WordPress is written using PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor). While we did cover what localhost is, we haven’t covered why we need the localhost. However, with the loopback address, you are calling the localhost, i.e., your computer.Īnd, for the sake of this article, we will go ahead and set up our local server using XAMPP. Typically, when you use an IP address, you are trying to connect to a remote computer over the internet.įor example, when typing in a web browser it directs you to Astra’s web server and Astra’s main page. However, the loopback address has a default IP of 127.0.0.1. The loopback mechanism may be used to run a network service on a host computer without requiring a physical (i.e., hardware) network interface, such as a network port or a socket, or even a network interface controller.įor example, a locally created WordPress website may be accessed from the browser by the URL ‘ as long as XAMPP, WAMP, DevKinsta or other software is running.Īs is the case with any domain name, the localhost also has an IP (Internet Protocol) address. Too technical? Well, let me break this down.

The localhost is used to access the network services, such as directory, database, email, files, printers, that are running on the host via the loopback network interface. Localhost refers to your computer and how you access it. Leave a comment below if you want to join the conversation, or click here if you would like personal help or to engage with our team privately. Or in networking terminology, we need to set up a localhost. Just in case you’d like to create a WordPress website after purchasing a domain name and hosting, this article on How to Make a WordPress Website should help.Īs you may have realized by now, to create a WordPress website locally, we need to set up a local server. So, if you’d like to learn WordPress without investing upfront in a domain and hosting, it makes sense to create a local version of your site. Yes, there are free options too, such as .īut do these free options allow you to exploit all the features and functionalities that has to offer? No, they don’t! And we have already compared and detail by detail. If you want to learn WordPress, you would normally have to invest in a domain name and hosting. Learn WordPress Without a Domain and HostingĪnother reason to create a local WordPress site is if you are starting out. It is a great option when you’d like to test the functionality locally before the world gets to see your website. What developing locally allows you to do is to ensure you have a working model of the website on the live server from day one. Before you know it you have spent a couple of hours figuring out and setting up the environment, even before you have even begun developing the website! Each has its own installation procedures and you have to run them independently to start working on your website. In short, I would have to set up a development environment in my local system.įor this, I would download two separate applications, the web server application, and the database. If the website required having a database, my next step would be to set that up as well. To create a website, the first step would be to set up a server on a local computer. I recall my early days as a website developer. Download and install WordPress on your local computer

Step 1: Download and Install XAMPP on Your Local Computer.Learn WordPress Without a Domain and Hosting.Why Set up a WordPress Website Locally?.

Xampp for windows 5.6.15