including the header, footer, sidebars, and other site-wide elements, all in a graphical interface. |
| Sitemap | A structured list of URLs for all pages and content on a website, intended to help search engines crawl and index the site more effectively. WordPress.com includes built-in sitemaps located at sitemap.xml. |
| SSH | Secure SHell allows you to use a terminal application to access the backend of your site and manage certain site files and settings. SSH is available on eligible WordPress.com plans. |
| SSL | A security protocol that encrypts data transmitted between a web server and a web browser, ensuring that sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data, remains private and secure. SSL certificates and HTTPS encryption are included as standard for all WordPress.com websites. |
| Staging site | A clone or replica of a live website created for testing purposes used to safely experiment with changes, updates, or new features without affecting the live (production) site. Use staging sites on WordPress.com to help minimize the risk of errors and downtime during development and deployment. |
| Studio | A free, open source desktop app from WordPress.com allows you to easily build and maintain local WordPress websites without manual server setup or tool configuration. It also allows you to share your work publicly (think: with clients, team members, or design teams) through temporary demo sites hosted on WordPress.com. |
| Taxonomy | A system for organizing and classifying content into hierarchical or non-hierarchical groups based on shared characteristics or attributes. Categories and tags are the most commonly used taxonomies on WordPress to organize posts, pages, and custom content types. |
| Template | A file or set of files that define the structure and layout of specific types of pages or content within a WordPress theme. Templates control how different elements, such as headers, footers, sidebars, and content, are displayed on the front end of a website. |
| Theme | A collection of files, including templates, stylesheets, and JavaScript files that determine the visual design and layout of a WordPress website. Themes allow users to customize the appearance of the website without modifying the underlying code. |
| Uptime | The percentage of time that a website or server is operational and accessible to users over a given period, typically measured in hours or days. WordPress.com hosting has an unbeatable 99.999% uptime. |
| VideoPress | A video hosting and streaming service integrated with WordPress.com, allowing users to upload, manage, and embed videos on their WordPress websites. VideoPress provides tools for transcoding, streaming, and displaying high-quality videos without third-party plugins or services. |
| Widget | A small, self-contained block of content or functionality that can be added to widget-ready areas, such as sidebars, footers, and other widget-enabled sections of a WordPress theme. Widgets can display various types of content, including text, images, navigation menus, and custom functionality. Widgets have been used less frequently since the introduction of the block editor. |
| WordPress | An open-source content management system (CMS) written in PHP and MySQL, used to create and manage websites, blogs, and online stores. WordPress powers over 43% of websites worldwide and is known for its flexibility, extensibility, and user-friendly interface. |
| WordPress.com | A managed WordPress host, provided by Automattic. WordPress.com hosting provides a simplified website-building experience for users of all skill levels. |
| WP-CLI | WordPress Command Line Interface is a tool for managing and administering WordPress installations from the command line or terminal. WP-CLI on WordPress.com provides commands for performing common tasks, such as installing plugins, updating themes, and managing users, without the need of a web browser. |
Last updated: April 30, 2024
