Child ThemesWordPress Meetup Bangkok, 2014/08/17
Shinichi Nishikawa
What is a Child Theme?
CodexA child theme is a theme that inherits the functionality of another theme, called the parent theme. !Child themes allow you to modify, or add to the functionality of that parent theme. !A child theme is the best, safest, and easiest way to modify an existing theme.
CodexA child theme is a theme that inherits the functionality of another theme, called the parent theme. !Child themes allow you to modify, or add to the functionality of that parent theme. !A child theme is the best, safest, and easiest way to modify an existing theme.
CodexA child theme is a theme that inherits the functionality of another theme, called the parent theme. !Child themes allow you to modify, or add to the functionality of that parent theme. !A child theme is the best, safest, and easiest way to modify an existing theme.
Parent Theme?
Any WordPress themes can be a Parent Theme.
Exception: You can’t make a Child Theme of another Child Themes.
How to make a child theme
1. Create a folder in wp-content/themes
2. Put style.css with“Template: ParentThemeDirName”in Comment.
3. Add what you want.
Demo 1
Parent Theme: Twenty Fourteen
Child Theme: Shin 2014
Concept of Child Theme
Don’t reinvent the wheel.
Change only what you need.
Protect changes from theme updates.
Override
You can override 3 things
1. css
2. template files
3. functions in functions.php
1. Override css
a presentation by Brandon Dove. http://www.slideshare.net/brandondove/parentchild-themes-vs-theme-frameworks/5
Demo 2
Parent Theme: Twenty Thirteen
Child Theme: nu2013
https://wordpress.org/themes/nu2013
Example: nskw-style.com
2. Override template files
If Child Theme has a template file, WordPress uses that.
If not, WordPress uses a template file in Parent Theme.
3. Override functions.php
2 ways.
1. add functions.→ example in nu2013
2. override functions.→ devdmbootstrap3
Demo 3
Parent Theme: devdmbootstrap3
Child Theme: devdmbootstrap3-child
https://wordpress.org/themes/devdmbootstrap3
Child Themes vs Theme Frameworks.
Theme Framework Examples
Underscores: underscores.me
Roots: roots.io/starter-theme
Which to choose?
Child themes?
When you find a good parent theme.
And it’s almost what you want.
And you need to change a little bit.
( When the budget is very small )
Theme Framework?
When you create from scratch.
When you have your own design.
When you change a lot from the original theme.