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WordPress How to Make a Website with WordPress WordPress Themes Theme Frameworks

Kittisak Naveeprasert
Kittisak Naveeprasert
392 Points

Theme and Framework, is it different ?

Hello Zac, I can't identify what is different about "Theme" and "Framework" ? Are they the same or separately ? Furthermore, I already bought premium theme but how can I identify which "framework" of my theme ? Sorry for my bad english.

2 Answers

Andrew Shook
Andrew Shook
31,709 Points

A framework is a starter theme that often comes with a lot of "goodies" and functionality built into but not much in the way of visual appeal. The additional "goodies" and functionality make frameworks highly customizable, and only require adding visual design. On the flip side, "Themes" or "Premium Themes" often come with a full visual design and minimum customization.

Kittisak Naveeprasert
Kittisak Naveeprasert
392 Points

Hello Andrew, Thanks for an answer. Anyway, if some customization from "Theme" same as from "Framework" do they conflict or not? Example if both "Framework" and "Theme" have a layout customization. It will conflict or not? How does WordPress work?

Zac Gordon
Zac Gordon
Treehouse Guest Teacher

If you are using a theme and a framework together, usually your theme will be a child theme of that particular framework, since a lot of the functionality of the framework is actually coded into the parent theme. For example, if you want to use the Genesis Framework (which we have a course coming out on soon!) You would have to use a Genesis theme for your site. You can't really use a framework and a theme that isn't built to work within that framework.