Which one is better to use: WordPress or Html and CSS?

Wordpress is considered a content management system. It uses HTML and CSS along with PHP and usually JavaScript to render webpages. So, you can't have Wordpress without HTML and CSS. Therefore it's essential that you learn at least the basics of each in order to use Wordpress with confidence.

Edward;

Welcome to Treehouse!

As danheffernan states, WordPress is a Content Management System(CMS) which is an advanced implementation of HTML and CSS, along with some additional things like back-end code. As stated, in the case of WordPress, it is utilizing PHP for the back-end and additional site functionality is implemented with JavaScript. At the heart of your question, I think, is which should you learn.

WordPress is a well defined and popular method of creating websites. Many people can make a decent career from making and maintaining WordPress sites. However, without a solid basis in HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript you may find yourself limited to the customization possibilities that WordPress offers.

Additionally, learning what is going on behind WordPress will allow you to create and generate sites that may not require a full fledged WordPress site.

Happy coding,

Ken

I agree with the comments here. My first finished course here was a WordPress course, then I immediately dove into the Web Design track. I'm learning WordPress and Python as I go also, for fun and because I use these tools for various projects.

Long ago I used WordPress and didn't like it. I'm returning to it now because it makes my own website easy to maintain. However, I love the functionality and control I get by creating a website from scratch using HTML and CSS. The sky is the limit there, with no need to dive into someone else's code to make any customizations. Many people I know have WordPress sites and only minimal skill with HTML and CSS, and I can already tell their sites are easy to maintain, but not very customized beyond what the theme offers.

If you are making websites that are quick and easy to maintain, meaning easy to add pages and blog posts, then certainly use WordPress. If you learn to modify or make themes, then all the better to overcome the problems I mentioned. However, if you need less of the automated formatting, or desire the ability to code any way you want, put some time into the web design or front-end development track.

If you are creating websites for small businesses, I would imagine most would want the ability to easily manage the site so most would prefer wordpress? In what situations in the real web design world, do clients choose pure html/css sites over CMS sites? If one wants to make a business out of creating websites, they would have to be skilled with wordpress as well I imagine.

Hi @Ken Alger, today I decided that maybe I should also try to learn Wordpress as I am getting requests from people who want me to develop dynamic websites for them so that they can be able to load content too. Do you think I can do this side by side FEWD and not get confused?