The WordPress Dashboard

The WordPress dashboard is the central control panel where you manage and control various aspects of your WordPress website. It provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to access and modify different settings, create and edit content, install and activate plugins, and much more. In this lesson, we will explore the key components and features of the WordPress dashboard.

When you log in to your WordPress website, the first screen you encounter is the dashboard. Here are some important elements you’ll find on the dashboard:

1. Admin Bar:

   • It provides quick access to frequently used features, such as adding new posts or pages, accessing your user profile, or viewing your website.
   • The admin bar is visible to logged-in users, allowing for convenient navigation and management of your website’s content.
     
     

2. Sidebar Menu:

   • Posts: This section is dedicated to managing your blog posts. You can create new posts, edit existing ones, organize them into categories and tags, and manage comments.
     • All Posts: Displays a list of all your blog posts.
     • Add New: Allows you to create a new blog post.
     • Categories: Manages the categories for organizing your blog posts.
     • Tags: Manages the tags used to categorize your blog posts.
     • Block Editor: Provides access to the WordPress block editor for creating posts using blocks.
   • Pages: Here, you can create static pages for your website, such as an About page, Contact page, or Services page. Pages are typically used for content that doesn’t change frequently.
     • All Pages: Displays a list of all your website’s pages.
     • Add New: Allows you to create a new page.
     • Categories: Manages the categories for organizing your pages.
     • Tags: Manages the tags used to categorize your page
   • Media: This section allows you to upload and manage media files, such as images, videos, and audio files, which can be inserted into your posts or pages.
     • Library: Shows all the media files uploaded to your website.
     • Add New: Allows you to upload new media files.
   • Appearance: This section contains options for customizing your website’s appearance. You can select and customize themes, create menus, manage widgets, and edit the CSS.
     • Themes: Provides access to the WordPress theme directory and allows you to install, activate, and customize themes.
     • Customize: Opens the theme customizer, where you can modify various aspects of your website’s appearance.
     • Widgets: Manages the widgets that can be added to the sidebar, footer, and other widget areas of your website.
     • Menus: Allows you to create and manage custom menus for your website’s navigation.
     • Header: Customizes the header section of your website.
     • Background: Sets the background image or color for your website.
   • Plugins: Here, you can install, activate, deactivate, and manage plugins. Plugins extend the functionality of your website, allowing you to add features like contact forms, SEO optimization, and social media integration.
     • Installed Plugins: Displays a list of all installed plugins and allows you to activate, deactivate, and manage them.
     • Add New: Provides access to the WordPress plugin directory, where you can search for and install new plugins.
   • Users: This section enables you to manage user accounts and their roles on your website. You can create new user accounts, assign roles, and manage their profile information.
     • All Users: Displays a list of all user accounts on your website.
     • Add New: Allows you to create a new user account.
     • Your Profile: Allows you to edit your own user profile information.
   • Tools: The Tools section provides additional tools and options for managing your website, including importing and exporting content, setting up permalinks, and accessing the site health check.
     • Available Tools: Provides additional tools and options, such as importing content from another WordPress site or exporting your website’s data.
     • Import: Allows you to import content from other platforms or sources.
     • Export: Lets you export your website’s content for backup or migration purposes
   • Settings: This section contains various settings related to your website’s general configuration, such as site title, URL structure, reading and writing settings, discussion settings, and more.
     • General: Contains general settings for your website, such as site title, tagline, and timezone.
     • Writing: Configures settings related to writing and publishing content.
     • Reading: Manages settings for your website’s front page display, blog page, and syndication feeds.
     • Discussion: Controls settings for comments and discussion on your website.
     • Media: Specifies settings related to the media files uploaded to your website.
     • Permalinks: Manages the URL structure for your website’s posts and pages.

• • Account:

    The Account menu item allows users to manage their profile and access various account-related features.

    • Profile: Allows users to view and edit their profile information, including name, email, and other details.
    • Subscription: Provides access to subscription details, such as plan information, payment history, and billing details.
    • Sites: Shows a list of sites associated with the user’s account. Users can manage and access their individual sites from here.
    • Invoices: Displays a history of invoices generated for the user’s account, including payment status and download options.
    • Billing: Manages billing-related information, including payment methods, addresses, and other billing details.

1. Main Content Area:

   • The main content area displays specific options and information based on the selected section from the sidebar menu. For example, when you click on the “Posts” section, you will see a list of your published posts along with options to create new posts, edit existing ones, and manage comments.
   • Each section within the main content area provides a dedicated workspace for performing tasks related to that particular aspect of your website.

2. Dashboard Widgets:

   • At-a-Glance: It provides a quick overview of your website’s content, including the number of published posts, pages, and comments.
   • Quick Draft: This widget allows you to create and save draft posts directly from the dashboard, providing a convenient way to capture ideas and create content.
   • Activity: The Activity widget shows recent activity on your website, such as new comments, plugin updates, and other important events.
   • WordPress News: This widget displays the latest news and updates from the official WordPress blog, keeping you informed about new features, security updates, and other relevant information.

The WordPress dashboard serves as the central hub for managing your website’s content, appearance, and functionality. It offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of customizing and maintaining your WordPress site.