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Create child theme is a critical WordPress aspect that can perplex beginners. You may have encountered the term and opted to forgo creating them due to their perceived complexity.

However, based on our experience, create child theme can effectively prevent numerous issues in the future. They safeguard valuable customizations, enable you to experiment without jeopardizing your site and streamline theme updates.

Requirement of Create Child Theme and How Does It Work

Create child theme in WordPress allows you to inherit the fantastic features, functions, and styles of another theme, the parent theme. By doing so, you can override or extend inherited properties through file additions or modifications.

While it’s possible to customize your WordPress theme without a child theme, there are compelling reasons to consider using one.

• Create Child themes can safeguard your customizations during theme updates, ensuring they remain intact and unaffected. Without a child theme, any tweaks made directly to the parent theme may vanish during updates.
• Furthermore, child themes provide a secure platform for experimenting with new designs or features without impacting your site’s original theme. Using child themes can significantly streamline the development process if you possess coding skills.
• Their more straightforward file structure allows you to focus solely on modifying the parts of the parent theme that you want to change or expand. Embrace the power of child themes to unleash your creativity and protect your customizations.

Preparation Before Creating a WordPress Child Theme

Many WordPress users experience excitement that quickly turns to frustration when they encounter errors while delving into the technical aspects. We understand the feeling. It’s crucial to have a solid grasp of what you’re getting into before creating a child theme.

To set the stage for success, here are a few essential steps we recommend you take before diving into this comprehensive guide:

• You must be aware that you will be working with code. It is crucial to understand HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript to comprehend the necessary changes. Further information can be found in the WordPress theme handbook.
• Select a parent theme with the exact website design and features you desire. Find one that requires minimal changes. If necessary, refer to our checklist of tasks to complete before switching WordPress themes.
• When developing a theme, it is crucial to use a local or staging site to prevent unintentional errors on the live site.
• It is essential to back up your website before making any changes. If you’re new to this, we strongly recommend using a backup plugin like Duplicator.

There are multiple ways to create a child theme based on your current theme. One method involves writing code manually, while others involve using a plugin, which is more user-friendly, especially for beginners.

The manual method might seem daunting if you’re not very technically inclined. However, we suggest reading through it to familiarize yourself with the process and the files involved, even if you use a plugin. Let’s go over how to create a child theme in WordPress.

Create Child Theme in WordPress Manually

You can access your WordPress installation folder by opening the /wp-content/themes/ directory. You can use your WordPress hosting’s file manager or an FTP client to do so. We strongly recommend using the file manager for simplicity.

If you are a Bluehost client, log in to your hosting account dashboard, go to the ‘Websites‘ tab, and press ‘Settings.’

Navigate to the ‘Quick Links‘ section in the Overview tab and select ‘File Manager.’

Once there, access your website’s public_html folder and open the /wp-content/themes/ directory. Then, click the ‘+ Folder‘ button in the top left corner to create a new folder for your child theme.

You have the freedom to name the folder as you wish.

Here, we will use the folder name “twentytwentyone-child” as we are going to use Twenty Twenty-One as our parent theme. Once finished, simply select ‘Create New Folder.’

To create the first file for your child theme, open the folder you just made and press on ‘+ File.’ Using an FTP client, you can use a text editor like Notepad and upload the file later.

Name this file ‘style.css‘ as it is your child theme’s main stylesheet and will contain information about the child theme. Then, navigate to ‘Create New File.’

To change the style.css file, right-click on it and select ‘Edit‘ to open a new tab.

In the new tab, paste the following text and make adjustments as needed.

After making changes, click ‘Save Changes‘ to save the file.

Create a second file named functions.php and import or enqueue the stylesheets from the parent theme’s files.

After creating the file, make sure to add the following wp_enqueue code.

After completing the steps, save the file as you did in the previous step. You have now successfully created a basic child theme. When you navigate to Appearance » Themes in your WordPress admin panel, you should be able to see the Twenty Twenty-One Child option.

Press the ‘Activate‘ button to begin using the child theme on your site.

Create Child Theme Classic in WordPress With a Plugin

This method involves using the Child Theme Configurator plugin, which is easy to use and allows you to create and customize WordPress child themes without writing any code.

It’s important to note that this plugin works best with classic (non-block) themes. To begin, you’ll need to install and activate the WordPress plugin.

Once activated, go to Tools » Child Themes in your WordPress dashboard. Within the Parent/Child tab, you’ll be prompted to choose an action. Simply select ‘CREATE a new Child Theme‘ to start the process.

First, choose a parent theme from a dropdown menu, such as the Hestia theme. Then, press the ‘Analyze’ button to ensure the theme is suitable as a parent theme.

First, you must name the folder where the child theme will be stored. You can choose any name for the folder. Below that, you must decide where to save the new styles: in the main stylesheet or in a separate one.

The main stylesheet is the default stylesheet that comes with your child theme. Saving new custom styles to this file means you will directly modify the main styles of your child theme. Every modification will overwrite the original theme’s style.

The separate option allows you to save new custom styles to a separate stylesheet file. This is useful for keeping the original theme’s style intact and not overwriting it. For this demonstration, we will choose the first option.

However, as you become more creative with your child theme customizations, you can always go through this process again and select the second option.

When moving down, selecting how the parent theme’s stylesheet will be accessed is crucial. The default option, ‘Use the WordPress style queue,’ should be chosen as it enables the plugin to determine the appropriate actions automatically.

Press the ‘Click to Edit Child Theme Attributes‘ button to fill in the details of your child theme.

When creating a child theme manually, you will lose the parent theme’s menus and widgets. However, with Child Theme Configurator, you can effortlessly copy them from the parent theme to the child theme. Simply check the box in step 8 if you’d like to do this.

Press the ‘Create New Child Theme’ button to generate your new child theme.

The plugin will generate a folder for your child theme and include the style.css and functions.php files that you can use to customize the theme later.

Before activating the theme, it’s essential to click the link at the top of the screen to preview it and ensure that it looks good and doesn’t cause any issues on your site.

If everything functions properly, click the ‘Activate & Publish’ button. Your child theme will now go live and look and behave exactly like the parent theme.

Create Child Theme Block in WordPress With a Plugin

If you use a block theme in WordPress, you can easily create a child theme using the Create Block Theme plugin.

First, you need to install and activate the WordPress plugin. Then, navigate to Appearance » Create Block Theme. Simply select ‘Create a Child of [current theme name]’, and you’re good to go.

Fill out your child theme’s information. If you’re using Twenty Twenty-Four, name it Twenty Twenty-Four Child. Include a description and author for the child theme. When you’re finished, press the ‘Create Child Theme‘ button.

The plugin will create and install the WordPress theme ZIP file in your admin area. Upon completion, your website will automatically activate the newly created child theme. You can verify this by navigating to Appearance » Themes.

Conclusion

Creating a child theme in WordPress is essential for anyone seeking to customize their website while maintaining the integrity of the parent theme. By utilizing child themes, developers and site owners can uphold a powerful and dynamic website that mirrors their distinct vision without compromising performance or security.

A background Slide show is a feature on websites that displays a series of images that automatically change, creating a dynamic backdrop for your content.
It adds visual interest and can draw visitors in with smooth transitions like fading or sliding.
You can set the duration and order of appearance for your images based on your preferences. This feature is perfect for highlighting important information, displaying a portfolio, or promoting special events.

Ways to add Background Slide show in WordPress

• Using Custom CSS
• Using a Plugin
• Using a Theme Feature
• Using Elementor

Using Custom CSS

For those comfortable with coding, custom CSS has highly personalized designs.

• It offers complete customization of styles and animations.
• It keeps the site lightweight by avoiding extra plugins.
• It can create a unique slideshow tailored to your design preferences.
• It also gives you a chance to enhance your coding skills.
• Also, one of the biggest qualities of CSS is that compared to other methods that we have mentioned, it is cheaper if you know coding.

Using a Plugin

Plugins provide a quick and easy way to implement features without much technical know-how in adding background slide show in WordPress.

• User-friendly interfaces that simplify the slideshow creation process.
• It often has advanced options like transitions, effects, and responsiveness without coding.
• Regular updates and support from the developers.
• Suitable for users without technical skills.

Here are a few plugins that you can use: MetaSlider, Soliloquy & Smart Slider 3

Using a Theme Feature

Many themes come with built-in slideshow functionalities that simplify the process.

• No need for extra plugins, as the feature is built into the theme.
• Ensures design consistency with other theme elements.
• Usually optimized for the theme, leading to better performance.
• Often straightforward, especially for theme-specific customizations.
• There are various Themes to choose from some of them are:

Free: Astra, OceanWP, Sydney & Hestia

Paid: Avada, Enfold, Divi & Salient

Using Elementor

Using Page builder such as Elementor to make a background slideshow in your WordPress website will defiantly ease you out and give you options to customize. It has Free and Pro versions you can pick what suits you best. But it is obvious that pro version will be better than the free one. 

Elementor Free

• The drag-and-drop functions makes it easy for anyone to create layouts without coding.
• Access to essential widgets like images, text, buttons, and basic galleries for creating simple slideshows.
• Options to customize how elements look on mobile and tablet devices.
• A library of pre-designed templates and sections to speed up the design process.

Elementor Pro

• Access a broader range of widgets, including sliders, carousels, and post widgets for more complex designs.
• Ability to customize headers, footers, and other theme elements for a cohesive look across your site.
• Support for dynamic content, allowing you to pull data from custom fields or posts for more personalized slideshows.
• It has enhanced animation and motion effects that increase the interactivity and depth of your designs.
• It also has options to add custom CSS directly in the Elementor interface for advanced styling.

Conclusion

Adding a slideshow to your WordPress website can enhance its visual appeal and engagement. It depends on you whether you choose custom CSS, a plugin, theme features, or a page builder like Elementor. Every method has unique advantages specific to your technical skills and design preferences. Eventually, a well-implemented slideshow showcases key content effectively and elevates the overall user experience, making your site more dynamic and inviting.

Are you looking to find plugins on WordPress?

WordPress is a mighty Content Management System (CMS), but doesn’t cover all the bases. That’s where plugins come into play. WordPress relies on plugins to expand its capabilities and introduce new features.

With an impressive array of thousands of plugins, WordPress users can unlock a world of possibilities to elevate their websites. Whether you’re looking to create a blog, set up an e-commerce store, showcase an image gallery, or pursue any other goal, there’s a WordPress plugin ideally suited to your needs.

However, not all websites will have the same set of plugins. So, how can you uncover the WordPress plugins a specific site is using? Let’s dive into ways to Find Plugins on WordPress Website.

By using a WordPress Plugin Detector to Find Plugins on WordPress Website

Are you looking to uncover the plugins and themes powering a website?

Look no further than WordPress plugin detectors like Scan WP. With its accurate scanning capabilities, Scan WP is a top choice for revealing the plugins and themes used by any website. Simply enter the website’s URL into the designated box at the top of the page and unveil the secrets behind its design.

Pressing the Detect button will show you a list of all the website’s plugins. This is the easiest way to Find Plugins on WordPress Website.

Keep in mind that while Scan WP is highly effective, it may not always detect inactive plugins or provide information on back-end functions.

By Using HTML Codes for Advanced Users

Unfortunately, there are times when a WordPress plugin detector may not provide the information you need about the WordPress plugins a site is using.

This could be due to customized plugins or CSS code that confuses the detector, resulting in no results.

In such cases, you’ll have to examine the website’s source code. An easy way to do this is to right-click and select “View Source.” This will reveal all the code on the page, including the plugins used.

Another option is to utilize a tool like Chrome DevTools to Find Plugins on WordPress Websites.

For example, upon inspecting TechCrunch’s website, you’ll notice they use the popular Yoast SEO plugin, including the premium version.

This method is fantastic because it provides a comprehensive view of all plugin activities, not just those currently active on the site.

By analyzing their placement in the code, you can better understand their impact on different parts of the page.

However, delving into the code can be time-consuming and requires some familiarity with HTML and common plugin names.

By using Google Chrome extensions For Frequent users

Are you looking to discover the plugins a website is using?

Chrome’s got you covered with several trendy extensions. While Scan WP offers a Chrome extension, we’ve found that ThemesInfo’s WordPress Theme Detector and Plugin Detector are more reliable.

Once you’ve installed the Chrome extension, simply head to the website you’re curious about and click the “W” WordPress icon in the address bar’s list.

This will trigger a pop-up displaying a comprehensive list of all the website’s active plugins, complete with descriptions and pricing details.

Looking for a reliable way to detect plugins consistently? This method is a game-changer, especially for UX designers who frequently need to delve into site functionality.

The best part is that It’s free and doesn’t slow down your Chrome browser. However, for security reasons, if you’re not regularly researching plugins, it’s wise to stick to previous methods.

Gather More Information About Plugin

You’ve stumbled upon a new plugin that perfectly fits your needs. But before diving in, it’s crucial to conduct some thorough research.

Regarding WordPress security, vigilance is vital, and plugins can be a prime target for potential security threats. To guide you on what to do next, consider the following steps:

1. Verify that your WordPress installation is up to date.

2. Dive into the plugin documentation and conduct comprehensive testing after installation to preempt any potential issues.

3. Confirm that your hosting has sufficient storage to accommodate the plugin, mainly if it’s extensive or intricate.

4. Review the plugin vendor’s guidelines to ensure all dependencies are correctly installed.

5. Should you encounter any challenges, follow the guidance provided by the plugin developers for effective testing and debugging.

Conclusion

In the end, you are familiar with finding plugins on the WordPress website by using the above methods.

Delete plugin data may seem simple at first. You click a few buttons, and the plugin disappears with data.

However, the process is more complex. Despite appearances, leftover tables, files, and code snippets often cause issues in the future.

So, how can you remove these remnants altogether?

Stay tuned as I guide you through completely uninstalling / delete plugin data.

The Reason Behind Uninstalling a WordPress Plugin

WordPress plugins are small software applications that add new features or extend the base functionality of your site. Thousands of free and premium WordPress plugins are available to download and install. However, there are several reasons why you should uninstall a plugin.

1. Not in Use or Don’t Like It

Looking to add some new functionality? You’ll probably download similar plugins to test which suits you best. It’s all good, but remember to uninstall the ones you don’t like and won’t be using.

2. No Longer Supported

Developers must regularly update plugins to ensure compatibility with the latest version of WordPress. If developers abandon plugins, they can become incompatible.

3. Want To Replace with Bigger and Better

As your website expands, your requirements evolve, so a plugin you needed several months ago may need to be revised. When you no longer require it, you should uninstall it.

4. Causing Problems

A problematic plugin is likely causing issues on your site. Despite plugin developers’ efforts to adhere to standards, conflicts can occur between plugins or between a plugin and a theme. In such instances, it is imperative to remove the troublesome plugin.

5. Contains Malicious Code

Beware! Hackers and unscrupulous developers often create plugins containing malware and viruses. While it’s unlikely to download such a plugin from the official repository, you may accidentally download one from a third-party site.

In such a case, you must uninstall the plugin immediately. If it has infected your site, seeking help from malware removal experts is non-negotiable.

In the end, we must understand that leaving an unwanted WordPress plugin on your site is never a good idea.

Do you know the difference between deactivating and deleting a WordPress plugin

• When you deactivate a plugin, it’s like flicking off a light switch. The plugin files remain on your site, but WordPress puts them on hold until you decide to reactivate the plugin. It’s like giving your website a break without losing any of the important stuff!
• When you delete plugin data, the plugin is removed from your list, and all associated files are uninstalled from your site. This helps keep your site clean and optimized for peak performance.

When troubleshooting an issue on your site, it’s crucial to deactivate plugins one at a time to isolate potential conflicts. If you identify a rogue plugin, it’s imperative to delete a plugin data completely.

Important Stapes to Uninstall a WordPress Plugin

Before beginning the uninstallation process for any unwanted plugins in WordPress, it is crucial to have a current backup available. This will allow you to restore your site in case anything goes wrong.

• Log in and navigate to Plugins – Installed plugins to view your site’s installed plugins.
• To remove a plugin, scroll down to the plugin you want to remove and click “Deactivate.”
• To uninstall the plugin, click “Delete.”

When you delete plugin data in WordPress, it is usually removed immediately. However, some data may linger. To ensure a thorough cleanup, it’s essential to dive into the back end and manually delete plugin data for any remaining “leftovers.” 

This extra step has a complete guarantee of delete plugin data, leaving your WordPress site running smoothly.

After uninstalling a WordPress plugin, delete plugin data (any leftover files and folders)

When you delete a WordPress plugin from your admin dashboard, it usually uninstalls any files and folders created in the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.

However, in some cases, a plugin may create files, tables, and shortcodes in other folders that may not be deleted. In such situations, you must manually delete plugin data.

Before you start, ensure that you have a current backup that you can use to restore your site if anything goes wrong.

Important Stapes to Delete Plugin Data

You can delete unnecessary files using FTP or SFTP with a program such as FileZilla or Cyberduck. Alternatively, some WordPress hosts, like WPX, provide a file manager, allowing you to bypass the FTP process. In either case, you can access the files and folders on your WordPress server.

When you install WordPress, it creates two subfolders within the “wp-content” folder:

• plugins
• themes

Over time, additional subfolders may be added, such as:

• cache
• upgrade
• uploads

Some plugins also create their own folders. For example, W3 Total Cache creates a “w3tc-config” subfolder.

Even if I successfully delete the W3 Total Cache plugin:

Right-click on the folder and choose “Delete” to delete a plugin data

After selecting “Delete,” you will see a confirmation message. Choose “Delete” to confirm, and the “w3tc-config” folder will be removed. This is how to delete plugin data.

Essential Steps to Delete Leftover Database Tables

To eliminate unwanted database tables, utilize phpMyAdmin, a tool commonly included in the hosting admin dashboard by most WordPress hosts. This powerful feature allows you to take control and maintain a clean, efficient database for seamless website performance.

When WordPress is installed, it creates 12 standard database tables.

• wp_commentmeta
• wp_comments
• wp_links
• wp_options
• wp_postmeta
• wp_posts
• wp_termmeta
• wp_terms
• wp_term_relationships
• wp_term_taxonomy
• wp_usermeta
• wp_users

The creation of additional tables is attributed to individual plugins. Notably, there are 22 tables encompassing entries from Yoast SEO and Thrive Architect.

When you uninstall a plugin, some developers intentionally keep settings in case you reinstall it, while others don’t clean up. In any case, you can remove any remaining elements.

For example, choose the Drop option next to it if you want to delete the remaining “wp_socialsnap_stats” table from the Social Snap plugin.

You will receive a message asking for confirmation to delete the table. Click OK to confirm and proceed with the deletion.

Steps to Remove Leftover Shortcodes

When you deactivate and delete a plugin that uses shortcodes, you may encounter the actual shortcode tag being displayed on your website.

If you have only a few shortcodes on one or two pages, editing and removing them is simple. However, some plugins, especially visual page builders like Divi, create numerous shortcodes across your site. In this case, there’s a faster way to locate and remove the remaining shortcodes.

Firstly, install a plugin called Shortcodes Finder. Then, navigate to Tools – Shortcodes Finder and choose Settings. Check the box next to “Disable unused/orphan shortcodes” to find and remove unwanted tags and save your settings.

To remove any unused shortcodes, confidently choose the “Find unused shortcodes” tab and thoroughly search the Posts and Pages. In this example, take charge and remove the unused shortcodes from the Contact Page and Sample Page.

Great! You can see that the Contact Page no longer displays the shortcode.

In this example, it’s crucial to note that you still need to edit the text on your page because it’s meaningless without a form to display.

Conclusion

WordPress makes installing and deleting plugin data directly from your admin dashboard a breeze. However, there’s a catch – when you delete a plugin, it often leaves behind a trail of files, folders, database tables, and shortcodes. If you want to thoroughly rid your site of any lingering remnants from an unwanted plugin, follow the above steps. It’s the ultimate way to ensure a clean and efficient WordPress experience. If the problem still persists, contact the developer of the plugin.