What is WordPress?

WordPress is an Open Source and Free CMS based on Php & MySQL. It is one of the most used Content Management System over the web. It is a software used to create customisable websites, blogs and apps as well. It is not only a free software but also priceless. No restrictions on the features and other stuff. It also has some additional features like Plugin & Template System. Plugins and Templates designed for WordPress can be used. Also, the additional plugins increase the features and functionality of the particular websites.

WordPress was released on May 27, 2003, by  Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. To know some interesting facts, you can also check the History of WordPress.

Topics Covered in this Article

• Install WordPress in localhost
• Install WordPress in cPanel
  • Install WordPress using One-Click Installers(Softaculous).
  • Install WordPress Manually without using Software

Install WordPress on your localhost 

You can Install WordPress on localhost for learning and testing. Did you know that before? You cannot install it directly like other software but with the help of some server software like WAMP, XAMPP, and LAMP, you can do it. If the Operating System in your computer (localhost) is Windows then it is recommended to go with WAMP and XAMPP Software. If you using Linux based Operating System in your localhost then you can use the LAMP. If you are new & need guidance to download & install the software in localhost, then click on the preferred link mentioned below. 

After Installing One of the above Software in your system, follow the Instruction provided below for the respective software.

WAMP

If you have installed WAMP Server in your Windows System, then you can follow the below instructions to Install WordPress in your computer.

• Download WordPress – Latest Version.
• After downloading the WordPress, Right Click and give Extract files.
• It will get extracted to a Folder (Folder Name may be WordPress).
• Move all the files from that folder to “www” folder found on the Wamp Installation Directory.
• Now, your WordPress files are ready.

Start your WAMP Server and go to localhost in your favourite browser. You can find the WordPress file asking details for the Installation process.

Before proceeding to go, open PHPMyAdmin and create a New Database. Once the database is created then you can even create the User with all the privileges else you can use the default user details. Keep the Database Name, User Name and User Password safely to follow the next step of configuration.

Now go to the WordPress/ www directory(Where you extracted the WordPress zip files). You can see the folders like wp-admin, wp-contents, wp-includes and other files. If you saw those files under the directory, then you are in right place else identify that. Rename the file wp-config-sample.php to wp-config.php. Now open the wp-config.php file on the same place using notepad or notepad++. If you don’t have notepad++, then you can download it here. Update the database name, username and password details you saved previously. 

Once done, visit the localhost on your favourite browser. It will ask for basic information like Site title, Tagline, Username, User Email and Password to create WordPress user. Once done, click complete you will be redirected to the WordPress dashboard and the URL looks like “your-domain.com/wp-admin“.

Now you have configured the WordPress Site on your localhost using the third party server software. 

Install WordPress Using cPanel

Most of the hosts will not provide you individual cPanel Accounts on shared hosting. So it means there are a lot of limitations in using the web hosting space allocated for your website. But fortunately, if you have cPanel access and looking to install WordPress CMS to build (or) to migrate the WordPress Website then you can follow the instructions provided below. 

In cPanel you can install WordPress Manually without using software or using the One-Click Installers if provided by the hosting providers. Here I have explained the WordPress Installations using Manual Installation and using the One-Click Installers.

Install WordPress using One-Click Installers (Softaculous)

One-Click Installers like Softaculous makes the work very easy and simple. Most of the people feel like Installing WordPress itself as a more technical and a tedious process. But after the arrival of these one-click app installers, the things were looking so easy. Before going to the instructions, I would like to mention that the One Click App Installers are not free and also your host should install it on their servers. If not, then it is not possible to make use of it and you want to follow the manual installation process as explained below.

Follow the below Instructions step by step to install WordPress using Softaculous App Installer.

Prerequisite: 

• cPanel Access – Administrator/User.
• Softaculous Installed on your Host/Server.
• Enough Disk Space.

Steps to Install WordPress Using Softaculous

• Login to your cPanel Account. If your domain is mywebsite.com then your cPanel login URL should be mywebsite.com/cpanel (or) mywebsite.com:2083. If it doesn’t work, contact your host & request the cPanel Access details as mention below:
  Login URL:
  Username:
  Password:
• After successful login, you will have a search option on top of the cPanel dashboard. 
• Search for “Softaculous”.
• Click on Softaculous App Installer 
  
• You will see the Softaculous dashboard with the various apps as a Grid Array.
• As we want to install WordPress CMS, Click on “WordPress“.
• Now you could see an option as “Install“.
• It will ask you for the basic configurations
  • Protocol – Recommended using https://www. (If you have SSL) or else use http://www.
  • Domain – Choose your domain.
  • In Directory – Make it as Empty
  • Site Name – Give your Site Name (Optional)
  • Site Description – Enter a short description/tagline about your website (Optional)
  • Admin Username – WordPress Username
  • Admin Password – WordPress Login Password
  • Admin Email – Your default Email Id (Use Valid Email)
  • Select Language – English (or) your preferred language.
  • Select Plugins – Choose if you need that (Optional)
  • Advanced Options – Choose if you have technical skills else it is better to ignore. (Optional) 
  • Select theme – Choose if you want any specific theme available there. (Optional)
• Click on the Install button.
• You will administrative URL after installation as mywebsite.com/wp-admin

Important Note:
You should have stored your WordPress Username & Password for future use.

b) Install WordPress in cPanel without Using Software

Most of the hosting providers not installing the One Click Installers as it is a paid software. Also, if you are hosting very few sites on your dedicated servers then it is not needed to install One-Click Installers like softaculous. Installing WordPress manually is not a challenge and it is very simple if you follow the instruction mentioned below in this post.

Prerequisite:

If any of the below requirements is not satisfied, you should contact your hosting for the same. 

• cPanel Access – Administrator.
• Enough Disk Space.
• Database Limit.
• Upload limit.

Steps to Install WordPress Manually

• Download latest WordPress version(ZIP Format).
• Login to your cPanel Account. If your domain is mywebsite.com then your cPanel login URL should be mywebsite.com/cpanel (or) mywebsite.com:2083. If it doesn’t work, contact your host & request the cPanel Access details as mention below:
  Login URL:
  Username:
  Password:
• Go to the file manager in cPanel dashboard.
• In the right top corner of the dashboard, there is a settings option. Click on that & enable the checkbox “show hidden files & directories“.
• Go to public_html & upload the WordPress files.
• Extract the WordPress Zip file & go inside the extracted folder until you reach the folders “wp-admin, wp-content & wp-includes”.
• Once you reach those files, select all the files & folders and drag it into the public_html folder on the left sidebar of the dashboard.
• Now you should be able to see all the files under public_html itself.
• Once done, rename the sample-wp-config.php into wp-config.php.
• In cPanel dashboard, search for MySQL Database & click on it to create new Database.
• You should create the following under the MySQL Database Wizard.
  • MySql Database
  • MySql User
• Once after creating it, assign a user to the database by providing all the privileges. 
• After finishing that, edit the wp-config.php file & update the details like MySQL Database Name, MySQL Username & Password.
• Click on Save changes after updating the details. 
• Now visit, mywebsite.com/wp-admin (replace mywebsite.com with your domain name).
• You will be requested to enter the details as mentioned below
  • Site Title: Your Site Name
  • Tagline: Tagline of your business
  • WordPress Username: Login Username
  • WordPress Password: Login Password
  • Email Id: Your Email Id.
• Once done, click on complete. You will be redirected to your WordPress Dashboard.
• WordPress Installation & configuration is completed.

Important Note:
You should have stored your login details for future use.