Do you use WordPress when you open a website ? Would you like to create it in HTML? Isn’t that the case?
Traditional website creation required knowledge of programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
However, with the advent of WordPress, it has become easier to build websites without specialized knowledge .
In this article, we will introduce the features, advantages and disadvantages of each to those who are wondering whether to create a site using WordPress or HTML .
What is WordPress?
WordPress is the world’s most popular website creation tool with great extensibility.
First, I will explain the basic knowledge of WordPress.
WordPress features
WordPress is a website creation software called CMS (Content Management System) .
Developed in the language PHP, by linking with a database called MySQL, you can build a dynamic site that can be easily updated like a blog.
Why WordPress is so popular
WordPress is said to be the most used CMS in the world .
Let me explain why it is so popular.
The first reason WordPress is so popular is that it’s easy to create dynamic sites .
Dynamic sites that could not be created without specialized knowledge such as PHP can now be easily created simply by linking WordPress and the database.
In addition, it is easy to change the display according to the accessed device, such as mobile support.
“Easy to change the design and add features” is also one of the reasons why WordPress is popular.
There is a mechanism called a theme that allows you to easily change the design of your website and a plugin that allows you to add functions.
And “free use” is another reason why many users can easily introduce it.
It is created and distributed under the license published by the Free Software Foundation called GPL, so anyone can use it for free.
Basic WordPress features
We will introduce the typical functions of WordPress.
First of all, the typical function is “article creation function” .
You can create two types of pages, a post page that can be updated in a blog format and a fixed page that builds an independent page within the website, and there is also a function to accept comments from readers.
It also has an “image upload function” .
Images can be easily uploaded to the media library on the management screen by simply dragging and dropping them.
It also features a “user management function” .
Since multiple users can be registered and permissions (administrator, editor, contributor, contributor) can be granted, it is also suitable for website management by multiple people.
What is HTML?
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a language designed for creating websites.
Here, we will explain the features, functions, and learning time of HTML.
HTML features
HTML is a language for describing the structure of a website .
Hypertext, which is the origin of the HTML name, has a function called “hyperlink” that connects information to each other, and it is a mechanism that allows you to easily move from one document to another.
In addition, hypertext is characterized by being able to incorporate not only documents but also images and videos.
Then, by adding a “tag” to the text document in HTML, the hypertext can be understood by the computer.
HTML features not found in WordPress
When using WordPress, the appearance and functions will be determined to some extent depending on the theme used.
However, if you create a website with HTML, you can design it with any layout, and you can also add your own functions.
Another advantage of HTML is that you can easily update a large number of articles .
In the case of WordPress, articles are stored in the database, so you have to post one by one.
If your website is created in HTML, it is easy because you only need to upload the HTML file on the server.
Time to learn HTML
It can be said that the difficulty of learning HTML is low compared to other programming languages.
Even beginners will be able to learn the basics in about 10 to 20 hours by studying with commercially available reference books.
Once you understand the basics, the rest is while you are actually building the website.
It can be said that the shortcut to learning is to acquire advanced HTML usage and skills.
Benefits of creating a site with WordPress
There are various advantages to creating a website with WordPress, but the four main advantages are as follows.
Easy to update and manage even for beginners
WordPress is installed and used on the server,
It is easy to install because the main rental server has a mechanism that can be easily installed.
In addition, WordPress can perform all operations such as posting and updating articles from the management screen .
Basically, you don’t need to know HTML to write an article, and you can change the appearance of characters and insert tables and images in the same way as word processing software (Microsoft Word, etc.).
Even if you are a beginner, if you have used word processing software, you will be able to operate it intuitively.
Another feature of WordPress is that you can post in any environment .
The management screen can be operated with a browser, and there is also a mobile app, so you can operate it from home or on the go with a computer, tablet device, or smartphone.
You can customize the design with themes
WordPress provides a template called “theme” that summarizes the design and functions.
You can change your site to have different looks and features just by changing the theme .
Themes are distributed free of charge on the official website, and there are many paid themes with excellent design and functionality.
In addition, each theme has a customization function, so it is designed so that it can be customized to some extent without specialized knowledge.
For example, you can often change the background color, heading style, column structure, and so on.
Items that can be customized vary depending on the theme, but paid themes tend to have more freedom.
You can take advantage of a wealth of plugins
WordPress has a mechanism called “plugin” to extend its functionality.
Even if WordPress is not in the default state, there are functions that can be implemented by adding plugins .
Plugins with many users include anti-spam, enhanced security, speedup (cache, file compression), redirection, access analysis, backup, and batch string conversion.
The plugin is distributed on the official WordPress site and is almost free to use,
The free version has restrictions, and depending on the function you want to use, you may need to pay for it.
In addition, although plug-ins may be distributed outside the official website,
Care should be taken when deploying, as there may be safety issues.
Easy to create a site suitable for SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) means “Search Engine Optimization” in Japanese.
It refers to various measures to make it appear higher in Google search results.
Since WordPress itself has an SEO-conscious structure that makes it easy for Google crawlers to crawl all pages, it is possible to build a site that is strong against SEO from the beginning .
You can further enhance SEO by introducing SEO related plug-ins such as “All in One SEO Pack” that allows you to set SEO meta elements from the management screen.
However, the content of the content is more important than the structure of the website for SEO measures.
It is not possible to aim for higher display just by using WordPress.
Basic SEO measures such as how to add a title to an article, how to add a headline, and the content of an article are essential.
Disadvantages of creating a site with WordPress
WordPress has many advantages for beginners, but it also has disadvantages.
There are four main disadvantages of WordPress :
If you don’t use templates, you need expertise
WordPress consists of multiple template files.
When you change the theme, this template file is changed, and the design and function change.
The theme is convenient and highly useful, but it has the disadvantage that it is difficult to create originality because the appearance is decided to some extent .
You can customize your existing theme or create your own theme for your own uniqueness,
Knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP, etc. is required to perform your own customization.
If it is a popular theme, there are many cases where your own customization method is published on the net, so it is a good idea to change it to your own design by referring to it.
Site display speed may slow down
I’ve mentioned that it’s easy to create dynamic sites as a feature and reason for WordPress’s popularity.
This also causes the website to slow down .
First, articles (contents) created by WordPress are saved in the database.
When the browser visits the website, it reads the content from the database.
Then, HTML is dynamically created from that information and displayed on the browser.
In other words, the database is accessed between the time the website is accessed and the time it is displayed.
Compared to a static site created with HTML, the display speed is inevitably slower.
It will be necessary to update the main body and plugins
WordPress is characterized by frequent version upgrades to enhance security and improve functions.
It’s easy to update WordPress itself, but some people may find it annoying because it requires regular maintenance .
In addition, it is essential to check the operation after the update because the display may be distorted or the movement may be strange due to the version upgrade.
In addition to WordPress itself, themes and plugins need to be updated as well.
Plugins that have stopped development or have security issues may not be available.
You can easily update themes and plugins from the management screen, but after updating, you need to check the operation as well.
There is a security risk
WordPress may be pointed out as a security vulnerability .
The fact that the CMS has a large number of users also means that it is easy to be targeted from the standpoint of a hacker.
Since the WordPress configuration is open to the public, if you know the URL of the website, you will know the URL of the management screen and the location of important files.
For example, the admin screen is protected by a username and password, but if the username and the poster’s display name are the same, the username will be revealed.
If you know the user name, you can generate a random password and try to log in, which increases the possibility of unauthorized login.
Therefore, it can be said that there is a risk of unauthorized access to WordPress, alteration of websites, virus infection, etc.
However, countermeasures have been disclosed for the vulnerabilities that have been revealed, and it is possible to enhance security by introducing security-related plugins.
Keeping up to date with WordPress updates from time to time is also important for added security.
Benefits of creating a site with HTML
Next, I will explain the advantages of a website (static site) created with HTML without using WordPress .
There are three main benefits:
High flexibility
If you create it in HTML without using WordPress, you can build a highly flexible site .
This is because you can build a site from scratch without being bound by WordPress specifications.
Since you can implement your own design and function, you can create the best website according to your company’s image and strategy.
However, taking advantage of the flexibility of HTML requires a high degree of expertise to provide unique designs and useful features to users.
Therefore, when creating a corporate website in HTML, it is common to ask the website production company.
In that case, you will often ask the production company to update the contents of the website.
For individuals, requesting a production company is a high financial hurdle, so it is often created by yourself, but specialized knowledge is required.
Easy to keep costs low
Both WordPress and HTML are free to use, so there is no cost to create a website for yourself or your own company.
However, if you ask an external production company to create your website, it may be cheaper to create it in HTML than in WordPress in the long run.
In addition, static sites created with HTML are less likely to cause trouble because the system is not installed, and there is no need for complicated work such as adding pages, so the cost is low.
Since the website created by WordPress has a system, if a problem occurs, technical skills are required to fix and maintain it, so the cost will be added.
You will be able to understand how the site works
If you create your own website with HTML, you will also have the advantage of being able to understand how the site works.
Even if you are a beginner, as you create and operate a site with HTML, you will be able to acquire the foundation to acquire specialized knowledge such as HTML and CSS.
Eventually, it will be possible to create a highly original site and reflect your own ideas.
The knowledge acquired in this way can also be used when creating a website with WordPress .
Knowledge of CSS is necessary even if you want to change the design of the theme a little, and understanding the structure of HTML is also essential for SEO measures.
Therefore, even when creating a website with WordPress, the experience of creating a site with HTML is advantageous.
Disadvantages of creating a site with HTML
There are four main disadvantages to creating a website with HTML .
Each is explained in detail below.
You can’t make it without knowledge of the code
At a minimum, knowledge of HTML and CSS is required to create a website in HTML .
You also have to learn how to use FTP tools to upload the files that make up your website on the server.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a file transfer protocol, but it is easier to understand if it is a mechanism for transferring files over the Internet.
Both are relatively easy to learn if you have programming experience, but if you are a complete beginner, the hurdles can be high.
Even a small description error has a large effect
HTML is a language that describes the structure of a document using “signs” called tags.
A unified standard has been set so that it will look the same in any computer environment.
Therefore , even a slight description error may cause the display to be corrupted or not displayed .
For example, a tag is represented by enclosing a string in'<>’, but if you forget to write one’>’, the tag will not work.
If you make a mistake in a critical location, the website itself may disappear altogether.
As you can see, HTML has a large effect even with a small description error, so
When updating a website, it is important to check the operation in the local environment and upload it to the server.
Only static sites can be created
A website created with HTML has a mechanism in which the browser reads and displays the HTML file created and saved on the server in advance.
It’s a simple and easy method, so you can create a site with fast display speed and less trouble.
However, this method can only create a static site that can only display the contents described in the HTML file .
In order to create a dynamic site that changes the display content according to the accessing user and date, it is necessary to introduce CGI (Common Gateway Interface) and database, and more advanced expertise is required.
You can create a dynamic site without using WordPress by asking a web production company, but it will be difficult for you or your company to create a dynamic site from scratch.
It takes time to add an article
For a website created with HTML, not only the structure of the site but also the content of the article must be described in the HTML file .
Therefore, every time you add a new article or modify an existing article, you can create a new HTML file and upload it to your server.
In addition, it takes time and effort to make corrections in the local environment and then upload.
Uploading the file itself can be done easily using an FTP tool, but it is undeniably more time-consuming than WordPress.
For large websites, the quantity of HTML files is also large, and managing the files can be a daunting task.
Which is better, WordPress or HTML?
Which do you recommend, WordPress or HTML?
It depends on the purpose of use of the website and the frequency of updates.
The cases that are suitable for each are introduced below.
Cases that WordPress is better suited for
First of all, I will introduce four cases where WordPress is more suitable than HTML .
Frequently updated sites
Websites with frequent article updates should be created in WordPress.
This is because you can concentrate on creating articles without the hassle of updating.
WordPress is especially suitable for creating blog sites that are updated on a daily basis.
Since WordPress was originally developed to create a blog site, it has all the necessary functions for a blog site in the initial state.
Many plugins that are convenient for blog management are distributed, and it is also possible to aim for the effect of attracting customers by using plugins that link with SNS such as Twitter and Facebook.
A site that sends real-time information
Websites that require real-time performance should also be created with WordPress.
In HTML, you need to create or modify an HTML file just by adding one piece of information,
With WordPress, you can easily add articles from the management screen, so when you post a new article, you only need to prepare sentences and images.
In addition, WordPress can be operated from a browser or mobile app, so if you have a laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can post on the go .
Therefore, WordPress, which can update articles anywhere, is suitable for websites that require prompt information transmission such as news and event information.
Furthermore, it is also possible to send the latest information to SNS by using the function that automatically posts to SNS at the same time as posting an article.
Sites with many pages and want to unify the design
WordPress can unify design and function by theme .
Therefore, it is possible to unify the design even on a site with many pages.
One of the charms of WordPress is that you can change the image of the site by simply changing the theme.
For example, in December, you can change to a theme based on red and green to make your Christmas mood more exciting.
In the summer, you can easily enjoy the taste of changing to a sky blue theme that imagines the sea and sky to create a vacation mood.
Such design changes can be time-consuming for sites created in HTML.
Sites with many people to manage
WordPress is also useful for managing and updating websites with multiple people.
Since WordPress is supposed to be used by multiple users, it has a function to register multiple users from the beginning.
Since it is possible to grant the authority of each user, it is possible to increase the number of people who can only post and grant the administrator authority of the website to multiple people .
If you want to manage a site created with HTML by multiple people, you need to register users who can upload files on the server and set access rights to folders and HTML files on the server.
Just adding or removing users can be a hassle.
Cases where HTML is better
Next, I would like to introduce three cases where HTML is more suitable than WordPress .
Sites with low updates
Corporate websites that only post basic company information, restaurants and beauty salons that rarely change menus and store information,
Sites with low updates , such as websites created in place of your own business card , should be created in HTML.
You can’t take advantage of WordPress on these sites, and HTML, which has a high degree of freedom in design, can create a website with a high degree of originality.
In addition, since the site created with HTML has a low load on the server, it has the advantage of being less prone to failures and troubles caused by computers and networks.
Therefore, HTML is also recommended for people who don’t have time to check websites on a daily basis.
Sites with few pages
HTML is also suitable for creating LPs (landing pages) for sites with a small number of pages and advertisements.
LP is generally a page that introduces products and services that appear when you click an advertising link, and contains information for making purchases and applications on one page.
For these sites, the benefits of creating in HTML will be greater because WordPress features are not available.
Specifically, the display speed is fast and the information can be read immediately when the user visits .
Even if you click the link of the advertisement, if the display speed is slow, the user who tried to visit will also leave immediately.
Another big advantage is that even if access is concentrated all at once, the load on the server is not applied and failures are unlikely to occur .
LPs for popular products and LPs that receive advertisements are often accessed intensively, and when the server is overloaded, the probability of failure increases.
If a failure occurs and the website stops operating, you will lose the chance to acquire customers during that time, so it is important to create a site that does not put a load on the server.
Sites with high originality of design and composition
Once you’ve created your site in WordPress, you can implement a variety of designs and features simply by changing the theme.
However, using a theme means using existing designs and features, so it will be difficult to create originality.
You can customize WordPress yourself and change the design, but you cannot build a completely original site.
In order to reflect the image inside you on the website or implement your own functions, you still need to create it in HTML.
Therefore, when building a highly original site , it can be said that HTML is more suitable than WordPress.
Summary of differences between WordPress and HTML
WordPress is a tool that allows you to easily create dynamic sites .
On the other hand, HTML has many advantages for creating static sites .
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of WordPress and HTML, and choose the site creation method that suits you best.
