If you are looking for the best code editor for WordPress, you have come to the right place. 😎 Most WordPress site owners never need to code, but if you do need to code, a code editor is the way to go.
As the name suggests, a code editor – for WordPress or otherwise – is a software application that allows you to edit your website’s code. This includes your theme, plugins, and even the code for the custom functions you have on the site. Code editors allow you to tweak the look and feel of your website, add new features, and fix errors.
In this roundup, we’ll take a look at some of the Best tools you can use to edit code on your WordPress site, but before we get to them, let’s take a closer look at them first…
Why do you need a code editor?
Before we help you find the best code editor for WordPress, let us explain why you need one.
A code editor is essential for WordPress development because it enhances the coding experience in ways that simple text editors like Notepad or TextEdit cannot. While basic text editors can handle code editing, they lack specialized features that greatly improve coding efficiency and productivity.
Code editors are specially designed for coding and offer many benefits.
- They have syntax highlighting capabilities, meaning they can intelligently color code different parts of the code to improve readability and make it easier to identify errors or inconsistencies.
- Code editors often also offer code completion features, suggesting and automatically completing code snippets, functions, or variable names as you type. This feature saves time and reduces the chances of making syntax errors.
- Code editors also provide better navigation within a file than regular text editors. They typically include features such as line numbers, easy scrolling, and the ability to jump between different sections of code with shortcuts or navigation panels. These navigation aids make working with large codebases or complex files faster and more convenient.
Best Code Editors for WordPress Sites
If you are looking for the best code editor for WordPress projects, start with this list! We’ve rounded up our favorite group:
1. Sublime text
Sublime Text is a popular code editor known for its speed and flexibility. It is available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Sublime Text is a great option for WordPress developers as it is fast, lightweight and has many features that make editing WordPress code easy.
Some of the features that make Sublime Text a great choice for WordPress developers include syntax highlighting, built-in code completion features, and a built-in package manager that can be used to install and manage extensions for Sublime Text. Is. These extensions can add new features to Sublime Text, such as new syntax highlighting languages, new code completion features, and new debugging tools.
Sublime Text has a free version that will suffice for most of your WordPress development needs. However, if you want to support the creators, you can opt for the $80 paid version and access some additional features as well. Either way, you’ll soon realize why many developers consider it the best code editor for WordPress projects.
2. Notepad++
Notepad++ is a user-friendly program designed to get you into the coding action quickly. Like regular Notepad, it’s lightweight and won’t slow down your computer. This makes it an ideal choice for making quick edits to your code.
However, don’t be fooled by its simplicity. Notepad++ is packed with useful features. The best part is that it is completely free and is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Unix. Although it can be used on Mac as well, you will have to rely on a third-party tool for this.
Notepad++ offers many remarkable features, including a handy spell-check option to help you catch any typos. It also provides syntax highlighting for the four major languages commonly used in WordPress development, making the code easier to read and write. Additionally, you can take advantage of macro recording and playback functionality, which can save you time when performing repetitive tasks.
For those working with remote files, Notepad++ offers FTP support through a convenient plugin so you can seamlessly access and edit files stored on remote servers. It is definitely one of the best code editors for WordPress that you can get for free.
3. Komodo Edit
Comodo Edit is the younger brother of Comodo IDE, offering a simplified version of its features. Although it may lack some advanced functionalities like unit testing and live preview, the code editor itself is more than capable of meeting your needs.
One of the best things about Comodo Edit is its cross-platform compatibility. Whether you are using Mac, Windows or Linux system, you can rely on this editor. It also supports major programming languages commonly used in WordPress development. This ensures that you can work seamlessly with your favorite language.
Furthermore, it comes with some remarkable features to enhance your coding experience. Auto-complete support saves you time by suggesting code snippets as you type. The Track Changes feature allows you to keep track of modifications made to your code, making it easy to review and collaborate with others.
You can learn everything there is to know about Komodo Edit from the project’s GitHub repository, as well as information on how to get started with the tool on popular platforms.
And the best part? It’s completely free! No wonder so many developers think it is the best code editor for WordPress.
4. BBEdit
BBEdit is a great code and HTML editor specially designed for Mac users. With its attractive interface and powerful features, it meets the needs of both beginners and experienced coders.
During the 30-day evaluation period, you get unrestricted access to all of BBEdit’s capabilities. Even after this period expires, BBEdit remains available for free, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted experience without intrusive nag screens or unwanted interruptions.
BBEdit supports a tabbed interface, so you can work on multiple files simultaneously in a single window. You can also split the editing window if you prefer a more focused view. This will enable side-by-side comparison or editing. BBEdit empowers users to have complete control over their text, allowing them to work in a way that matches perfectly with their personal preferences.
You also get access to a unique set of tools to enhance your coding and HTML editing experience. These include code folding, FTP and SFTP integration, Git and Subversion support, AppleScript capabilities, macOS Unix scripting support, as well as text and code completion.
Pricing starts at $49.99 after a trial period.
5. espresso
Finally, let’s take a look at espresso. No, not like Arabica or Robusta, but like our last candidate for the title of best code editor for WordPress. All jokes aside, Espresso is an impressive web development tool. However, one thing you need to know in advance is that it is specially designed for Mac users. So if you’re using Windows or Linux, you’ll need to use one of the first three code editors on this list.
With that out of the way, Espresso provides a comprehensive solution for developers.
One of its standout features is its visually appealing interface, which is intuitive and easy to navigate. The powerful code editor empowers developers to effortlessly write clean and efficient code. Plus the built-in CSSEdit makes it easy to style and customize web elements.
Espresso’s advanced features further enhance the development experience. The ability to drag and drop code snippets saves time and effort, while code folding simplifies complex projects by allowing users to collapse and expand sections of code as needed.
The Navigator feature provides an overview of the code structure, facilitating seamless navigation within large projects. Live Styling enables developers to see immediate visual changes while editing CSS, offering a streamlined workflow. And with X-ray preview, users can easily inspect and analyze the underlying structure of their web pages.
Espresso will set you back $99.
Choose the Best Code Editor for WordPress
Code editing software makes it easy to change the internal workings of your website, which is especially helpful if you’re new to coding.
All of the code editors we’ve featured here have a legitimate claim to the title of best code editor for WordPress, and the actual “best” varies from person to person. The cool thing is that three of them are free and one offers a trial period. This means you already have enough room to experiment without spending any cash.
If you find coding for WordPress interesting and want to expand your knowledge further, you can also check out our guides on how to become a WordPress developer and how to set up a vagabond WordPress development environment.
