The theme directory is pivotal to how WordPress displays content on a site, though it's easy for developers and power users alike to become lost in trying to understand the purpose of each of its files. At July's meeting, we covered the details of how WordPress builds the layout for each page of your site. We discussed the role of each file, but more broadly covered: • The template hierarchy • Template parts • Include tags While these are of particular importance to theme developers, power users will benefit from an understanding of how content entered in the administrative interface is represented on the front of the site.

1. The WordPress
Theme Directory
Cincinnati WordPress
July 2015

2. OUTLINE
• Minimum requirements for a theme
• The template hierarchy
• File overview
• Template parts
• Demo

3. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
• Theme description
• Page styles (layout, colors, fonts)
style.css
index.php
• The default template
• Used if no more specific template

4. STYLE.CSS
codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development#Theme_Stylesheet
/*
Theme Name: Twenty Thirteen
Theme URI: http://wordpress.org/themes/twentythirteen
Author: the WordPress team
Author URI: http://wordpress.org/
Description: The 2013 theme for WordPress takes us
back to the blog.
Version: 1.0
License: GNU General Public License v2 or later
License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Tags: black, brown, orange
Text Domain: twentythirteen
*/

5. TEMPLATE HIERARCHY
http://wphierarchy.com/

7. FILE OVERVIEW
HTML markup output before main content
area, such as page title, logo, and navigation.
header.php
HTML markup output after main content
area, such as footer links and copyright.
footer.php

8. FILE OVERVIEW
Custom logic run on every page load, such
as filters, theme supports, script registration
functions.php
Layout to be shown when WordPress can’t
locate the requested post or page.
404.php

9. FILE OVERVIEW
Typically shown next to main content area,
containing customized widgets.
sidebar.php
Layout of a single post / page.
single.php / page.php

10. TEMPLATE PARTS
searchform.php - get_search_form()
sidebar.php - get_sidebar()
comments.php - comments_template()
Template tags
get_template_part(
"content",
get_post_format()
);
Custom parts

11. DEMO