WordPress Development

📌 General Settings

This section defines the basic identity and global behavior of your site.

• Site Title: The name of your website (appears in browser tab and title).

• Tagline: A short description of your site (can show up in search results and themes).

• WordPress Address (URL): The address where your WordPress core files are installed.

• Site Address (URL): The address you want your site visitors to use (usually same as above).

• Email Address: Admin email for notifications and updates.

• Membership: Allows users to register if enabled.

• New User Default Role: The role assigned to new users (e.g., Subscriber).

• Timezone: Sets your site’s time based on location.

• Date Format: Controls how dates are displayed across the site.

• Time Format: Controls how time is displayed.

• Week Starts On: Sets which day is considered the first day of the week (usually Monday or Sunday).

• Site Language: Changes the language used in the WordPress dashboard.

📝 Writing Settings

These settings are related to creating and managing content.

• Default Post Category: If no category is selected, posts will be assigned this one.

• Default Post Format: Determines how posts appear in supported themes (e.g., standard, gallery, video).

• Post via Email: Lets you publish blog posts by sending an email to a specific address (rarely used today).

• Update Services: Ping services that notify search engines when you publish new content.

📖 Reading Settings

Controls what your homepage displays and how much content is visible.

• Your homepage displays: Choose between a static page (like a welcome page) or your latest blog posts.

• Homepage / Posts page: If using a static homepage, assign a page for the blog.

• Blog pages show at most: Limits the number of blog posts shown per page.

• Syndication feeds show the most recent: How many posts appear in your RSS feed.

• For each post in a feed, include: Choose between full text or summary.

• Search Engine Visibility: Discourages search engines from indexing your site. Useful for development, not recommended for live sites.

💬 Discussion Settings

Settings related to comments and how users interact with content.

• Default article settings: Enable/disable pingbacks, trackbacks, and comments by default.

• Other comment settings: Set rules for name/email requirements, auto-close comments after X days, and enable threaded/nested replies.

• Email me whenever: Get notified for new comments or moderation.

• Before a comment appears: Hold comments for manual approval or require prior approval from the same author.

• Comment moderation/blacklist: Filter or block comments based on keywords, IPs, or URLs.

• Avatars: Enable/disable avatars, choose the default avatar image and rating level (e.g., G, PG).

🖼️ Media Settings

Manages how media files (like images) are handled when uploaded.

• Image sizes: Define the default sizes WordPress will generate for every image uploaded (Thumbnail, Medium, Large).

• Organize uploads into month- and year-based folders: Helps keep the media library organized.

🔗 Permalink Settings

Permalinks are the permanent URLs of your pages and posts.

• Plain: Not SEO-friendly (e.g., ?p=123)

• Day and name: Includes date and post name (e.g., /2025/07/27/sample-post/)

• Month and name: Similar to above, but only month and year.

• Numeric: Uses post ID in URL (e.g., /archives/123)

• Post name (recommended): Clean and SEO-friendly (e.g., /sample-post/)

• Custom Structure: Create a custom URL pattern using tags like %category% and %postname%.

🔌 Plugin Settings

Plugins may add their own settings pages, depending on their function. These are not found under one fixed menu but often appear in:

• The Settings menu (e.g., Yoast SEO, Contact Form 7)

• Their own top-level menu (e.g., WooCommerce, Elementor)

• Under Tools or Appearance

Common plugin settings might include:

• SEO options

• Form configuration

• Backup scheduling

• Performance tuning

• Security features