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How to Determine if a Website is Built on WordPress

If you’ve ever encountered a stunning website and wondered whether it’s powered by WordPress, you’re not alone! Knowing if a site uses WordPress can be beneficial for developers, marketers, and website owners alike. This guide will help you identify WordPress websites using various methods and tools. 5 Methods to Determine if a Website is WordPress ...

3 min read
How to Determine if a Website is Built on WordPress

If you’ve ever encountered a stunning website and wondered whether it’s powered by WordPress, you’re not alone! Knowing if a site uses WordPress can be beneficial for developers, marketers, and website owners alike. This guide will help you identify WordPress websites using various methods and tools.

5 Methods to Determine if a Website is WordPress

Inspect the Source Code

One of the quickest ways to check if a website is using WordPress is by inspecting its source code. Here’s how:

Look for WordPress-Specific Codes

Right-click on the webpage and select “View Page Source” or press Ctrl+U (Cmd+Option+U on Mac). Search for keywords like wp-content, wp-includes, and wp-admin.

These directories are unique to WordPress and contain its themes, plugins, and core files. Additionally, look for meta tags such as:

<meta name=”generator” content=”WordPress”>

Use Online Tools

Several online tools can help identify if a website is using WordPress. These tools quickly scan a website and provide information about the technologies used:

Check with BuiltWith

BuiltWith analyses websites and identifies the technologies in use. Simply enter the website URL, and it will generate a detailed report.

Use Wappalyzer

Wappalyzer is a browser extension that detects technologies used on websites. Install it on your Chrome browser, visit the website, and Wappalyzer will display the CMS and other technologies detected.

Theme Detectors

Online theme detectors like WordPress Theme Detector can identify if a website is using WordPress and pinpoint the theme in use.

Examine the URL Structure

WordPress sites often have a distinctive URL structure. Here are some common patterns:

  • /year/month/day/post-name/
  • /category/post-name/
  • /tag/post-name/
  • Login URLs: /wp-admin and /wp-login.php. If you access these and see a WordPress login page, the site is likely using WordPress.

Look for WordPress Themes and Plugins

Check the source code for URLs containing wp-content/themes/ or wp-content/plugins/. This indicates the site is using WordPress. You can also use tools like What WordPress Theme Is That to find the theme used.

Plugin Detection

Inspect for wp-content/plugins/ and use tools like WPThemeDetector to see the theme and active plugins. Be aware that not all themes can be detected, especially custom ones.

Look for Common WordPress Files

Accessing specific files can also reveal if a site is WordPress. Try visiting:

  • http://example.com/readme.html
  • http://example.com/license.txt
  • http://example.com/xmlrpc.php

If these files are present, the site is likely built on WordPress.

To accurately determine if a website is built on WordPress, use a combination of the methods mentioned above. Online tools and browser extensions offer a quick and reliable solution.

Are you looking for a professional team to develop your new WordPress site? We offer custom WordPress website development services. Contact us for a free consultation!

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