The average WordPress user isn’t concerned with the underlying code and scripting or what database is used. The reason that most users don’t need to worry about the underlying architecture is because it is built using best practice technologies which make it resilient and reliable. WordPress is built on three core technologies; PHP, JavaScript and MySQL.

WordPress and PHP

PHP is primarily used for server-side scripting. This makes it ideal for performing actions that don’t require an almost instantaneous response (PHP, as in WordPress, is often used with JavaScript to get the best of both server and client-side scripting). In WordPress, Pages and Posts are generated with PHP as well as MySQL connectivity being handled by PHP. PHP is fast, widely used and simple to implement making it the Web’s most popular server-side scripting language.

WordPress and JavaScript

JavaScript, as its name implies, is a scripting language (it is not the same as the Java programming language). Unlike PHP, JavaScript is usually implemented as a client-side script which means that it loads and runs on the clients’ machine or Internet Browser. It is therefore ideally suited when a very fast response is needed such as for mouse-overs or form validation.

The biggest advantage of JavaScript is its widespread integration and support with Internet Browsers as well as its adaptability (such as the emergence of JSON for data interchange and as part of the Ajax Web programming technique). A shortfall is that JavaScript is relatively insecure (hence it’s often used with PHP which is far more secure). When you see a drop-down menu in WordPress you are seeing the result of JavaScript.

WordPress and MySQL

MySQL is a Relational Database Management System that is versatile, reliable and free to use (it is licensed under the ‘GNU General Public License’). Because of its hugely successful integration with PHP there are numerous MySQL front-end applications such as phpMyAdmin and HeidiSQL that have been developed with PHP.

Who else Uses PHP, JavaScript and MySQL

WordPress is certainly not alone in using this mighty trio. Wikipedia, Facebook, Moodle, Google, Drupal, Flickr, Joomla and millions of other Websites and technologies rely on using these two scripting languages and RDBMS to deliver information and benefits to billions of people each day.

WordPress has solid foundations

The success of WordPress is largely due to the underlying architecture (mostly comprising PHP, JavaScript and MySQL) as well as very good scripting/coding practice.  Together with WordPress, PHP, JavaScript and MySQL prove that the best things in life really are free!

Related posts:

1. How to transfer files to your Web server
2. Top 5 Reasons to Choose WordPress

Related posts:

1. High Performance Google Analytics for WordPress
2. Metaweb TopicBlocks Plugin Review

Emoticons are also known as ‘smilies’. These are traditionally keyboard character combinations that convey meaning. For example a semi-colon followed by a closed parenthesis may be used to convey that the writer is joking about something. WordPress converts most of these keyboard combinations into graphics e.g. a semi-colon followed by a closed parenthesis will show as a

WordPress Posts are published in a feed. There are various means of subscribing to your WordPress feed however the simplest means of viewing the feed is by entering your domain name with feed on the end of the URL e.g. http://www.example.com/feed

Related posts:

1. What is the WordPress Dashboard?