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Back when I was preparing for my first WordPress-related job interview, I didn’t know what to expect. I was freelancing, building client sites with themes and plugins, but I hadn’t thought much about explaining the technical aspects. It was only after facing a few interviews and helping my students and team members do the same. I understood the kind of WordPress interview questions companies actually ask. And now I’m sharing all of that with you.
Whether you’re applying for a developer job, preparing for a freelancing gig, or just brushing up your skills, this guide will walk you through the most important WordPress interview questions you need to know in 2025.
What Are WordPress Interview Questions & Why Are They Important?
WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet. Whether you’re a developer, designer, SEO expert or freelancer—knowing WordPress is a valuable skill.
WordPress interview questions help employers gauge your:
- Understanding of the platform
- Problem-solving ability
- Coding and customization skills
- Real-world experience with websites and clients
From big tech companies to solo clients on Fiverr, everyone wants WordPress experts who can build, manage and scale websites efficiently.
Basic WordPress Interview Questions for Beginners
These are foundational questions you must know. They help interviewers check if you’ve explored the platform well enough.
1. What is WordPress?
A content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage websites without coding. It’s open-source and built in PHP and MySQL.
2. Difference Between WordPress.org and WordPress.com
- WordPress.org is self-hosted and gives you full control.
- WordPress.com is hosted and has limitations unless you upgrade.
3. What Are Themes and Plugins?
Themes define your website’s design.
Plugins extend functionality like SEO, forms, backups, etc.
4. What Is the WordPress Dashboard?
The admin panel where you manage posts, pages, themes, plugins, and settings.
5. What Are Permalinks?
These are permanent URLs for your blog posts and pages.
Intermediate WordPress Interview Questions
These questions check how comfortable you are with customizing and managing real-world websites.
6. What Is a Child Theme in WordPress?
A child theme inherits styles and functionality from another theme (the parent). It lets you customize without losing changes on updates.
7. Explain the WordPress Template Hierarchy
This is the structure WordPress uses to determine which template file to use. For example, it looks for single.php when displaying a blog post.
8. What Are Hooks in WordPress?
Hooks allow developers to modify core functionality:
- Actions: Triggered at specific points (e.g., after post is published).
- Filters: Modify data before it’s displayed (e.g., change excerpt length).
9. Posts vs Pages?
- Posts are dynamic and date-based (e.g., blog articles).
- Pages are static (e.g., About, Contact).
10. How to Improve WordPress Site Speed?
- Use caching plugins (e.g., WP Rocket)
- Optimize images
- Use a CDN
- Minimize JS and CSS
Advanced WordPress Developer Interview Questions
These are typically asked in jobs requiring development and customization.
11. What Is the WordPress Loop?
It’s the PHP code WordPress uses to display posts. Example:
if ( have_posts() ) {
while ( have_posts() ) {
the_post();
the_title();
the_content();
}
}
12. How to Enqueue Scripts and Styles?
Use wp_enqueue_script() and wp_enqueue_style() in functions.php to load JS and CSS files the WordPress way.
13. What Are Custom Post Types and Taxonomies?
Custom post types allow you to create content other than posts and pages (e.g., Portfolio). Custom taxonomies categorize them.
14. How to Create a Custom Plugin?
- Create a folder in wp-content/plugins
- Add a PHP file with plugin info
- Hook into WordPress functions
15. Explain WordPress REST API
It allows developers to access WordPress data (like posts, users) using HTTP requests. Great for integrating apps.
WordPress Coding & Technical Assessment Questions
These are especially important in developer roles.
16. What Are Some Useful WordPress PHP Functions?
get_the_title()
get_permalink()
wp_nav_menu()
add_action()
add_filter()
17. How to Create Custom Shortcodes?
Shortcodes allow you to add custom elements using simple tags.
function custom_button_shortcode() {
return ‘<a class=”btn”>Click Me</a>’;
}
add_shortcode(‘button’, ‘custom_button_shortcode’);
18. How to Secure a WordPress Site?
Use security plugins (e.g., Wordfence)
Change login URL
Limit login attempts
Keep WordPress and plugins updated
19. What Is wp-config.php?
The core configuration file of WordPress. It includes DB credentials, security keys, and settings.
WordPress Design & Front-End Related Interview Questions
Designers and front-end developers often get these questions.
20. How Do You Make a WordPress Site Responsive?
Use mobile-friendly themes
Apply media queries in CSS
Use responsive plugins and builders like Elementor
21. What’s the Difference Between Elementor and Gutenberg?
Elementor: Drag-and-drop page builder
Gutenberg: Built-in block editor for WordPress
22. How Do You Customize Themes Without Losing Changes?
Use a child theme or a customizer plugin.
23. How to Handle Cross-Browser Compatibility?
Use consistent CSS and JS
Test with tools like BrowserStack
Use vendor prefixes for CSS
WordPress SEO & Performance Interview Questions
These test your ability to build optimized and high-performing websites.
24. How Do You Optimize WordPress SEO?
Use plugins like RankMath or Yoast
Add meta titles and descriptions
Optimize images
Use schema markup
25. What Is Lazy Loading?
It’s a technique to load images only when they’re visible on the screen. Improves page speed.
26. How Do You Reduce Server Response Time?
Use premium hosting (e.g., SiteGround)
Use a CDN
Minify code and reduce HTTP requests
Freelance and Client-Based WordPress Questions
When you freelance, it’s not just about coding—it’s about client communication.
27. How Do You Handle Client Projects in WordPress?
Start with requirement gathering
Choose suitable themes/plugins
Build prototype
Get client feedback regularly
28. How Do You Select Plugins for Clients?
Check ratings and active installs
Ensure regular updates
Match exact needs (avoid unnecessary plugins)
29. How Do You Explain WordPress to Non-Tech Clients?
Use analogies: “WordPress is like the engine, the theme is the car design, and the plugins are the features.”
Tips to Prepare for WordPress Interviews in 2025
Build Your Own WordPress Projects: Hands-on practice beats theory
Follow WordPress News: Stay updated with new releases and features
Join Forums and Groups: WPBeginner, StackOverflow, Facebook Groups
Study From Real Projects: Look at case studies or client work from agencies like Design IQ
Mock Interviews: Practice answering out loud
Final Thoughts on WordPress Interview Questions
Learning WordPress is a journey—and interviews are a great way to reflect on how far you’ve come. Whether you’re applying for a full-time role or convincing a freelance client to hire you, being confident with these WordPress interview questions will give you a strong edge.
These are not just questions. They’re checkpoints to becoming a professional WordPress developer or designer.
Want to dive deeper into WordPress? Check out these blogs:
What is WordPress? A Beginner’s Guide
How to Create Your First WordPress Website in 2025
WordPress SEO Basics for Beginners
Top Free WordPress Themes for 2025