You must be aware that WordPress is one of the most popular web-building solutions available. People are making new interfaces with it and also converting PSD to WordPress themes besides shifting from other formats. However, do you know how to check if a website is built with WordPress? Most people would be unaware of the methods to tell whether an interface is made with the CMS. During the early days of the platform, most websites created on it had similar appearances. It was easy to spot a WordPress interface. Over the years this has changed with the development of numerous themes with distinctive looks. Let’s take a look at the ways which will help in detecting whether a website is built with WordPress.
1. Scan The Source Code For “wp-content” Folder
The best way to ascertain whether WordPress is used in an interface’s composition is by looking at its source code. Searching the code for “/wp-content/” and “/wp-includes/” folder will help in establishing that website is built with the CMS. The code can be easily accessed by using a browser option. For instance, right click on a page open in a Chrome browser and select the “View page source” option. This will open a page showing lines of HTML program. Simply search for “wp-” and the folders will become visible.
2. Add “/wp-admin” To The URL
An easy way to tell if an interface is made with the CMS is by adding “/wp-admin” to its URL. In case, the website is powered by the open-source platform, the WordPress login screen will be displayed. However, many people hide their login pages or include password protection to secure it. It means, therefore, that it is not the best method to find out an interface’s composition. If the protective measures have been applied then appending “/wp-admin” to the domain will not show the login page.
3. Look For The “Generator” Tag
There are some default WordPress installations which have an extra meta tag in their <head> sections. This is the “Generator” tag which will resemble the following line:
<meta name=”generator” content=”WordPress 4.9.10″ />
Just as we did in the first method, use the “View page source” or a similar browser option. This will open the source code of the page. On this screen search for “generator” and if the tag is present it will show up.
4. Append “license.txt” To The Website’s URL
This method of telling whether a website is built with WordPress also involves using its URL. Add “license.txt” to the URL and it will display the WordPress license file. This is the GNU General Public License which declares that it is open-source software. However, it is also not a sure shot method to check for the CMS’ presence. This is because many website owners remove this tag from their interfaces.
5. Deploy The Chrome Sniffer Extension
People who use Google’s Chrome browser can use an extension for his purpose. The Chrome Sniffer extension helps in identifying the platform used for building a page. Click on the three vertical dots in the upper right-hand corner of your browser. Go to “More tools > Extensions”. The screen which opens will show you all the extensions enabled in your browser. At the bottom of the page will be an option for adding more extensions. Click on it and locate the tool you need. Once enabled, it will show the icon of the software used to make an interface along with its URL in the address bar.
6. Use Third-party Services
People who do not want to use any technical method can use a third party service for the purpose. One of the most popular services which tell about an interface’s composition is BuiltWith. Visit its website where on the home page you will find a field for entering a URL. Type the address of the website you want to check and hit the “Lookup” button. Within moments you will be presented with a detailed list of the software active in the website’s installation. In case the interface is built with the CMS, you will locate it under a section titled “Content Management System”. The version of the open-source software will also be displayed.
Conclusion
These are some of the best methods for finding whether a website is built with WordPress or not. This will help aspiring developers and enthusiastic users in satisfying their curiosity.
Author Bio
Jacob Graves is a Sr. WordPress Developer at HireWPGeeks Ltd, a company that provides best html to wordpress service in a convenient manner. He is a passionate writer and loves to share WordPress and SEO related tutorials.
