Questions for ABSOLUTE web beginner, not just WP

This would be a good place to start:

https://codex.www.ads-software.com/First_Steps_With_WordPress

Also see:
https://wordpress.tv/

Thanks WPyogi, you were also a responder to a previous question of mine.

The question I have however is, on that page for example, which I have attempted to follow the instructions, do those steps imply that they can be accomplished with no prior knowledge whatsoever to web coding? Or does it imply a base level of knowledge of programming?

Because, it looks as though that page assumes you have completed the installation, and that is something I have failed to successfully complete. I have downloaded WP (that was tough haha jk), but not successfully installed it.

So instead of getting frustrated with myself I just wanted to see if there are other things to learn FIRST such as some sort of HTML lesson or resource you recommend?

For example, these example videos I just found using the search function, these are things I’m ASSUMING I should be watching before even attempting to use WP on my own.

<https://wordpress.tv/2010/09/18/shayne-sanderson-editing-php-and-css-for-beginners/&gt;

<https://wordpress.tv/2012/12/26/joel-r-norris-a-beginners-wordpress-bootcamp/&gt;

<https://wordpress.tv/2013/07/31/tracy-levesque-what-you-dont-know-you-can-do-wordpress-development-for-absolutely-everyone/&gt;

<https://wordpress.tv/2013/06/29/taylor-lovett-what-you-need-to-know-about-computer-science-and-wordpress/&gt;

how about HMTL? or other languages?

For example, in the installation page, after the very first step, I’m officially lost by the terminology:

2. Create a database for WordPress on your web server, as well as a MySQL user who has all privileges for accessing and modifying it.
3. Upload the WordPress files to the desired location on your web server:
If you want to integrate WordPress into the root of your domain (e.g. https://example.com/), move or upload all contents of the unzipped WordPress directory (excluding the WordPress directory itself) into the root directory of your web server.
If you want to have your WordPress installation in its own subdirectory on your web site (e.g. https://example.com/blog/), create the blog directory on your server and upload the contents of the unzipped WordPress package to the directory via FTP.
Note: If your FTP client has an option to convert file names to lower case, make sure it’s disabled.
4. Run the WordPress installation script by accessing the URL in a web browser. This should be the URL where you uploaded the WordPress files.
If you installed WordPress in the root directory, you should visit: https://example.com/
If you installed WordPress in its own subdirectory called blog, for example, you should visit: https://example.com/blog/
That’s it! WordPress should now be installed.
————–

So, pretty much what I am getting at is how do I learn my way around the web at all, in the effort to eventually learn WP?

Thank you and sorry all at the same time haha!

No problem, though a lot of these questions really depend on various things…

This should assume nothing:

https://codex.www.ads-software.com/New_To_WordPress_-_Where_to_Start

Where are you trying to install WP?

A lot of hosting companies have a 1-click install. See:

https://www.ads-software.com/hosting/

You could also consider using a WordPress.COM hosted site – see:

https://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

You have less freedom and fewer options, but you don’t have to take care of the technical side of things.

You don’t NEED to know HTML or CSS or anything else – though if you want to do any customizing of the theme you use, it will be helpful.

There’s definitely a learning curve for WP – but lots of people started in the same place you are :).

This would be a good basic info site:

https://www.w3schools.com/

Ok thanks,

And actually it’s not as if I was hoping I was right that I needed to know html/css/anything related, its more just knowing in the back of my mind that by following the instructions there is nothing “implied” and having peace of mind in that regard.

Thank you and I will give my shot at it now!

to answer your question about where I was installing it, I had not gotten that far yet, I was still stuck on
——–
If you will be using FTP, skip to the next step – uploading files is covered later.

If you have shell access to your web server, and are comfortable using console-based tools, you may wish to download WordPress directly to your web server using wget (or lynx or another console-based web browser) if you want to avoid FTPing:
wget https://www.ads-software.com/latest.tar.gz
Then unzip the package using:
tar -xzvf latest.tar.gz

——

I guess I would ideally like to install it somewhere free, even if that means on my computer and not actually of any use on the web yet, but if that is detrimental to learning how WP works properly then by all means advise me on that subject

Congratulations on your initiative. Assuming, as you said we should, that you know next to nothing, I will say this:

WordPress is built such that no real working knowledge of any web coding language is required. But of course, that’s severely limiting. That would be like buying a car without knowing how to drive, and paying a tow truck to tow you around town while you sit behind the wheel. You’re getting where you need to go, but you’re missing the experience. So again, I commend your initiative.

Luckily for you, there are a tremendous number of tutorials and lessons available to help you continue expanding your knowledge. If you would like my opinion, here are the disciplines required to run and maintain a wordpress site, and in the order of which you should learn them.

1. HTML (This is the markup language that controls the structure of elements and content on every website.)

2. CSS (This defines a set of rules that control how the elements on a website display.)

3a. WordPress Interface (Learning how to use the WordPress Dashboard, is essential. I recommend learning this after HTML and CSS because those languages will help you understand what you can achieve with the Dashboard at a conceptual rather than just visual level)

3b. WordPress PHP & Basic PHP – (This is the programming languages that WordPress is built upon. WordPress uses PHP to generate HTML dynamically and create pages, menus, etc. I say WordPress PHP, but what I really mean is the core set of PHP functions, classes, and snippets that every WordPress webmaster should be familiar with.)

4. Javascript – Basic (This is another programming language that can manipulate the elements of a page. Uses include form validation, effects, image carousels, etc.)

5. Profit

—

Below, are some places to start learning what I laid out above. I hope you find success with them. It can be arduous at times, but it is at the same time, very rewarding.

1. HTML – Tuts+ released 30 days worth of free lessons to help you with the most basic of basic. https://learncss.tutsplus.com/

2. CSS – See above. That will show you all the basics. Once competed, you should know what you need to learn next (with regards to HTML and CSS) and know enough to find out where to learn it.

3. WordPress and WordPress PHP

Start here: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Main_Page under “Learn How to Use WordPress”. Then see below.

WordPress PHP – If you use a theme someone else wrote and then try to make changes, you’re hacking it up. In all likelihood, you’ll be making changes in a trial and error fashion until you achieve what you want to achieve. Learning WordPress PHP will help you fundamentally understand how ALL themes are built for WordPress. The easiest way to do this is to create your own basic WordPress theme to help understand the basics. You can start here: https://themeshaper.com/2009/06/22/wordpress-themes-templates-tutorial/

You’ll also want to learn the following basic PHP and WordPress PHP. There’s seemingly an infinite amount of information, but you can take a site built with HTML and CSS, apply the following, and you’ll have a WordPress site. To me, this fact makes the following PHP required knowledge, and so I’ll list what’s most important for you:

WordPress:

General: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/bloginfo
Header: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/get_header
Navigation: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/wp_nav_menu
The Loop: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/The_Loop
Title: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/the_title
Permalink: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/the_permalink
Content: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/the_content
Excerpt: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/the_excerpt
Footer: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/get_footer

Basic PHP:

basic syntax: https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_syntax.asp
operators: https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_operators.asp
variables : https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_variables.asp
arrays : https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_arrays.asp
echo() : https://www.w3schools.com/php/func_string_echo.asp
If…else conditionals: https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_if_else.asp
For Loops : https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_looping_for.asp
While Loops : https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_looping.asp
Functions : https://www.w3schools.com/php/php_functions.asp

4. Javascript:

jQuery : https://learn.jquery.com/javascript-101/
(After this, google for tutorials of projects you’d like to achieve, then make them your own. That’s how I learned)

I spend everyday working with WordPress and I use the skills above every day. By their nature as the most basic, they are used most frequently, so it’s important you understand and remember them well. Obviously certain things will extend beyond the scope of what’s above, but it’s as good a place as any to start.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

Thank you Christian for the incredible help and resources, I’m starting with the HTML now~

Truly incredible, thanks again!

You’re quite welcome. Good luck!