WordPress is an open-source, free content management system (CMS) that allows users to build and publish websites and blogs without needing to code. It’s a flexible platform that powers a significant portion of the internet and can be used for creating various types of sites, from blogs to e-commerce stores. Users can customize their site’s appearance with themes and add functionality with plugins, which are available in thousands of options. 

Core features and benefits

• Content Management: Provides a user-friendly dashboard to create, edit, and publish content without coding knowledge.
• Open-Source Software: It’s free to use, modify, and distribute, supported by a global community of volunteers that continuously improve it.
• Themes: Thousands of pre-designed themes are available to control the look and style of a website, allowing for a professional appearance.
• Plugins: A vast library of plugins adds new features and functionality, such as contact forms, SEO tools, and e-commerce capabilities like WooCommerce.
• Flexibility: Can be used to build almost any type of website, including personal blogs, business sites, online stores, and portfolios.
• Accessibility: Made website creation accessible to a broader audience beyond those with coding skills. 

Getting started

• WordPress needs to be installed on a web server, which can be done through a hosting provider.
• There are two main platforms: the self-hosted, open-source software (.org), and the hosted service (.com).
• The open-source version is free but requires you to purchase your own hosting and domain, while WordPress.com offers a hosted service with free and premium plans