If you’re new to WordPress, you’re probably still learning the ropes. You may have the basics down to a tee, but there may be some elements of the software that you need to become further familiar with. One of which is the child theme. So, what is a child theme? – you must be thinking.
In WordPress, a child theme is a subtheme or add-on that assumes the features, style, and functionality of the main theme, also known as the parent theme. Child themes are mostly recommended for WordPress users who want to modify their existing themes without completely changing the code and design.
Now you must be wondering why child themes are important in WordPress. A child theme is one of the best, fastest, and most efficient ways you can customize your website. Instead of creating an entirely new theme, many developers and designers use this tool to speed up the process.
Child theme understanding
The child theme is important for your website. If you want to understand this further, take a look at what a child theme is in technical terms.
One reason child themes are beneficial is that it makes it easier for you to keep your theme up-to-date. Sometimes, when you update an existing WordPress theme, you may lose all your hard work and customization. However, if you use a child theme, you can preserve all your customizations and keep all your data intact, even if you choose to update your parent theme.
Let’s break it down further so you can better understand what a child theme can do for you.
Secure Update
With child themes, you don’t need to modify your parent theme. You can safely update to it when a new version is available and keep all your customizations.
Easy extension
A child theme also has a powerful parent theme framework that enables you to be flexible without the need to write a lot of code. All you have to do is minimally change your template files and functionalities, and you are good to go.
Fallback-safe
Unlike creating an entirely new theme in which you need to consider all possible scenarios, a child theme relies heavily on the parent theme’s functionality and assumes its style and features. You can use your parent theme as a reliable fallback option in case something happens to your child’s theme.
How to create a Child theme
Now that you know the basics of child themes, it’s time to create your own. To create a child theme, all you need to do is follow these three simple steps:
1. Create a folder dedicated to the child theme
go to your theme directory wp-content/theme and create a new folder. When creating a folder, you need to specify a name. To avoid confusion, use the same name as your parent theme and just add -Child Finally for a clear distinction.
2. Develop a Stylesheet
In this new folder, you will find a style.css File, which contains the cascading style sheet (CSS) rules that are responsible for controlling the look and feel of your theme.
3. Activate Your Child Theme
Once you’ve created your folder and stylesheet, it’s time to install and activate your child theme. To do this, go to your dashboard, click on PresenceThen Subject matter, You should see your new child theme. After that, you just have to click Active
What is a child theme?
Child themes provide incredible opportunities for you to customize your site without having to go through the tedious process of creating an entirely new theme.
