WordPress Tips

In our last blog post, NOYO Web Development highlighted three critical mistakes that WordPress developers make that they shouldn’t. In this post, we focus on three more common errors that WordPress developers should avoid by rote memory. If you are seeking a professional developer for a new website or to upgrade an existing site, talk to them about any of these issues. If they can’t explain knowledgeably why these errors are so crucial, give NOYO Web Development a call for a free consultation. We design WordPress websites with precision engineering and hyper-attention to each detail.

Using Names Too Common for Classes, Constants, Functions, or Variables

When developing a plugin, your developer should use a naming convention to avoids conflicts in coding if other plugins use the same name. Many developers will prefix their function and variables names with something unique, yet related to the plugin. In addition to mitigating code conflicts, the plugins are much easier to locate when many plugins are enabled.

Some WordPress developers use PHP namespaces to enclose items. This solves two problems:

• Name collisions between code, internal PHP, or third-party constants, functions, and classes
• Ability to shorten Extra_Long_Names to resolve the above problem or improve the readability of source code.

NOYO Web Development understands the critical nature of namespaces and uses them only in the correct methods. Depending on your project, we can use the existing code style or adjust if your project is separate from another one.

Writing PHP Code and Forgetting the Page May Ultimately Be Cached

This is a common error that many WordPress developers make. It is easy to avoid by maintaining the PHP coding standards. Some developers habitually implement PHP snippets into plugins and themes that are valid only if the PHP code gets triggered each time. An example is a PHP function that responds to the HTTP User Agent upon certain actions that may or may not be taken, such as enqueuing scripts applicable only to mobile users.

If you then install a plugin that caches the page, such as WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache, without triggering the conditionals of the plugin or theme, the PHP code will become ineffectual. To make the pages responsive, this should be done on the front-end side through JavaScript and media queries. Media queries are preferred, since typically you want to avoid using JavaScript to make your website responsive.

Failing to Track Changes Through a Vetted Version Control System

Custom coded files, such as a custom plugin or child theme, should be under a proven version control system. These will create a record of the changes, which enables collaboration between developers working on the same WordPress project or easily revert to an earlier version if something goes wrong with the website. In addition, some version control systems will allow clients to keep track of work history completed by the developer they hire for their project. This is especially useful for large, long-term WordPress custom sites. Some of these version control systems intimidate junior developers, so you want to be certain the developer you hire has experience with these systems.

NOYO Web Development was founded in 2009, and our success in the web design industry has brought us repeat business as proof of our superior designs and skills. We are a powerful team that influences the industry of web development through our problem solving and critical thinking. Not only that, you will enjoy the innovative, creative skills we bring to our clients.

Don’t settle for substandard web development. One error could create a downward spiral in your business, and you might have no idea what is causing the problem. Is search too difficult for visitors? Do the pages load too slowly? This is a hyper-competitive landscape, and we are at the top of the field. Contact us today for a free consultation.