WordPress celebrates 20 years of existence — Innovation at the service of the web

On May 27, 2023, WordPress celebrates its 20th anniversary. We see together the history of WordPress and how it continues to position itself in the world of the web. WordPress, a name that is almost synonymous with website creation, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Since its birth in 2003, this tool has become one of the main online publishing platforms, powering more than 40% of websites worldwide. Let's take a look at the history of WordPress, how it managed to stand out, its benefits, and how businesses can benefit from this technology.

A Look at WordPress History

It all started in 2003, when Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little decided to create a new blogging platform, improving an old platform called b2/cafelog. Over the years, WordPress has gradually evolved from a simple blogging platform into a full-featured content management system (CMS), capable of handling websites of all sizes and types. For nearly 12 years, WordPress has been ranked number one among website design tools. Indeed, nowadays, nearly 43% of websites use WordPress. And, according to statistics from W3Techs , this percentage continues to grow. We'll take a look at some key WordPress dates below.

Some WordPress Key Dates

2003 : Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little launch WordPress. At its beginnings, it is a simple blog management system. 2004 : The introduction of plugins with version 1.2. This allowed users to customize and extend the functionality of their WordPress site, a feature that has been a key factor in WordPress' success. 2005 : Launch of version 2.0 which introduces themes. This made it easier for users to customize the look of their site. In version 2.0 of WordPress, we can also see a rich editor of content editor. 2008 : Version 2.7 features a new dashboard interface and includes automatic updates for minor releases. 2010 : WordPress celebrates its 7th anniversary with version 3.0. This release brings major features like custom post types, custom menus, and Multisite. 2013 : With version 3.8, WordPress adopts a new modern and responsive user interface. 2015 : Version 4.3 improves the writing experience with the addition of formatting shortcuts. 2018 : WordPress 5.0 rolls out with Block Editor, also known as Gutenberg, a major editor overhaul that allows for more granular customization of posts and pages. 2021 : Version 5.8 further improves the block editor, and introduces full-screen page templates. 2023 : WordPress celebrates 20 years of existence, continuing to innovate and dominate the CMS landscape.

How WordPress stood out?

WordPress stood out thanks to several key factors. First, its open-source nature has allowed a large community of developers to contribute to its development, which has resulted in rapid and constant improvement of the platform. Then, the flexibility offered by WordPress is unmatched. Whether you want to create a blog, an e-commerce site, a portfolio or an information site, WordPress can adapt to your needs! Finally, with a library of over 50,000 plugins, WordPress offers almost limitless extension possibilities, allowing users to customize their site to their liking.

WordPress Usage Growth Estimate

According to available sources, here is an estimate of the growth in WordPress usage: 2003 – WordPress is launched. There are few users, as the platform is still new and relatively unknown. 2005 – With the addition of new features, WordPress begins to gain popularity. It is used by approximately 0.6% of websites worldwide. 2010 – WordPress' popularity explodes. It is used by approximately 8.5% of websites and 13.1% of the top 1 million websites. 2015 – WordPress continues to grow and is used by approximately 23.3% of websites and 58.7% of websites using a CMS. 2020 – WordPress reaches new heights and is used by over 35% of websites worldwide, and over 60% of websites with a top-tier content management system. 2021 – WordPress powered over 39% of all websites. 2023 – WordPress powers over 43.1% of all websites and 63.2% of websites using content managers. According to the W3Techs graph, we can see that the percentage of websites not using any tool is decreasing. And, still according to the graph, we can believe that this decrease gives way to WordPress.

Advantages of WordPress

WordPress has several benefits that have contributed to its success. Below are some interests.

• First of all, it is a very easy to use content manager. Indeed, you do not need to be an expert to use WordPress.
• Next, it is scalable , which means it can handle sites ranging from personal blogs to full-scale corporate sites.
• Also, It is also optimized for SEO . This helps sites rank higher on search engines.
• Above all, WordPress is free . Although some themes and plugins may cost money, the CMS itself is completely free to use.

Some examples of large companies using WordPress

WordPress is, indeed, a popular platform. Several large companies around the world use WordPress. Here are some notable examples:

The Walt Disney Company

The official Walt Disney website uses WordPress to share information about the company, its various branches and its initiatives.

Microsoft News Center

Microsoft's official blog, where they share company news and announcements, is built on WordPress.

The New Yorker

This well-respected magazine uses WordPress for its website, where it publishes articles on politics, culture, books and more.

Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz's international blog, where they share their vehicle news and driving stories, is powered by WordPress.

Beyonce

Renowned singer Beyoncé uses WordPress for her official website. Indeed, she uses it to share the latest news, photos and information about her tours.

Usain Bolt

The world's fastest sprinter, Usain Bolt, also uses WordPress for his official website.

The Rolling Stones

The legendary rock band also chose WordPress for their website. It should be noted that these sites are not necessarily simple blogs. Indeed, many of them are complex websites with custom features. This demonstrates that WordPress can really be flexible.

How Businesses Can Benefit From WordPress?

One of the main advantages of WordPress for businesses is its flexibility. Indeed, with WordPress, a company can create a website that meets its exact needs. Whether it's a showcase site for a small local business or a complex e-commerce site for a large company, WordPress can be the solution. Moreover, WordPress allows businesses to manage their content efficiently. With its powerful content editor and media management system, WordPress makes creating and editing content simple and intuitive. Finally, SEO optimization built into WordPress can help businesses improve their online visibility and attract more customers.

WordPress 6.2: An innovative strategy for a promising future

WordPress continues to evolve and improve, constantly striving to meet the changing needs of its users. Indeed, with the recent launch of version 6.2, WordPress has once again shown its commitment to making website creation accessible to everyone, while strengthening security and customization.

Strategic positioning of WordPress

The introduction of version 6.2 marks a significant strategic turning point for WordPress. By making it easy to create blocks and fully block-powered designs, WordPress dramatically reduces reliance on plugins and external resources. This decision positions WordPress as an open choice for beginners in web design. Plus, it's a robust option for professionals looking to maximize the efficiency and security of their websites.

Benefits of version 6.2 and later versions

Version 6.2 of WordPress has several notable interests.

• Increased Security : By minimizing the need for third-party extensions, WordPress reduces security vulnerabilities associated with the use of potentially insecure or malicious plugins. This increases the overall security of websites built with WordPress.
• Reduced Costs : WordPress 6.2's block-centric approach eliminates the need to acquire multiple licenses for premium plugins or themes. This cost savings makes WordPress even more appealing to small businesses and individuals on a budget.
• Easy customization : with the new version, transforming an HTML design into a blog or a website becomes easier. Users now have the ability to create fully customized websites without the need for web development expertise.

Towards a brighter future

By positioning itself as a platform that simultaneously promotes accessibility and sophistication, WordPress is setting itself up for an even more glorious future. The release of version 6.2 illustrates WordPress' continued commitment to innovation. Certainly, it is a solution that will remain at the forefront of the web landscape. With its new strategy focused on

• the simplicity,
• Security
• and customization,

WordPress continues to be a preferred choice for the millions of users looking to build their online presence. Whether it's small businesses, bloggers, or large corporations, WordPress 6.2+ promises ease of use, increased security, and greater creative freedom for everyone. My apologies for this omission. Here is the full conclusion:

Conclusion

For two decades, WordPress has revolutionized the landscape of the web. It is a solution that has, for example, offered an accessible and flexible platform for website creation. Whether you're a small business looking to establish an online presence, an avid blogger wanting to share your ideas, or a large corporation in need of a robust and secure platform, WordPress continues to be a valuable tool. With the launch of version 6.2, WordPress reinforces its commitment to:

• accessibility,
• Security
• and customization,

In addition, it strives to remain the platform of choice for anyone looking to create and manage a website. By constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible with a CMS, WordPress is positioning itself to remain an industry leader for decades to come.

Gilblas Ngunte Possi

Founder and Full-Stack Developer at Prositeweb.

My proficiency with modern tools and a keen analytical sense regarding information technology enable me to provide superior guidance in the development and implementation of your web solutions.