Main Directories in WordPress
When you install WordPress, you’ll find these three key directories in the root folder:
1. wp-admin/
- Purpose: Contains all the files and folders for the WordPress admin dashboard.
- Includes:
- Dashboard interface
- Post editor
- Menu management
- Admin-specific scripts
- Do Not Modify unless you’re working on WordPress core.
2. wp-content/
- Purpose: This is where your content lives. Themes, plugins, and uploaded files are stored here.
- Includes:
themes/— contains all installed themesplugins/— all installed pluginsuploads/— media files like images, videos, PDFs (organized by year/month)languages/— for localization/translation files
Safe to customize (especially themes and plugins).
3. wp-includes/
- Purpose: Contains the core WordPress files — functions, classes, and built-in features.
- Includes:
- Functions and hooks
- API interfaces
- Script and style libraries
Do Not Modify — changes here may break your site or be lost during updates.
Important Files in WordPress Root Directory
| File Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
index.php | Main entry file that loads the site |
wp-config.php | Contains database connection settings and site configuration |
wp-settings.php | Loads settings and initializes WordPress |
wp-load.php | Loads the WordPress environment |
.htaccess | Apache server rules (used for permalinks, redirects) |
license.txt | WordPress license (GPL) |
readme.html | Info about the installed version of WordPress |