The term “WordPress theme framework” refers to a code base in a Parent Theme used as the foundation for custom development of a WordPress child theme. In the old days, there were some crucial problems with the way themes were developed and maintained. There was no good way of upgrading WordPress theme functionality without losing all their custom styling. While it might not seem like a big deal to an average user, it can be disastrous.
What if you realized the same code you had been using in all of your themes had a security exploit? What if this theme was something that you released publicly for others to download and customize. Yeah, it’s a big deal alright.
The WordPress core team decided to fix the issues mentioned above by introducing the concept of Parent and Child Themes.
WordPress theme frameworks are intended to be used as a parent theme template where all the functionality resides. Developers can then create a child theme to add custom styling while leaving the functionality aspects of it to the framework.
This creates a centralized location where all the functions are hosted. If WordPress deprecates a function, or there is a bug found in a specific theme framework, then it is extremely easy to issue an update without modifying anything the child theme has.
That allows you to keep the “framework” of your site strong without modifying your custom styles.
Why do people use WordPress theme frameworks?
There are a variety of reasons, but we put the question to WP Beginner. Here’s their answer:
The main reason is to speed up development. Theme frameworks drastically reduce the development time. The development time is improved because all theme frameworks offer a great deal of functionality and customization options, so the user does not have to code everything themselves. These features can range anywhere from (drag-drop functionality, sliders, SEO widgets, and more). Instead of creating a theme from scratch and modifying all the files, creating a child theme can be as simple as creating a new style.css file and customize a few functions using the functions.php file.
How do I work with The Bootplate Theme Framework?
Glad you asked! We’ve written a ton of step-by-step documentation to help you get started as well as walk you though setting up your first child theme–if this is your first time.
Bootplate isn’t the only Theme Framework available. There are several free and paid ones out there. We happen to think Bootplate is the best, but we’re probably bias.
Some might argue a “framework” is outside of a parent theme. That’s a bit like how Genesis works. Is that right, or are we splitting hairs?
Great question. In our opinion, functionality is for plugins and code functions that govern the frontend design are for themes. Frameworks like Genesis break that rule because they use functions for everything. Bootplate doesn’t make any changes to the way WordPress looks or works, but it does include a lot of code to help make child themeing easier/faster. Thus, we think of it as a framework more so than a parent theme. Buy a theme and create a child, and the purchased theme is the parent–not a framework. Bootplate was never built to be used by itself (without a child). but as you say, we may be splitting hairs.