How to unleash the full power of WordPress (by only using half of it)

How to unleash the full power of WordPress (by only using half of it)

If you've explored the world of web development lately, there's a chance you've come across the word headless – a seemingly new development in how digital assets are created. But what does it actually mean to "go headless"?

Imagine a Swiss Army Knife, choose a decent one with a few tools on there. These are infinitely useful for taking care of bits and bobs. There's many an odd job that can be ticked off the list with a Swiss Army Knife. But you wouldn't dream of building a house with one. For this you need a dedicated screwdriver, a saw with some grunt and a multitude of other tools. WordPress, in its typical form, is a Swiss Army knife. Headless WordPress is like being given an all-access pass to B&Q.

With playful and dynamic user experiences becoming the expected norm and a key part of your brand's impression on others, it's important to do the job right. As a developer, I want to set myself up for the best chance of successfully articulating your brand into a digital performance. And for this, I want all the tools I can get my hands on.

Headless doesn't actually mean no heads...

In a headless setup you have two main tools – your data layer and your presentation layer. You can have as many presentation layers, or heads, as you like. These can take various forms such as a website, an iOS App, smart watch app etc, which can all pull data from your data layer or CMS (Content management System) via an API (Application Programming Interface).

So, why headless WordPress?

There are plenty of brilliant CMS options on the market, all suited to various situations. Some specialise in visual media; others focus on masses of technical data. But when it comes to the king of content, WordPress is still the most used and accessible CMS available today. It's familiar, robust and with the help of a few well-maintained plugins, it'll give you all the flexibility you need as a CMS. This means you can tailor your CMS to meet the specific needs of your business and publish content quickly and efficiently in-house.

And perhaps most importantly, it's not going anywhere. In 2016 WordPress incorporated the WordPress API into its core code in order to enable developers to access data from anywhere outside of the traditional WordPress platform. This was a huge nod to the headless movement and an acknowledgement of where things are going and how WordPress is working to keep up.

Now there are various API's available for meshing WordPress with custom front-ends or 'presentation layers'. Making it more possible than ever to create fast and responsive websites utilising the most up-to-date and cutting-edge technologies.

So, imagine the possibilities at your disposal when building with a tried-and-tested CMS paired seamlessly with a powerful, user centric and responsive front-end. By adopting a headless approach, you’re future proofing your investment, making it easier to adapt to emerging trends and technologies without needing to overhaul your entire infrastructure.

Should I go headless?

There will always be the consideration as to whether going headless is worth it for you, especially when building a single asset like a website. But I think this is only a consideration if you're thinking about going it alone.

If you're in the position where you're deciding whether to build the site yourself or hire a developer, then there's absolutely no doubt that without proper knowledge of the subject and some pretty serious coding clout, headless will require a lot more learning.

But if you're working with an agency or you have access to a developer, then I think headless is always a good idea. Why wouldn't you want your site to be built with the best technologies available and have the opportunity to create digital experiences that smash the expectations of your guests and drive results? It's a no brainer really...Get it? Headless. No brain? Never mind...