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Information Technology History

The Wheeler Jump Is Born Feb 9th

Actually February 9th is an inventor’s birth that marks this day in history: David Wheeler was born February 9, 1927. In 1951 he introduced this new concept.

So What In The World Is The Wheeler Jump

Well its inventor had efficiency in mind. Rather than repeat the same code over and over in different programs that needed to use the same program lines, he created subroutines. The subroutine, which contained reused program lines was stored in a programming library. It could be called into any program when needed by using the file name path to the library./div>

This concept saved storage space as well as made it easy for updating. Rather than having to change the same code used in multiple programs and multiple times, the programmer only had to change the subroutine.

For those of you who were or are programmers, you will recognize this as a precursor to the “goto” statement used in the programming language, Basic. Well do I remember the days of Basic and the push that it was the language to use.

So Do We Use Any Programming Languages Or Subroutines In WordPress?

Yes, only it is all done behind the scenes. WordPress uses the programming language PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor).
PHP figures out the URL request when you view your website online. It loads all the code from files. It talks with the database to both write and get (read) dynamic content. It processes requests. It is found throughout WordPress in all themes, plugins, and the WordPress core. The first file that loads into memory and runs is index.php. The index.php file, in the root of your theme, is the default template file that will display your site content should a more specific theme file not be available.

To Say It Another Way

WordPress uses PHP to do all of its processing including the following:

  • Figures out what the URL’s web request is and render the web page out to the browser,
  • Calls the theme
  • Calls plugins
  • Builds the web pages and interfaces (backend and front end)
  • Determines when to go and what to grab from the database
  • Fetches post metadata
  • Identifies what files to load and when
  • Validates user permissions
  • Checks options
  • Processes form fields
  • Handles image and document uploads
  • And so many more things depending on what is needed.

So Today’s Invention Does Have Practical Implications For Us

Enjoy your usage of WordPress today and realize PHP is working tirelessly for you and your website behind the scenes.