WordPress Features Reference

Feature Description Usage
Custom Post Types Allows you to create different content types beyond posts and pages. Useful for portfolios, testimonials, products, etc. Register using register_post_type() function or plugins
Taxonomies Organize content with categories and tags. Supports custom taxonomies for advanced organization. Use register_taxonomy() for custom taxonomies
Media Library Central repository for all images, videos, audio files, and documents. Supports drag-and-drop uploads. Media → Library or Add New in dashboard
Comments System Built-in commenting system for posts and pages. Includes moderation, spam protection, and threading. Settings → Discussion for configuration
User Management Manage users with different roles (Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, Subscriber) and capabilities. Users → Add New or All Users in dashboard
Themes Control the visual appearance of your site. Thousands of free and premium themes available. Appearance → Themes → Add New
Plugins Extend functionality with plugins. Over 50,000 plugins available in the WordPress repository. Plugins → Add New → Search or upload
Customizer Live preview of theme customizations. Change colors, fonts, layout options in real-time. Appearance → Customize
Menus Create custom navigation menus for your site. Add pages, posts, categories, and custom links. Appearance → Menus → Create new menu
Widgets Add content blocks to widget-ready areas (sidebars, footers). Drag and drop interface. Appearance → Widgets or Customize → Widgets
Block Editor (Gutenberg) Modern content editor using blocks. Each piece of content is a customizable block. Posts → Add New or Pages → Add New
REST API RESTful API for interacting with WordPress data. Enables headless WordPress and mobile apps. Access via /wp-json/wp/v2/ endpoint
Shortcodes Simple codes that execute functions. Use [shortcode] syntax to add dynamic content. Add shortcode code in posts/pages/widgets
Permalinks Customize URL structure for posts and pages. Supports various formats including post name, date-based, etc. Settings → Permalinks
Categories Organize posts into categories. Hierarchical structure with parent-child relationships. Posts → Categories → Add New
Tags Add tags to posts for additional organization. Non-hierarchical keyword system. Posts → Tags → Add New
Featured Images Set a featured image (thumbnail) for posts and pages. Displayed by themes in various locations. Set featured image in post/page editor
Excerpts Short summary of posts. Used in archives, RSS feeds, and search results. Add excerpt in post editor or auto-generated from content
Revisions Automatic saving of post/page revisions. Allows you to revert to previous versions. View revisions in post/page editor → Revisions panel
Draft & Scheduling Save drafts and schedule posts for future publication. Set specific date and time. Publish panel in post editor → Schedule
Password Protection Protect posts and pages with passwords. Only users with password can view content. Publish panel → Visibility → Password protected
Private Posts Make posts visible only to logged-in users. Useful for internal documentation. Publish panel → Visibility → Private
Custom Fields Add extra metadata to posts and pages. Store additional information beyond title and content. Enable in Screen Options → Custom Fields
WordPress Multisite Create a network of multiple WordPress sites. Share themes, plugins, and users across sites. Configure wp-config.php and install network
User Roles & Capabilities Fine-grained control over user permissions. Define what each role can and cannot do. Users → Roles → Configure capabilities
SEO Features Built-in SEO-friendly URLs, meta tags, and structure. Enhanced with SEO plugins. Use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math
Automatic Updates Automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins. Keep site secure and current. Settings → Automatic updates configuration
Backup & Restore Built-in export tool and plugin options for backups. Restore site from backup files. Tools → Export or use backup plugins
Import/Export Import content from other WordPress sites or platforms. Export your own content. Tools → Import or Export
Cron Jobs (WP-Cron) Scheduled tasks system. Runs tasks like publishing scheduled posts and checking for updates. Configured automatically, can be disabled for external cron
Widget Areas Designated areas in themes where widgets can be placed. Sidebars, footers, header areas. Register with register_sidebar() in theme