Curious? Learn How to See If a Site Was Made on WordPress

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How to See if a Site Was Made on WordPress

Learn how to see if a site was made on WordPress with these 10 easy methods. From source code to plugins, uncover website platforms quickly and effectively!

In today’s digital age, WordPress powers more than 40% of websites worldwide. However, not all websites make it obvious that they’re built on this popular content management system (CMS). Whether you’re a curious developer, a marketer, or simply someone interested in identifying website platforms, determining if a site is made on WordPress can be useful. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the key steps to uncover whether a site is powered by WordPress.

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How to See if a Site Was Made on WordPress: Why Identify WordPress Sites?

Before diving into the steps, it’s important to understand why this information might matter. For instance, if you’re exploring website redesign options or conducting competitor research, knowing the CMS used can help you make informed decisions. Besides that, understanding a website’s backend can guide you toward more efficient solutions for your own projects.

1. How to See if a Site Was Made on WordPress: Check the Page Source Code

One of the simplest ways to see if a website is built on WordPress is by examining its source code. To do this, follow these steps:

  • Right-click anywhere on the webpage and select “View Page Source” (or press Ctrl+U on Windows or Cmd+Option+U on Mac).
  • During your review of the source code, look for the following clues:
    • “wp-content” folder: This folder is a clear indicator of WordPress. For example, URLs like https://example.com/wp-content/themes/ or https://example.com/wp-content/plugins/ suggest a WordPress site.
    • Meta generator tag: In some cases, you might find a meta tag like this: <meta name="generator" content="WordPress">. However, some websites hide this for security reasons.

Indeed, this method is straightforward, but it’s not foolproof. Some developers may intentionally obfuscate these identifiers.

2. How to See if a Site Was Made on WordPress: Look at the URLs

Another way to spot a WordPress site is by analyzing its URLs. WordPress often generates specific URL structures that can give it away. For example:

  • URLs ending in /wp-admin or /wp-login.php typically indicate a WordPress site. You can try typing https://example.com/wp-admin into your browser. If you’re redirected to a login page, it’s likely the site uses WordPress.

On the other hand, some sites may use custom URL structures or plugins to mask these WordPress-specific paths.

3. How to See if a Site Was Made on WordPress: Use Online Tools

If inspecting the source code or URLs feels too technical, there are online tools available to do the work for you. Tools like BuiltWith and WhatCMS can scan a website and reveal the CMS it uses. These tools are reliable because they analyze various backend elements of the site.

4. How to See if a Site Was Made on WordPress: Inspect the Themes and Plugins

WordPress sites often use recognizable themes and plugins. You can:

  • Right-click on the site and choose “Inspect” to analyze the CSS and JavaScript files.
  • Search for references to popular WordPress themes (e.g., “Divi”, “Astra”, or “Avada”) or plugins (e.g., “Yoast SEO”, “WooCommerce”).

Despite this method’s effectiveness, some developers customize their themes heavily, making it harder to identify.

5. How to See if a Site Was Made on WordPress: Check the Copyright Footer

Sometimes, the easiest clues are hidden in plain sight. Many WordPress sites display a copyright notice in their footer, such as “Powered by WordPress” or “Theme by [Name].” However, many website owners remove or replace these default footers to maintain a more professional look.

6. How to See if a Site Was Made on WordPress: Look for WordPress-Specific HTTP Headers

Finally, if you’re comfortable with advanced tools, you can inspect a site’s HTTP headers using browser extensions or developer tools like cURL. Look for headers such as X-Powered-By: WordPress or references to plugins/themes.

7. Check the Website’s XML Sitemap

Many WordPress sites use plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to generate XML sitemaps. You can often find these by adding /sitemap.xml to the domain (e.g., https://example.com/sitemap.xml). These sitemaps may reference WordPress-specific directories or file structures.

FAQ.

Popular Question From Clients
Why do some websites hide their WordPress usage?

Some website owners choose to hide their use of WordPress to improve security and prevent targeted attacks on known WordPress vulnerabilities. This is often done by masking common WordPress paths or removing identifiable tags.

Can a WordPress site look completely custom?

Yes, WordPress is highly customizable. With custom themes and plugins, a WordPress site can look unique and may not resemble a typical template-based website.

Is it illegal to check if a site uses WordPress?

No, it is not illegal. Inspecting public elements like source code or URLs is completely within legal bounds. However, avoid using invasive techniques like unauthorized access.

Conclusion

Determining if a site is built on WordPress doesn’t have to be complicated. By using a combination of methods—from inspecting source code to leveraging online tools—you can uncover this information quickly. Certainly, some websites go to great lengths to hide their CMS, but these steps will work in most cases.

Whether you’re researching for business purposes or out of curiosity, identifying WordPress sites can provide valuable insights. Finally, remember that the true strength of any website lies in how effectively it meets its audience’s needs, regardless of the platform it’s built on.

If you’re considering redesigning your website or need expert guidance on leveraging WordPress for your business, Codemixx is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your project and let us bring your vision to life!