Web design with WordPress – What is possible without HTML and CSS knowledge?

First of all – WordPress is based on PHP and MySQL databases. It allows you to quickly get started with web design even without prior knowledge of HTML, CSS or JavaScript. This allows you to create attractive and functional websites. You can even implement e-commerce solutions without having to write a single line of code yourself. Knowledge of HTML, CSS or JavaScript is helpful, but not necessary. But what does this mean for the world of web design?

HTML and CSS – not programming languages from a technical point of view

HTML and CSS describe the structure of the content and the style of the elements. HTML tells a web browser what content should be displayed, CSS is responsible for how the content is displayed. We separate content, presentation and behaviour from each other.

Then there was the logic-based programming language JavaScript

You use JavaScript (JS) to make websites interactive. JS allows you to control the behaviour of the various content elements in response to actions on the page. For someone with experience in web design or development, some requirements can be solved more quickly with JS. This makes you independent of third parties and can sometimes even be turned into cash. Knowing the basics of HTML is a valuable skill when troubleshooting. It also gives you the confidence to make changes independently, and not just with WordPress standard themes.

The wide range of ready-made WordPress themes & plugins

The search for a suitable WordPress theme is worthwhile. As no complex programming is required for the layout and design, you will reach your goal faster. Simply exchange the demo content in the editor of your choice. You can find themes or plugins for every conceivable requirement. There are literally hundreds of thousands of them. Both free ones – which you can find in the official WordPress theme directory, for example – and extensive premium versions are available. By combining different plugins, you can create completely new and complex applications. There are no limits to your ideas, including fully automated workflows.

WordPress design: Install a new theme, and the makeover is complete

That’s all it takes with WordPress to change the look of your website again. Basic settings are summarised in a ready-made theme. These determine the appearance and create a uniform look. However, if you are not satisfied with this, you can optimise the theme settings to significantly improve the functionality, appearance or user-friendliness. Many themes offer customised user interfaces for this purpose.

Criteria for selecting a theme:

• Versatile flexibility
• Fast loading times and performance
• Prefabricated demo page templates
• Mobile First claim
• Compatible with common page builders
• Lightweight with reliable updates
• E-commerce integration

WordPress plugins: Small supporters with helpful functions for everyday life

Before installing and activating a plugin, you should check current ratings and the number of active installations with the manufacturer. Always keep plugins up to date to close potential security gaps. A previous backup is recommended. If an update causes problems, you can easily restore the backup.

To find the best plugins for your needs, I recommend the following procedure:

1. List all the functions you need for your website
2. Search for a variety of plugins for every required function
3. Favour highly rated plugins with over 100,000 active installations
4. Create a list of the 10 best plugins for each function
5. Check FAQs and the documentation of each plugin as well as tutorials
6. Reduce the list to the 3 best plugins for each function
7. Install and activate the first plugin for testing purposes

WordPress Editor: Creation and changes – simple and clear

The WordPress 5 update has revolutionised many things. The in-house Gutenberg editor allows you to design elements and entire pages in functional blocks. Code editors are basically text editors with additional functions. A code editor must support the programming language used. For WordPress, this means HTML and CSS, but also PHP and JavaScript. Some editors also work offline.

Here are some functions of the editor that will make your work easier:

• Autocomplete, where the editor makes suggestions to speed up the writing process
• Syntax highlighting to improve the readability of the code and make it easier to find errors
• Search and replace to drastically reduce the time it takes to implement multiple changes
• FTP support to avoid having to download, edit and upload files again

It is very helpful to find out about the different types of page builders and editors and the options they offer if you want to choose one. Working with page builders is usually intuitive and fluent after a short familiarisation and training period.

Frequently commented advantages of page builders:

• Easy to operate with drag and drop
• Real-time editing with live preview
• Compatible with most WordPress themes
• Often bring their own content elements
• Prefabricated templates with demo content
• Convenient front-end management
• Additional functions for theme or plugin add-ons

Users report these disadvantages:

• Initially require a certain learning curve
• Pagebuilders can slow down a theme
• Often chargeable for full range of functions
• Usually not compatible with existing content when changing

WordPress Trends: The future of your website

In the future, web design will develop in a direction that offers more room for individual experience. Content will be tailored specifically to the needs of visitors. Due to your browser, cookie and country settings, you may be shown a completely different website when you call up a URL than I would in another country at a different time.

Good HTML and CSS skills are still essential

HTML, CSS and JS have been continuously developed to work harmoniously together. And due to the concept used (separation of presentation, content and behaviour), these technologies have a very broad standard with very large specifications, advantages and possibilities. Nowadays you will find HTML, CSS and JS on most websites. As they are as important requirements as the markup languages themselves, you should not stop implementing them on your website!

Before artificial intelligence takes over our front-end jobs

The way HTML is structured and how it ends up in the DOM will continue to change. However, you still need to know what good HTML looks like. You need to know how to structure HTML in a way that is useful for your SEO, accessible to users and suitable for design. The way CSS ends up in the browser and how it’s applied will continue to change, but you still need to know how to use it. You need to know how to create layouts, manage spacing, customise typography and design tastefully.

Replacing established technologies is a very difficult process, as backward compatibility must be maintained for old browser versions. In the future, HTML and CSS will probably get new features, for example new HTML tags and new CSS box models, variables and functions. So will HTML and CSS be replaced? Probably not, but they will no longer be used in the same way as before.

Conclusion: Better websites with WordPress, HTML, CSS & JS

The above is not intended to encourage you to start creating your own website at random without any prior knowledge. Although, as already mentioned, this is undoubtedly possible. Nevertheless, there are always times when knowledge of HTML, CSS and JS makes life as a website operator easier. The topics of security and SEO remain completely unaffected by this.