WordPress Taxonomy: Types and How to Create Custom Taxonomies
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One of the reasons behind WordPress’s popularity with the websites is its user-friendliness. And the heart of this ease of use is the WordPress admin dashboard. Essentially, it’s the command center from where you control your website and everything that happens on it.
Whether you are trying to publish a page or post, adjust the core settings, install new themes and plugins, or something else, dashboard is what you need. Moreover, it plays a key role in ensuring the best WordPress development services.
So let’s take a look in detail at what the WordPress admin dashboard is, along with its key elements and use cases.
Table of Contents
What is WordPress Admin Dashboard?
WordPress admin dashboard, also known as the admin panel, controls every aspect of the website. This is where you create and manage content, customize your design, install plugins, monitor performance, and adjust all of your settings from a single interface.
You can access the dashboard of your website through this link: https://yourwebsite.com/wp-admin. This access URL can also be customized to ensure better security for your website.
After accessing this link, you’ll see the following:
- Dashboard Home: It offers an overview of the site activity, updates and few actions.
- Posts & Pages: The place to write, edit or organize content.
- Appearance: It is for controlling the themes, menus as well as site structure.
- Plugins & Tools: Increase functionality as well as integration.
- Users & Settings: This would manage all permissions as well as global configurations.
WordPress Admin Dashboard has been designed for both beginners and advanced learners so that you can go about your activities comfortably.
Left Sidebar Menu
This vertical menu provides access to all administrative functions, including Posts, Media, Pages, Comments, Appearance, Plugins, Users, Tools, and Settings.
Top Toolbar
Located at the top of the dashboard, this bar offers quick links to various administrative functions and your site’s front end.
Main Work Area
The central part of the dashboard where you can create and manage content and customize your site’s appearance.
This was the brief overview of the WordPress dashboard. Now let’s get into the key menu options of WP Admin in the next section.
Key Elements of WordPress Admin Dashboard
The admin dashboard covers almost every key part of creating and managing a WordPress website. Here are its main menu options.
1. Posts
The Posts section helps create, edit, and manage blog articles. Blog Articles can keep content organized with categories and tags, schedule for publication, or even restrict visibility on posts. From a short update to long-form guide writing, this section is for content creation.
Key Features
- Add New: Write and format blog posts with the Gutenberg block editor (or Classic Editor).
- Categories & Tags: Organize content for better navigation and SEO.
- Scheduling: Publish immediately or set future dates for automatic posting.
- Revisions: Track changes and restore previous versions.
Best Use: Ideal for blogs, news sites, or any regularly updated content.
2. Media
The Media Library is for storing all your uploaded files: images, videos, PDFs, and others. Easily insert media into posts and edit file details. Bulk delete unused items for optimizing workflow that keeps everything in one central hub.
Key Features
- Upload & Organize: Drag-and-drop files or use the “Add New” button.
- File Details: Edit titles, alt text, captions, and descriptions.
- Embedding: Insert media directly into posts/pages using the URL or library.
Best Use: Managing assets for blog posts, galleries, or downloadable resources.
3. Pages
Unlike the ‘Posts’ section, the ‘Pages’ section is for timeless content like “About Us,” “Contact,” or “Services”. Pages do not use categories and tags but can be organized into a hierarchy (e.g. parent and child pages). This is used for all important areas of the website that are not updated often.
Key Features
- Hierarchy: Create parent/child pages (e.g., Services > Web Design).
- Page Templates: Some themes offer custom layouts.
- No Categories/Tags: Built for standalone content.
Best Use: Essential for business websites, landing pages, and permanent information.
4. Comments
The ‘Comment’ section allows you to moderate, approve, reply to, or delete visitor comments. You can filter by status (approved, pending, spam) to keep it healthy. It is perfect for building a community while reducing spam.
Key Features
- Moderation: Approve, reply, edit, or mark as spam.
- Filters: Sort by pending, approved, or trash.
- Disabling: Can be turned off per post or globally in Settings > Discussion.
Best Use: Engaging with readers, but requires spam protection (e.g., Akismet).
5. Appearance
Under Appearance, you control themes, menus, widgets, and the overall look of the site. Personalize your layouts with the Theme Editor or preview changes live before publishing. This is where branding and the user experience meet.
Key Features
- Themes: Install, customize, or switch designs.
- Customize: Live preview changes (colors, fonts, headers).
- Menus: Create navigation bars (e.g., header/footer menus).
- Widgets: Add sidebar/footer elements (e.g., recent posts, search bars).
- Theme Editor: Advanced code tweaks (caution: can break the site).
Best Use: Branding, layout adjustments, and improving UX.
6. Plugins
Plugins are the extensions for your WordPress site. The ‘Plugins’ are used to integrate functionalities associated with security, performance, eCommerce, or much more. Here, you can install, uninstall, activate, deactivate, update, and delete the plugins, and more. Keep them updated for the best compatibility and performance.
Key Features
- Add New: Install from WordPress.org or upload third-party plugins.
- Activate/Deactivate: Turn features on/off without deleting.
- Updates: Keep plugins secure and compatible.
Best Use: Extending capabilities (e.g., WooCommerce for eCommerce, Yoast for SEO).
7. Users
The ‘User’ section controls the access to your site and the tasks they can perform. Allocate roles like Admin, Editor, Author, etc. You can also add new contributors or edit profiles. It’s useful for team collaboration and a bit of security.
Key Features
- Roles: Assign levels (Admin, Editor, Author, Contributor, Subscriber).
- Profiles: Edit personal details, passwords, and bio.
- Add New: Invite team members or contributors.
Best Use: Collaborative sites, multi-author blogs, or membership platforms.
8. Tools
The ‘Tools’ section will provide import-export functionalities and site health checks, as well as having nifty features for managing data; it just does everything site- or resource-specific clean-up or maintenance without plugins.
Key Features
- Import/Export: Migrate content (e.g., from Blogger or another WordPress site).
- Site Health: Checks for performance/security issues.
- Personal Data: GDPR compliance tools for user data requests.
Best Use: Site migrations, debugging, or compliance management.
9. Settings
The Settings tab houses global configurations—site title, URL structure, reading preferences, and more. Adjust permalinks for SEO, set time zones, or configure discussion rules. Small tweaks here can have a big impact.
Key Features
- General: Site title, tagline, URL, and timezone.
- Reading: Set homepage (static page or latest posts).
- Permalinks: Customize URL structures (critical for SEO).
- Discussion: Control comment settings and moderation rules.
Best Use: Foundational setup for site behavior and SEO optimization.
Each section of the WordPress dashboard plays a vital role in keeping your website user-friendly and functional. By understanding each of the menu and how to use them, it can help create and manage a basic site.
How to Access the WordPress Admin Dashboard?
How to Access the WordPress Admin Dashboard?
The WP-Admin or control center of the website is quite easy to access. Here’s how it goes.
Step 1: Open your browser.
Step 2: In the URL bar of the browser, enter your site URL followed by /wp-admin/. Here’s an example.
Replace the placeholder “yourwebsite.com” with your actual domain.
You will be taken to the WordPress login page.
Step 3: Enter the login credentials for your website: Email/Username and Password.
Step 4: Click Log In
If you can’t remember the password, click ‘Lost Your Password?’ on the login page and follow the subsequent instructions.
How to Use the WordPress Admin Dashboard?
With the admin panel, you can take care of a range of tasks key for any website. Here are the essential ones.
Create a Page or Post
The WordPress dashboard makes content creation effortless. Navigate to Posts > Add New for blog articles or Pages > Add New for static content. Use the Gutenberg block editor to format text, embed media, and customize layouts. Schedule posts, save drafts, or publish immediately.
Categories and tags help organize posts, while the preview button lets you check how content looks before going live.
Upload and Manage Media Files
Under Media > Library, you can upload images, videos, PDFs, and more. Drag-and-drop files directly or use the “Add New” button. Edit file details (alt text, captions) for SEO and accessibility. Bulk actions let you delete unused files, keeping your library clutter-free.
Media can be inserted directly into posts or pages with a single click.
Customize the Website Design
Go to Appearance > Customize to modify your site’s look in real-time. Change fonts, colors, layouts, and menus without coding. The Theme Editor allows advanced CSS tweaks, while Widgets and Menus let you rearrange sidebar and navigation elements.
Always preview changes before saving to ensure a polished design.
Create WordPress Categories and Tags
Organize content efficiently under Posts > Categories/Tags. Categories group broad topics (e.g., “Recipes,” “Travel”), while tags specify details (e.g., “Vegetarian,” “Europe”). Hierarchical categories support sub-topics, improving site structure and SEO.
Consistent tagging helps users find related posts effortlessly.
Manage WordPress Plugins
Plugins extend functionality—install them via Plugins > Add New. Activate/deactivate plugins as needed, and keep them updated for security. Avoid too many plugins; they can slow down your site. Always check reviews and compatibility before installation.
Manage Writing Settings
Under Settings > Writing, configure default post categories, formats, and publishing preferences. Enable XML-RPC for remote publishing or disable it for security. Set up post-by-email if needed. These settings streamline content creation workflows, especially for multi-author blogs.
Manage Reading Settings
Control what visitors see first in Settings > Reading. Choose a static homepage or latest posts. Adjust blog visibility for search engines and set the number of posts per page. RSS feed settings let you customize excerpt lengths for syndication.
Manage Users & Permissions
Assign roles (Admin, Editor, Author, etc.) under Users > All Users. Admins have full control, while contributors can only draft posts. Add new users, edit profiles, or remove inactive accounts. Strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) enhance security.
Configure Privacy Settings
Comply with GDPR or other regulations via Settings > Privacy. Generate a privacy policy page, customize it, and link it in your footer. Control comment moderation and data retention policies to protect user information.
Update WordPress Core, Plugins, & Themes
Keep your site secure and optimized by updating regularly. Check the Dashboard > Updates section for available updates. Always backup your site before major updates. Enable auto-updates for minor releases but review major updates manually to avoid compatibility issues.
While you can take care of these tasks to their basic form yourself, hire our WordPress development agency for more advanced functionalities.
How to Customize the WordPress Dashboard?
There are several ways to customize the look and feel of your admin panel of your WordPress website. Let’s discuss a few.
Using Screen Options
The Screen Options button at the top right of the page will allow you to show or hide various widgets. You can drag and drop elements like Recent Posts, Quick Drafts and Activity to rearrange them. Just declutter your dashboard and have the essential tools visible.
Customizing Administration Menu
Admin Menu Editor plugin allows you to rearrange, rename, or hide items in the admin menu. It becomes rather useful if you would want to simplify the interface for you or someone then the unconventional method would be to customize the menu through code means in functions.php file.
Changing the Theme of the Admin Dashboard
Various plugins which can be used are Adminimize, WP Admin UI Customize which help to modify default WordPress admin interface at its fullest extent. Change colors, fonts, and layouts according to the branding. For simple changes as it goes, ‘Users’ > ‘Profile’: Choose admin color scheme.
Add Custom Widgets
WordPress dashboard uses the concept of custom dashboard widget to provide access to important features. You can display custom notes, analytics or shortcuts with the help of the plugin Dashboard Widgets Suite. Developers, however, need to write their code for their widgets in functions.php.
Removing Unnecessary Dashboard Items
WordPress has a lot of default widgets, none of them useful to all the sites. First, hide unwanted widgets using the Screen Options menu. For further customization, insert code snippets into the functions.php that remove specific dashboard elements.
If you want further customizations on your dashboard, connect with the professionals. It will improve the productivity and site management and even help ensure better usability and branding.
FAQs About WordPress Admin Dashboard
How do I change the WordPress admin username?
By itself, WordPress does not have an official way to change the username from the dashboard for security reasons. However, you can make another admin account, log in with it, and then delete the old account.
You can use phpMyAdmin to change the username directly in the wp_users database. Make 100% certain that you save your website first before attempting database alterations.
Why can’t I access the WordPress admin login page?
Having incorrect login credentials, corrupt .htaccess file, or conflict between a specific plugin and theme are common reasons. Even if that doesn’t work, try resetting your password using the link “Lost your password?” If the page doesn’t load, temporarily rename the plugins folder via FTP to investigate whether the problem is plugin related.
Can I change the layout of the WordPress Dashboard?
Yes, you can rearrange or hide dashboard widget sections using the “Screen Options” tab at the top of the ‘Dashboard’ Page. For deep customization, you can install a plugin like Admin Menu Editor, known for reorganizing sidebar menus.
Additionally, one could do it by coding or using whitelabel plugins, which could affect colors, logos, and functionality to be modified.
Why don’t certain items appear in the menus (like Plugins, Themes)?
This is usually a result of user role limitations. Admins can access everything, while Editors, Authors, and Contributors may be able to view several options. Check the user role setting under Users > Your Profile.
If you are an Admin and still lack some items, they could be hidden by either a function in the plugin or functions.php.
Is it possible to change the admin dashboard to a different language?
Absolutely, click on Settings > General, select the desired language from the list in the “Site Language” dropdown, and confirm it. Should such a language not be there, install it from Dashboard > Updates > Translations; not all plugins/themes may support multilingual dashboards.
How do I disable the WordPress admin bar for normal users?
To disable this, navigate to Users > Your Profile and untick the “Show Toolbar when viewing site” box. As an alternative, Adminimize plugin can help to disable it for specific roles.
Or, in a manner of speaking, you could enter the code show_admin_bar(false); into the functions.php of your active theme. It will help hide the admin bar for all users (short of the admin) viewing the frontend.
Let’s Wrap Up
With WordPress admin dashboard, you can manage a website with ease. It’s a central space for creating content and customizing design, managing users, and optimizing performance. Knowing how to work this dashboard makes some tasks simpler, custom security features, and other associated settings.
Every little tool, from publishing posts to controlling settings and installing plugins, has its use. Along with customization for an individual interface, plugins bring in additional functionalities. Keep the dashboard updated and organized for the efficient running of your websites.
Beyond this dashboard, if you want to create a customized website, connect with our experts today!
