Back-end & frameworks
Custom WordPress: themes, plugins and API
Develop WordPress themes and extensions: hooks, custom content types, Ajax and security.
- Duration
- 21 h · 3 days
- Level
- Intermediate
- Format
- On site · Remote · Blended
- Max. group size
- 12 participants
Overview
This program is for PHP developers who want to customize WordPress in depth: understand the core of the system, create a theme, write an extension, define custom content and connect Ajax or REST calls. The last half day is devoted to securing your development work.
Who this program is for
- PHP developers
- Integrators who want to move into theme development
- Web agencies and freelancers
Prerequisites
- Knowledge of the PHP language
- Notions of HTML and CSS
Learning objectives
- Understand WordPress architecture and the loop
- Create a theme with its templates
- Use actions and filters (hooks)
- Develop an extension with admin options
- Define custom content types and taxonomies
- Integrate Ajax and the REST API
- Secure your code
Detailed curriculum
6 modules · 21 h · 3 days
Day 1
WordPress fundamentals
50% theory · 50% practice
- Core architecture and folders
- Database and main tables
- The WordPress loop
- Template hierarchy
- Configuration file and debug mode
Create a theme
30% theory · 70% practice
- Structure of a theme and essential files
- Page, post and archive templates
- Theme functions, menus and widget areas
- Loading styles and scripts
- Child themes
🛠 Hands-on workshops
In-house theme2 h
Create a complete theme from a mockup.
✅ Deliverable : A working theme
Day 2
Extensions and hooks
50% theory · 50% practice
- Actions and filters
- Structure of an extension
- Options pages and the settings API
- Shortcodes
- Translation and internationalization
Content types and data access
30% theory · 70% practice
- Custom post types
- Custom taxonomies
- Meta fields
- Queries with WP_Query
- Direct database access: when and how
🛠 Hands-on workshops
Custom catalog2 h
Create a content type with its fields and templates.
✅ Deliverable : A manageable catalog
Day 3
Ajax and REST API
30% theory · 70% practice
- Ajax calls on the admin and public side
- Checking nonces
- The WordPress REST API
- Creating your own routes
- Authenticating calls
🛠 Hands-on workshops
Live search1.5 h
Add a live search with Ajax.
✅ Deliverable : An Ajax search module
Securing development work
50% theory · 50% practice
- Validate, sanitize and escape data
- Nonces and user capabilities
- Prepared statements
- Updates and backups
- Pre-delivery checklist
Tools and technologies
MySQLPHPVisual Studio CodeWordPress
Teaching methods
- Alternating short lectures and hands-on work
- Live demonstrations by the trainer
- Capstone project built throughout the modules
- Group corrections and discussion of best practices
Assessment
- Hands-on exercises corrected in each module
- Mini-project completed at the end of the course
- Knowledge-check quiz
Required equipment
- A computer with an internet connection
- A local PHP/MySQL server and a test WordPress installation
Resources provided
- Course materials and repository of corrected exercises
Career outcomes
- A custom theme and extension
- A clean WordPress development method
- Security best practices
Related video courses
My video courses that go with this program, to get ready for the training or to review afterwards. Free with an account.
