A skin is a specific design that works with the basic foundational outlines of a theme and changes it to look a different way. Things like your logo, background colors, and the placement of content areas and sidebars are handled within the skin. When we create a web site for a client, we essentially select a theme that the client will be using, and then create a custom skin that will alter this appearance, applying the results of that skin to the clients theme.
Themes define how the public appearance of your web site will actually look, and creates a base of presentational code for the web site to run on. Specialized themes often introduce unique features and functionalities that can tailor the theme to be specialized for a specific purpose such as blogging or small business content management. Themes also are largely responsible for the quality of your in-site SEO.
A plugin is a piece of functionality that can be added to your WordPress site by simply installing it with a few mouse clicks. Some plugins require additional configuration, but many work right out of the box. Examples of plugins include a Flash image slideshow, a function that automatically creates a new XML sitemap for your web site each time something has been changed, or an event calendar.
Hosting is the term commonly applied to the actual web server that your web site lives on. Besides providing DNS routing and the physical space that your web site lives on, hosting provides you with your other crucial online business functions such as email address management and tools, online file management, database management and ftp access.
As the name implies, users of “self hosted” WordPress must provide their own hosting.
WordPress is completely customizable via plugins, and there are no design restrictions. What you can and can’t do with your site is governed completely by the hosting environment where your web site is located. Additionally, you can also have your own domain name, and integrate WordPress with other web services and applications to extend its’ functionality.
Its features are limited to exactly what you see, and your options for design changes are very limited (and usually not free) as well. Plugins are not an option with WordPress.com, and you do not have your own domain name. Access to source code is minimal. Affiliate marketing is also not permitted on WordPress.com.
It’s free to use, and provides an excellent blogging platform. It also provides a selection of design options for you blog that you can choose and change at will.
WordPress.com is a free web-based service that allows you to create blogs, similar to other commonly used free blogging services. WordPress.org is a web site that is the hub of the “self-hosted” version of WordPress. Green Media develops web sites built on “self-hosted” WordPress.
WordPress is open-source software, so it is free to use.
