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WordPress How to Make a Website with WordPress Customizing WordPress Themes How to Make Child Themes

Janise Bradford
Janise Bradford
5,664 Points
Posted by Janise Bradford
Janise Bradford
5,664 Points

Child Themes

After setting up wp on a site, and a child theme is immediately created, should we at this point start using the child theme as we proceed with building the site, instead of using the parent theme?

Janise Bradford
Janise Bradford
5,664 Points
Janise Bradford
Janise Bradford
5,664 Points

Also, how will the child theme get updates or new features that are made to the parent theme?

4 Answers

Clinton Hopgood
Clinton Hopgood
7,825 Points
Clinton Hopgood
Clinton Hopgood
7,825 Points

Yes make all changes in only the child theme.

FYI

  • Entries in style sheets from the child theme will over-write that of the parent theme

  • .php file such as header.php and footer.php will be replaced using the ones in the child theme (meaning the ones in the header will not be used if the child theme has them)

  • functions.php will be used from both the parent and child theme

Just a few tips to help you understand some interaction between the child and it's parent.

Janise Bradford
Janise Bradford
5,664 Points
Janise Bradford
Janise Bradford
5,664 Points

Thanks Clinton for the information!

jerry bremser
jerry bremser
3,941 Points
jerry bremser
jerry bremser
3,941 Points

yes. whatever changes you make will not be affected by updates as long as you continue adding the files to the child theme

Janise Bradford
Janise Bradford
5,664 Points
Janise Bradford
Janise Bradford
5,664 Points

Thanks Jerry...appreciate it! Can I also ask you how do you go about updating the child themes with the updates/new features that are at some point given to the parent themes.

jerry bremser
jerry bremser
3,941 Points
jerry bremser
jerry bremser
3,941 Points

if i remember correctly, updates can be applied but your theme wont change. theres actually a track covering exactly that in building a sire with wordpress' or something along those lines.