How To Create A WordPress Theme From Scratch (Complete Video Series)

I recently found this video series on the theme forest community blog and thought it was so valuable that it was worth sharing with my readers. If you’re like me, you learn a heck of a lot better from being shown than from reading manuals and how-tos. This series of 7 videos put together by Drew from Themeforest.net is a great resource for visual learners looking to get into WordPress design. I just wish I had had it 2 years ago! Hat tip to Drew.

How To Install A WordPress Theme

Getting To Know The Admin Panel

Before diving straight in and developing a WordPress theme, it is vital to understand the basics and have a solid foundation to begin theme development. This video examines the WordPress admin panel and explores some of the key features.

How To Create A WordPress Theme From Scratch

Learn how to correctly set up your themes stylesheet and information, as well as create the index.php page. In addition, you’ll examine WordPress template tags, what they are, and how to use them properly.

How The WordPress Loop Works

Learn how to use the WordPress loop as well as some handy template tags to start pulling out and displaying content from our database.

How To Build Sidebars, Format Posts and How The WordPress Template Hierarchy Works

Learn how to split and call separate theme files and include them in your theme. Splitting theme code into different and organized files is a vital part of WordPress development. You’ll also learn some very helpful php functions and useful WordPress template tags to create a widgetized sidebar.

In this second video you’ll continue to split up your theme files in order to allow you more flexibilty when working with your theme. You’ll also learn more about the Wordpress template hierarchy. In addition, you will create and manage your single.php files, which will help you format your individual posts.

How To Widgetize Your WordPress Theme

In this tutorial, you’ll create a few more files from scratch and finish making your sidebar widget ready and have a look at what that means and how it works. Get your text editor and local server ready.