Learn the basics and when to use each.
WordPress was originally created as a way for bloggers to create websites without having to know any code. WordPress was, therefore, originally designed for creating posts. Over time, web creators began using WordPress to create full-fledged websites, and pages became more important.
In this article, you’ll learn the differences between posts and pages. You’ll also learn when it’s best to use posts and when you’d be better off using pages.
What are posts?
Posts are used when you want to share information that changes frequently or when you want to share content on social media. If you have a blog that you update on a daily basis, each daily blog entry is a post.
Organization
Posts will appear in reverse chronological order. That means your newest posts will appear at the top of the page, and your older posts will be located at the bottom.
Features
Posts come with numerous built-in features that allow you to make them interactive:
- Comment section
- Buttons to share the posts on social media
Posts also have built-in features that allow you to organize them more effectively:
- Author credit (you can include an author picture or avatar and a short biography)
- Publication date
- Categories
- Tags
When to use
You don’t have to limit your posts to blog entries. Posts are also great when you want to announce new product releases or exciting information about your company, when you have time sensitive content, or when you have a schedule of events, etc.
What are pages?
Pages are a great way to describe your business or organization as a whole. The most common pages are the Home, About Us, Contact, and Product or Services pages. You can also use the 404 page to let your visitors know they’ve tried to reach a non-existent page on your site.
Organization
The organization of pages is hierarchical with parent pages and child pages. Parent pages have characteristics that they pass down to the child pages, like the overall theme or just the location of it.
Features
Pages come with no built-in features. If you want a specific feature on one of your pages, you can achieve that functionality by installing plugins.
When to use
It’s best to use pages for static content that rarely, or never, changes.
Posts and pages, a side by side comparison
| What are Posts? | What are Pages? |
Time: Dependent | Time: Independent |
Organization: Reverse chronological | Organization: Hierarchical |
Built-in features: Numerous | Built-in features: None |
Note: You may, at certain points, come across the term “Post Types”. This is a category definition in WordPress and is unrelated to the term “post” as we use it in this article.
The bottom line
In this article we’ve covered the key differences between posts and pages. You now know when it’s best to use them and are well on your way to building a stunning website! Next, you may want to take a masterclass on how to create blog posts or learn how to create a blog with Elementor. To get the most out of Elementor, check out the Elementor Academy for more helpful learning resources. If you come across any issues or need help, please contact our Support Center.