If you read the blog on Understanding WordPress Theme Framework, you know a little about child themes. For those who didn’t read it, or those that just want to know more about this curious WordPress (WP) feature, let’s take a look at it close up. Let’s begin understanding WordPress child themes, what they are all about.
Child themes are integral to the overall solution provided by WP. That said, they are not necessarily required. It depends on the purpose of a given website. Nevertheless, they are spin offs created from a parent theme. The parent takes its cue as theme framework and controls all functionality across its child themes.
Understanding WordPress Child Themes Better
If a child theme inherits its functionality from the parent, what makes it different? To answer that, let’s look at the main reason for needing a child theme. It usually has to do with wanting to customize or tweak a parent theme significantly but still keep all its functionality in tact. So, a child theme will ‘feed’ off of the parent theme’s functionality and code, but can be modified for customization and styling. The child theme mods will not upend anything based in the parent theme framework. Primary updates to the parent theme will not upend anything in the unique, child styling.
Understanding WordPress child themes better involves taking a look at the quality of parent themes. Some of these are great, some ok and some, not so good. Put simply, for using a child theme to make sense, the parent must have better than limited functionality. Otherwise, all the shortcomings will spill over into the child theme. A great parent theme usually has its own action hooks and filters. These are short cuts built into the code that allows developers to create child theme spin offs quickly.
From one, solid parent theme, web designers and developers can create multiple websites (child themes). They can do this without having to code everything. That’s a beautiful thing when you work in the WP development business. The time savings and improved efficiency is unmatched. Just ask the team at Prostyle Development. They streamline their work flow while creating quality themes everyday.