Introduction
After installing WordPress, the first thing you will see is the WordPress Dashboard.
The dashboard is the control center of your website. From here, you can:
- Create posts and pages
- Change your website design
- Install plugins
- Manage comments
- Control website settings
In this lesson, we will explore the main sections of the WordPress dashboard and understand what each part does.
How to Access the WordPress Dashboard
To open the dashboard, visit:
http://your-site-url/wp-admin
Enter your:
- Username
- Password
After login, you’ll see the WordPress Admin Dashboard.
What is the WordPress Dashboard?
The dashboard is the backend of your website.
It allows you to:
- Manage posts and pages
- Control website appearance
- Install plugins
- Configure settings
- Manage users and comments
Visitors never see this area — only admins do.
Main Parts of the WordPress Dashboard
The WordPress dashboard has three main areas:
- Admin Toolbar
- Sidebar Menu
- Main Work Area
Let’s understand each one.
1. Admin Toolbar
The Admin Toolbar appears at the top of the screen.
It provides quick access to important features such as:
- Visit Site
- New Post
- New Page
- Updates
- User Profile
This toolbar helps you navigate quickly between tasks.
2. Sidebar Menu
The Sidebar Menu is located on the left side of the dashboard.
This is where most of the website management options are located.
Important menu items include:
- Dashboard
- Posts
- Media
- Pages
- Comments
- Appearance
- Plugins
- Users
- Tools
- Settings
Each menu contains additional options and controls.
3. Main Work Area
The Main Work Area is the center of the dashboard.
This area displays information such as:
- Website activity
- Quick draft editor
- WordPress news
- Site health status
The content here may vary depending on installed plugins.
Dashboard Screen Overview
The dashboard screen shows:
- Welcome panel
- At-a-glance information
- Recent activity
- WordPress news
These widgets give a quick summary of your website.
Admin Menu Structure
The left-hand side contains the Admin Menu.
This is where most work happens.
Let’s understand each major menu item.
Posts
Used for:
- Blog posts
- Tutorials
- Articles
Key options:
- All Posts
- Add New
- Categories
- Tags
👉 Tutorials like PHP and WordPress lessons are usually created as Posts.
Media
Used to manage:
- Images
- Videos
- PDFs
- Other files
You can upload files and reuse them anywhere on your site.
Pages
Used for:
- Static content
- Home page
- About page
- Contact page
- Start Here page
Comments
Used to:
- Approve comments
- Reply to users
- Delete spam
You can control discussions from here.
Appearance
Controls website design:
- Themes
- Menus
- Widgets
- Customizer
This is where you customize how your site looks.
Plugins
Plugins add features to WordPress.
Examples:
- SEO plugins
- Security plugins
- Contact forms
- Cache plugins
Think of plugins as apps for WordPress.
Users
Used to manage:
- Admins
- Editors
- Authors
- Subscribers
Each user role has different permissions.
Tools
Provides utilities like:
- Import / Export content
- Site health
- Data management
Settings
Controls overall site configuration:
- Site title
- Permalinks
- Reading settings
- Discussion settings
⚠️ Beginners should change settings carefully.
Toolbar (Admin Bar)
The top black bar provides quick access to:
- View site
- New post
- Profile
- Updates
It appears on both frontend and backend when logged in.
Important Tip for Beginners
👉 Don’t try to change everything at once.
Learn:
- Posts
- Pages
- Appearance
- Plugins
Everything else comes naturally.
In the next tutorial, we’ll learn about Difference Between Posts and Pages in WordPress.