If you have never heard of it before, you are probably wondering what is a WordPress multisite. It may sound like having many websites in your WordPress (WP) account or different URLs for your website. To give you a clear understanding of WordPress multisite, we will define exactly what it is and determine whether it is right for you.
WordPress multisite is a configuration that allows you to add multiple websites on the same WordPress installation. These websites share core files and databases, allowing network administrators to effectively manage them from one WordPress user account. Ideally, you may opt for a WordPress multisite vs. single site configuration for several reasons:
When making the decision between single-site and WordPress multisite management, you may need to consider several factors. A multisite network functions best when managing a group of similarly performing sites. This means the subsites in your WordPress multisite network will share the same hosting, have custom extensions, use similar plugins, and themes. For instance, you may have an international brand that deploys different subsites for each language or a university with websites for its departments. In such cases, each of the subsites uses a shared database to serve different audiences. If you would like each site to be unique and use its customized database, then single-site management may be more ideal.
WordPress multisites work in almost the same way as regular WP installations. However, they have additional features that support the idea of having more than one website on the same WordPress installation.
WordPress Multisite management is made possible by a super admin. This is like the CEO of the multisite system who oversees all of its websites (subsites). The super admin can access and control any of the subsites under their network. They can install themes and plugins on specific sites or across all subsites simultaneously. Regular admins for each of the subsites cannot install themes or plugins on their site, as the responsibility now belongs to the super admin.
When using WordPress multisite configuration, you do not need to install plugins and themes on every individual site. These are stored in the network and can be activated across websites since subsites share files instead of each site getting a copy.
The super admin may activate themes and plugins on all networked websites simultaneously. Alternatively, they can toggle themes and plugins on and off for specific subsites or even update them across all the network’s sites. On the downside, since all sites in the network share a codebase, a harmful plugin or theme carelessly installed by a website administrator can negatively impact the entire network.
A WP multisite comprises a standard WordPress installation with several subsites. All the subsites share the original website’s domain name. However, super admins decide whether they want to separate their sites by subdomain or subdirectory during the setup process. They can also attach unique domains to the subsites by mapping custom domains to sites in the network. These subsites will thus appear like any other website that is not connected to the original website to visitors.
On the surface, WordPress multisites are almost similar to individual, separate WP installations. However, the key differentiator is the back-end configuration. For multisites, they comprise multiple subsites that use the same core files. In other words, the files for all websites exist in the same WordPress directory. You will also find all the plugin and theme files in this directory, which saves significant server space. Still, each sub-site has its own media assets and data. This means that each subsite will have its own uploads folder and database tables on the back end, providing a unique identity for the front end.
Multisite is one of the features on the WordPress platform that is often underutilized. Despite allowing users to host several subsites on the same WP installation, not everyone understands how it functions. If you would like similar versions of your website to be live or just want to manage multiple sites at the same time, then WordPress Multisite may be the perfect solution for you. Hiring experts like WPDepend will help you use this feature the right way and explore the full potential of your websites.
A seasoned technology writer and marketing consultant with over a decade of experience helping businesses grow online. I specialize in content marketing, SEO, web design, and e-commerce development. I am enthusiastic about using cutting-edge technology to acquire high-quality traffic, generate leads, and increase sales for my clients.
