- If you look at the web the way a computer sees it, it's entirely based on text, but for us humans what makes the web so exciting is media. Images, audio, video, and advanced documents. Now that you know how to create, edit, and publish text with WordPress, it's time to look at how we can add media elements into the mix, and that starts with understanding how WordPress handles media elements. When we talk about media elements in WordPress or anywhere else on the web, we can group them into two main categories: Local Content that is uploaded to and lives on the site and Embedded Content that lives somewhere else.
Typically you'll find images and documents in the local content group while audio and video live somewhere else. We'll address embedded content towards the end of this chapter so for now let's focus on local content and, in particular, images. In WordPress, you can upload media elements either directly from the content editor while you're creating new content, or from the media view in the admin panel. When you upload a media element, WordPress creates what's known as an Attachment Post for that element.
This attachment post is similar to your regular posts but it has some crucial differences. An attachment post is created to hold all the data about an attachment. Either an image, document, or another media file. It has a title, an alternative text attribute, a caption, a description, and a link to the media file that was uploaded. Most importantly, it has a relational link or links that tie the attachment to the post or page where it was added.
So, when you upload and add an image to your post, you're actually creating an attachment post for the image and then using the attachment post data to display the image in your post. And once that attachment post has been created, you can add the same image with the same data to other posts as well without having to re-upload anything because each image lives in its own independent attachment post. And there's more. When you upload an image, WordPress doesn't just save that image.
It creates many different versions of that image for you to use. It creates a large image, a medium image, and a square thumbnail in addition to the original. When you add an image to a post or a page, you can choose which of these sizes you want to use and WordPress will provide the correct image file for the size you pick. The image sizes that are created are controlled in part by the current activated theme, in part by WordPress default, and in part by you. Though I wouldn't recommend it, you can go to Settings and then Media and change the default sizes for images uploaded in the future.
In this chapter we'll look at adding images to posts and pages, managing media items, and embedding external content.
Author
Updated
6/11/2018Released
8/17/2015Note: This course covers an older version of WordPress, which features the Classic Editor. Watch this course only if you are using the Classic Editor plugin or using WordPress 4.9 or earlier. Otherwise, watch WordPress 5 Essential Training, which covers the new Block Editor experience.
- Creating posts and pages
- Formatting text
- Publishing and scheduling posts
- Adding images, audio, and video
- Bulk editing posts and pages
- Customizing themes and menus
- Using widgets
- Extending WordPress with plugins
- Editing users profiles
- Configuring settings
- Getting new readers
- Keeping WordPress up to date and secure
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
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Introduction
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Welcome1m 30s
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What's new in 4.7?1m 45s
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1. Getting to Know WordPress
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What is WordPress?3m 30s
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2. Getting Started
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How WordPress works2m 34s
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Using the WordPress toolbar3m 28s
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3. Creating Posts
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Understanding posts1m 59s
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Posts vs. pages in WordPress2m 19s
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Creating a new post1m 38s
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Creating and editing links5m 37s
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Using categories and tags6m 10s
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Using revisions3m 30s
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Using post formats3m 52s
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4. Adding Images and Media
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Creating image galleries5m 30s
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Using featured images3m 44s
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Working with audio and video2m 18s
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5. Creating Pages
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When to use pages1m 59s
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Creating a page2m 4s
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Using page templates2m 10s
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6. Managing Content
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Navigating the admin panel4m 25s
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Using the Media Grid5m 11s
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Using attachment pages5m 44s
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7. Changing the Appearance of Your Site
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Introducing the Customizer7m 15s
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Customizing your theme8m 33s
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Using widgets6m 44s
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8. Extending WordPress with Plugins
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9. Users and User Profiles
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How WordPress handles users1m 34s
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Editing your user profile7m 42s
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Adding and managing users5m 33s
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10. Configuring Settings
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11. Getting, and Interacting with, Readers
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12. WordPress: Behind the Curtain
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13. Maintenance and Security
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Keeping up to date6m 59s
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14. Diving Further into the World of WordPress
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Going further with WordPress2m 29s
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Video: How WordPress handles media elements