WordPress

WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that started as a blogging platform in 2003 and today powers around 43% of all websites worldwide — from one-person blogs to corporate websites, online magazines, and e-commerce shops (via WooCommerce). Two variants: WordPress.org (self-hosted, full control, requires hosting + maintenance) and WordPress.com (managed service by Automattic, less flexibility). WordPress's strength lies in its ecosystem: over 60,000 plugins (from SEO tools like Yoast/Rank Math through e-commerce with WooCommerce to specialized solutions) and thousands of themes, including established page builders like Elementor, Divi, Bricks, and Breakdance. For performance-critical sites, professional agencies increasingly rely on block themes (Full Site Editing) or frameworks like GeneratePress with custom code instead of mega plugin stacks. Technically, WordPress runs on PHP and MySQL/MariaDB. Critical aspects for production use: hosting choice (managed WordPress like WP Engine, Kinsta, Raidboxes cost more but deliver performance + security), regular updates (core, plugins, themes — outdated plugins are the most common attack vector), backup strategy (daily, off-site, testable), caching (page cache, object cache, CDN), and security hardening (2FA, WAF, limit login attempts, file permissions). The biggest mistakes in WordPress projects: too many plugins (each plugin is a potential security and performance hole), bad hosting on cheap shared plans, missing staging environment for updates, and DIY themes from unclear sources with malware risk. For a Vienna agency: GDPR-compliant hosting in the EU (ideally Austria or Germany), cookie consent via Borlabs/Complianz, and contractual clarity on maintenance responsibilities after launch.