Administration Screens

The Administration Screen provides access to the control features of your WordPress installation.

Common Layout

The Dashboard follows a common layout that consists of several elements. These elements are consistent across most administrative screens in WordPress. Here’s an overview of the common layout:

• Toolbar: The Toolbar is located at the top of the screen and remains visible as you navigate throughout the Dashboard. It provides quick access to essential functions and tools. The Toolbar may include options such as adding a new post, managing comments, accessing your site’s frontend, or editing your profile.

• Left-hand Sidebar: The left-hand sidebar contains the main navigation menu, which lists the major sections and features of the Dashboard. It serves as a primary navigation tool for accessing different areas of your WordPress site. The menu options may vary depending on your site’s settings and installed plugins, but commonly include options like Dashboard, Posts, Media, Pages, Comments, Appearance, Plugins, Users, Tools, and Settings.

• Content Area: The content area occupies the majority of the Dashboard screen and displays the specific content and controls associated with the selected menu option. This is where you’ll find various screens, settings, and tools related to the selected section or feature. For example, when you click on “Posts” in the left-hand sidebar, the content area will display a list of your existing posts and options to create new ones.

• Screen Options: Located at the top-right corner of the content area, the Screen Options tab allows you to customize the display of the current screen. Clicking on it reveals a dropdown menu where you can show or hide specific elements or customize the number of items displayed per page.

• Help: Positioned alongside the Screen Options tab, the Help tab provides contextual help and guidance for the current screen or feature. Clicking on it opens a panel displaying relevant documentation and instructions to assist you in using the particular Dashboard section or feature.

• Footer: The footer section of the Dashboard typically contains useful information and links. It often includes details about the current version of WordPress, the name of the currently logged-in user, and links to the WordPress.org website and documentation.

Toolbar – Keeping It All Together

The Toolbar is a persistent navigation menu that appears at the top of the screen when logged in. It provides quick access to essential features and tools. Let’s take a closer look at the elements within the Toolbar:

• About WordPress: This link provides information about the current version of WordPress and a link to the official WordPress website.

• Visit Site: Clicking on this link takes you to the front end of your WordPress site, allowing you to view your site as visitors see it.

• Howdy, User: This section displays a personalized greeting with your username. It also provides a dropdown menu with options to edit your profile, log out, or switch between user accounts.

• Screen Options: The Screen Options tab, located in the top-right corner, allows you to customize the display of the current screen by enabling or disabling specific sections or elements.

• Help: The Help tab provides contextual support and documentation specific to the current screen. It offers valuable information and guidance to assist you in using the Dashboard effectively.

Dashboard – Information Central

The Dashboard is the default screen when you log in to your WordPress site’s admin area. It is an information center that provides an overview of your site’s activity, updates, and quick access to essential features. Let’s explore some critical sections within the Dashboard:

Dashboard Overview:

The Dashboard greets you with a welcome message and a brief summary of your site’s current status. It provides an at-a-glance view of crucial information, such as the number of published posts, pages, comments, and available updates.

• Quick Draft – The Quick Draft section allows you to create a new post right from the Dashboard. You can enter a title, write a brief content snippet, and save it as a draft to work on later or publish it immediately.
• At a Glance – The At a Glance section provides an overview of the key statistics of your site. It displays the total number of published posts, pages, and comments. It also shows the active theme and the number of installed plugins.
• Activity – The Activity section showcases recent activity on your site, including the latest comments, published posts, and other relevant updates. It gives you a quick overview of the recent user engagement and content additions.
• WordPress News – The WordPress News section keeps you informed about the latest news and updates from the official WordPress blog. It displays the most recent articles and announcements related to WordPress.
• Customizable Widgets – The Dashboard allows you to customize its layout by adding or removing widgets. Widgets are small, self-contained blocks of information that provide specific functionality or display dynamic content. You can add widgets for things like calendar events, site statistics, recent drafts, and more.
• Navigation Menu – The left-hand sidebar of the Dashboard contains the main navigation menu. It provides access to different sections and features of your site, including Posts, Media, Pages, Comments, Appearance, Plugins, Users, Tools, and Settings. Clicking on each menu item expands it to reveal more specific options.
• Admin Bar – The Admin Bar, also known as the Toolbar, appears at the top of the screen and remains visible as you navigate throughout the Dashboard. It provides quick access to commonly used features and shortcuts, such as adding a new post, editing your profile, viewing your site’s frontend, or accessing the WordPress Customizer.

Updates

The Updates section notifies you when there are available updates for WordPress core, themes, plugins, and translations. Keeping your site up to date is vital to ensure security and performance.

• Updating WordPress: Clicking on the “Update Now” button lets you update WordPress to the latest version with a single click.
• Updating Themes, Plugins, and Translations: This section lists any available updates for your installed themes, plugins, and language translations. You can edit them individually or select multiple items for bulk updating.

Posts

The Posts section allows you to manage your site’s content and create new posts. It includes options such as:

• All Posts: Displays a list of all your published and draft posts. You can edit or delete existing posts from this screen.
• Add New Post: Clicking on this option takes you to the post editor, where you can create and publish new content.
• Categories: Manage and organize your posts into categories for more straightforward navigation and content management.
• Tags: Assign tags to your posts for further categorization and improved discoverability.

Media

The Media section is where you manage and upload images, videos, and other media files to be used within your posts and pages. It includes options such as:

• Library: Displays a library of all your uploaded media files. You can search, edit, or delete files from this screen.
• Add New Media: Upload new media files directly from this screen to your site.
• Edit Media: You can edit the metadata and properties of media files already uploaded to your site.

Pages

The Pages section allows you to create and manage static content pages on your site. It includes options such as:

• All Pages: Displays a list of all your published and draft pages. You can edit or delete existing pages from this screen.
• Add New Page: Clicking on this option takes you to the page editor, where you can create new pages for your site’s static content.

Comments

The Comments section is where you can manage and moderate comments on your site. It allows you to interact with readers and control the discussion around your content.

Appearance

The Appearance section provides options to customize the look and feel of your site. It includes features such as:

• Themes: Browse and select different themes for your site’s design. You can install new themes or customize the current ones.
• Customize: Access the WordPress Customizer to modify your site’s appearance, including the header, colors, background, and more.
• Widgets: Add, remove, or rearrange widgets in your site’s sidebar, footer, or other widget areas.
• Menus: Create and manage custom navigation menus for your site, allowing you to control the structure and organization of your site’s pages.
• Header: Customize the header image or logo displayed at the top of your site.

Plugins

The Plugins section enables you to add functionality to your site by installing and managing plugins. It includes options such as:

• Installed Plugins: Displays a list of all the plugins currently installed on your site. From here, you can activate, deactivate, or delete plugins.
• Add New Plugins: Install new plugins from the WordPress Plugin Directory or upload them from your computer.
• Plugin Editor: Edit the code of installed plugins directly from the Dashboard. Exercise caution when making changes to plugin files.

Users

The Users section allows you to manage user accounts and their roles on your site. It includes options such as:

• All Users: Displays a list of all registered users on your site. You can edit user profiles, change roles, or delete users from this screen.
• Add New User: Create a new user account and assign roles and capabilities.
• Your Profile: Edit your user profile, including your username, password, and personal information.

Tools

The Tools section provides various tools to help you manage and maintain your site. It includes options such as:

• Available Tools: Access additional tools and features specific to your WordPress installation, such as debugging tools or data import/export options.
• Import: Import content from other platforms or formats into your WordPress site.
• Export: Export your site’s content, including posts, pages, comments, and other data, for backup or migration purposes.
• Site Health: Check the health and performance of your site, and receive recommendations for improvements.

Settings

The Settings section allows you to configure various general settings for your site. It includes options such as:

• General: Set the site’s title, tagline, time zone, and other essential information.
• Writing: Configure settings related to post creation and formatting.
• Reading: Customize how your site’s content is displayed, including the homepage settings and the number of blog posts displayed.
• Discussion: Manage settings for comments, including moderation and notification preferences.
• Media: Set the dimensions and settings for images and other media files.
• Permalinks: Configure the structure of your site’s URLs for better search engine optimization and user-friendliness.

The WordPress Dashboard is the central control panel for managing your WordPress site. It provides easy access to various administrative features and options, allowing you to create content, customize your site’s appearance, install plugins, manage users, and more. Familiarizing yourself with the Dashboard’s layout and functionality will help you manage and maintain your WordPress site effectively.