Installing WordPress on Localhost

Tutorial 2 of 5

Here is the detailed tutorial:

Installing WordPress on Localhost

1. Introduction

This tutorial aims to guide you through the process of installing WordPress on a local server environment, also known as localhost.

By following this tutorial, you will learn how to set up a local server, download and configure WordPress, create a MySQL database, and run the WordPress installation script.

Prerequisites

You should have a basic understanding of how to use your computer's command line interface. You will also need to have the XAMPP software installed. If you don't have it installed, you can download it from here.

2. Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Start the XAMPP Control Panel and run Apache and MySQL services.

Step 2: Download the latest version of WordPress from the official site.

Step 3: Extract the downloaded zip file into your 'htdocs' directory.

Step 4: Rename the WordPress directory to your preferred name, e.g., 'mywebsite'.

Step 5: Open your web browser and type 'localhost/phpmyadmin' in the address bar.

Step 6: Create a new database. Give it a name, e.g., 'mywebsite_db', and click 'Create'.

Step 7: Navigate to 'localhost/mywebsite' in your web browser to start the WordPress installation process.

Step 8: Follow the instructions on the screen, inputting the necessary information such as database name, username, password, and database host.

3. Code Examples

There are no specific code snippets in this process as it mainly involves using a GUI interface. However, during the WordPress setup, you will come across a wp-config.php file. Here's a small snippet of it:

// ** MySQL settings - You can get this info from your web host ** //
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define( 'DB_NAME', 'database_name_here' );

/** MySQL database username */
define( 'DB_USER', 'username_here' );

/** MySQL database password */
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'password_here' );

/** MySQL hostname */
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );

Replace 'database_name_here' with the name of your database, 'username_here' with "root", 'password_here' with your MySQL password, and 'localhost' with the name of your database host.

4. Summary

In this tutorial, we have covered how to set up a local server environment using XAMPP, download and configure WordPress, create a MySQL database, and run the WordPress installation script.

As a next step, you can explore how to create a custom WordPress theme or plugin. You may also want to learn how to migrate your local WordPress site to a live server.

5. Practice Exercises

Here are some exercises to help you practice:

  1. Try installing another instance of WordPress in a different directory.
  2. Explore the WordPress dashboard and try installing a theme or plugin.
  3. Try migrating your local WordPress site to a live server.

Remember, practice is key when learning new skills. Happy coding!