WordPress is a Web Content Management System (WCMS) [see Wikipedia].

A WCMS assists members of organizations to create, edit, and organize their web content (media, website pages, blog posts, replies, etc.). Through a WCMS they can do this without having expert knowledge of HTML language. WCMSs enable content to be managed in a collaborative environment where various people have permission levels to make changes or view content (administrator, editor, author, contributor, subscriber, viewer).

These features make WordPress ideal as a platform for online content development in COMS 463:

1. It is one of the most popular WCMSs currently available. Other popular WCMSs include Drupal (used for U of C websites) and Joomla.
2. It is easier for beginners to learn and use than other WCMSs.
3. It provides users a free blog hosted on WordPress.com rather than having to pay for web hosting and figure out how to do the initial setup. Blogger (owned by Google) competes with WordPress in popularity as a blog-hosting site, but it is not an OpenSource technology, nor is it a WCMS used by organizations to develop websites and blogs.
4. It is commonly used for professional and business websites. Organizations download the free WCMS software from WordPress.org (instead of .com).  WordPress.org is the site where WordPress developers provide support and tools for those who download and use the free software.
5. It is Open Source software. Because it is a very popular application, its community of users and developers ensures it is always up to date and is extremely versatile. Those who host WordPress sites on their own servers have access to a multitude of user-developed plugins to expand its features, i.e. numerous different ways to embed a Facebook “Like” button.