What is WordPress? It’s a versatile, open-source content management system used to build anything from blogs to business websites to online stores.

System Requirements: You need a web server (like Apache), PHP 7.4+, MySQL 5.7+/MariaDB 10.3+, and at least 512MB of RAM.

• Whether you’re installing it on a local machine, shared hosting with cPanel, or a cloud service like AWS or Google Cloud, these basic requirements are the foundation for WordPress to run smoothly.

WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world, used by millions of websites. It allows users to easily create, manage, and modify websites without needing to write code. WordPress is great for:

• Blogging: Originally designed as a blogging platform, it’s excellent for creating blogs.
• Business Websites: Many businesses use WordPress to create professional websites.
• eCommerce: With plugins like WooCommerce, WordPress is commonly used to create online stores.
• Portfolios and Personal Websites: Artists, designers, and creatives can showcase their work.
• Community and Forum Sites: WordPress can be extended to build communities.

The best part? WordPress is open-source and free to use, though hosting services, premium themes, or plugins might have additional costs.

System Requirements to Install WordPress

Before installing WordPress, it’s important to ensure that your hosting environment or computer meets the basic system requirements. WordPress is lightweight, but there are some minimum server or machine specs to consider.

Server Requirements for WordPress:

Web Server:

• Apache (recommended) or Nginx (recommended).
• Most hosting companies provide these by default. Apache is the most popular.

PHP:

• Minimum required version: PHP 7.4 or higher.
• WordPress is built in PHP, so your server needs to have it installed.

Database:

• MySQL version 5.7 or higher, or
• MariaDB version 10.3 or higher.
• WordPress uses these databases to store all the site content (posts, pages, user data, etc.).

HTTPS Support:

• For secure websites, it’s recommended to have HTTPS (SSL certificates).
• Many hosting providers offer free SSL certificates.

Hardware Requirements:

• Disk Space:
• WordPress itself is very light (about 50MB), but you’ll need space for media uploads (images, videos, files).
• A minimum of 1GB is recommended for small websites, but more space is needed as the site grows.
• Memory (RAM):
• 512MB RAM is the minimum recommended for a WordPress website.
• For smoother performance with plugins and themes, 1GB or more is ideal.
• Processor:
• A standard CPU on any basic web server will handle WordPress without issues.
• If you’re installing WordPress on a local machine, any modern multi-core CPU will be sufficient.

Additional Recommended Settings:

PHP Extensions:

To ensure everything runs smoothly, you should have the following PHP extensions enabled:

• curl
• gd
• mbstring
• openssl
• xml
• json
• zip
• Apache Modules (if using Apache):
• mod_rewrite for pretty URLs.
• File Permissions:

WordPress needs correct file and directory permissions for security reasons. If you’re using a VPS or self-managed hosting, ensure proper file permissions are set (usually 755 for directories and 644 for files).

Recommended Hosting for WordPress:

If you’re not installing WordPress locally and are looking for hosting, many providers offer managed WordPress hosting that meets these system requirements. Some of the popular options include:

• Bluehost
• SiteGround
• DreamHost
• HostGator

These hosts typically handle all server-side requirements for you, so you don’t have to worry about technical details.

Installing WordPress is simple, but the process can vary based on where you want to install it. Here’s how you can install WordPress on different environments, whether you’re using a localhost, cPanel, cloud, VPS, or major cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

1. Installing WordPress on Localhost (Your Computer)

If you want to install WordPress on your computer to experiment with it privately, here’s how:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: Install a Local Server (like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP)
• Download and install XAMPP (for Windows/Linux) or MAMP (for Mac).
• Once installed, launch the application and start the Apache and MySQL services.
• Step 2: Download WordPress
• Visit wordpress.org and download the latest WordPress zip file.
• Unzip the file and move it into the htdocs folder (found in your XAMPP or MAMP directory).
• Step 3: Create a Database
• Open a browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin/.
• Click on “Databases” and create a new database (e.g., wordpress_db).
• Step 4: Install WordPress
• Go to http://localhost/wordpress/ in your browser.
• Follow the instructions to connect your database and set up the site. Use localhost as the database host.

2. Installing WordPress with cPanel (Shared Hosting)

If you have shared hosting with cPanel access, WordPress installation is super easy.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: Log in to cPanel
• Log in to your hosting account and access cPanel.
• Step 2: Use a One-Click Installer
• In cPanel, look for Softaculous Apps Installer or WordPress Installer under “Software”.
• Click on WordPress and follow the prompts to install it on your desired domain.
• Step 3: Set Up WordPress
• Choose your domain, site name, and create an admin username/password. Complete the installation, and you’ll receive a URL to log in to WordPress.

3. Installing WordPress on a Cloud/VPS (Google Cloud, AWS, Azure)

For cloud services or VPS, the process is a bit more advanced but still doable.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

a) Using Google Cloud:

• Step 1: Create a Google Cloud Account
• Sign up at Google Cloud.
• Set up a new project.
• Step 2: Use WordPress in Marketplace
• Go to the Google Cloud Marketplace and search for “WordPress”.
• Choose a WordPress installation (click-to-deploy).
• Step 3: Configure Instance
• Set the region, machine type, and click “Deploy”.
• Step 4: Access WordPress
• Once deployed, you’ll get a temporary IP address where WordPress is running. You can now log in with the admin credentials.

b) Using AWS (Amazon Web Services):

• Step 1: Sign up for AWS and launch EC2 instance
• Go to AWS and sign up.
• In AWS Console, search for EC2 and launch an instance. Choose a Linux/Ubuntu server.
• Step 2: Install WordPress
• Connect to your server via SSH.
• Install the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), and then download and configure WordPress.
• Step 3: Access WordPress
• Use the server’s public IP to complete the WordPress installation in the browser.

c) Using Azure:

• Step 1: Create an Azure Account
• Sign up at Microsoft Azure.
• Step 2: Use the WordPress Marketplace
• Go to Azure Marketplace, search for WordPress, and create a new WordPress app.
• Step 3: Configure and Deploy
• Set up the required virtual machine and database, then deploy the app.
• Step 4: Log in to WordPress
• Once the app is deployed, visit the URL provided by Azure to log in.

4. Installing WordPress on a VPS (Virtual Private Server)

If you’re using a VPS (from services like DigitalOcean or any other provider), the process is a mix of manual steps and configurations.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: Set up the VPS
• Log in to your VPS using an SSH client (like PuTTY for Windows or Terminal for Mac).
• Step 2: Install the LAMP Stack
• You need to install Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Follow specific commands to install these packages on your server.
• Step 3: Download and Configure WordPress
• Download WordPress using SSH and configure your database credentials.
• Step 4: Complete Installation
• Access your VPS IP in the browser to finalize WordPress setup.

What’s Next After Installation?

Once you’ve installed WordPress, no matter the platform, you’ll be able to access the WordPress Dashboard by visiting http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin or http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin (on a local machine). From there, you can:

• Choose a theme
• Install plugins
• Customize your site
• Start adding content