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What Template Is This WordPress Site Using? Find Out Easily

Posted on by William Zheng

Ever stumbled on a stunning WordPress site and wondered, “What template is this?” You’re not alone—figuring out the exact theme behind an impressive design is a common curiosity for bloggers, business owners, and web enthusiasts alike.

Knowing the template can inspire your own site, save design time, and help you achieve a similar look. In this article, we’ll walk you through simple ways to identify a WordPress template, share helpful tips, and highlight key resources to make your search easy.

What Template Is This WordPress? Uncovering the Secrets Behind WordPress Themes

Ever stumbled upon a beautifully designed WordPress site and wondered, “What template is this WordPress?” You’re definitely not alone. Identifying the template or theme a WordPress website uses can reveal design inspiration, save development time, and help you replicate features you love. In this article, you’ll discover the answer to this common question, learn step-by-step ways to find out which WordPress template or theme a site uses, and see useful tips, best practices, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Understanding WordPress Themes and Templates

Before diving into the “how,” let’s clarify:

  • Theme: In WordPress, a theme is a complete design framework that shapes the appearance of your website—its layout, color scheme, typography, and more.
  • Template: A template generally refers to a specific layout file within a theme, used for displaying specific types of content or pages (such as a “Contact Page Template” or “Blog Post Template”).

For most users, identifying the theme powering a WordPress site is the priority, but in certain cases, you’ll want to know what template is used for a particular page.


What WordPress Theme Is That? - template is this wordpress

How to Find Out What WordPress Theme a Site Is Using

Discovering the theme or template a WordPress site uses can be easy or tricky, depending on the site’s setup. Here are some effective methods:

1. Manual Inspection with Your Browser


What WordPress Theme Is That? WordPress Theme Detector - Kinsta - template is this wordpress

The fastest way to get clues about a site’s theme is to inspect its code.

Simple Steps:

  1. Open the Website

  2. Navigate to the WordPress site you’re curious about.

  3. View the Source Code

  4. Right-click anywhere on the page and select “View Page Source” (or use Ctrl+U).

  5. Search for Theme Information

  6. Use the search function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) and look for terms like: wp-content/themes/

  7. The part after /themes/ is usually the theme’s directory name, often matching the theme’s actual name (like ‘astra’, ‘twentytwentyone’, ‘divi’).

  8. Check Stylesheet for More Details

  9. Find the style.css file referenced in the code, typically something like:
    /wp-content/themes/themename/style.css
  10. Open that stylesheet URL in your browser if allowed. The file’s header usually contains the full theme name, author, and sometimes the version.

Example:

/*
Theme Name: Astra
Theme URI: http://wpastra.com/
Author: Brainstorm Force
Version: 3.6.7
...
* /

2. Using WordPress Theme Detector Tools

If you want a faster, non-technical option, try a WordPress theme detector tool. These web apps analyze any WordPress site and often provide:

  • The name of the theme in use
  • The theme’s author
  • Links to the theme’s official page
  • Information about child themes or custom modifications
  • Lists of installed plugins

Though tools vary, most work by entering the website URL. In a matter of seconds, you’ll get insights about the theme and often the plugins as well.

Popular Features Across Theme Detector Tools:

  • Simple input—just paste in the site’s address
  • Instant results on theme name and author
  • Links to theme marketplaces or downloads
  • Plugin detection for insight into site functionality

3. Recognizing Custom or Child Themes

Sometimes, you’ll uncover that a website uses a “child theme”—a customized version of a parent theme. The structure is typically:

  • Parent Theme: The main theme from which styles and functions are inherited.
  • Child Theme: Used for customizations, it keeps changes separate from the parent theme to enable safe updates.

When inspecting the source, if you spot a theme folder name like astra-child, divi-child, or similar, this usually points to a child theme.

4. Identifying Page Templates in Use

If your goal is to determine the specific page template (as opposed to the entire theme), you’ll need to dig a bit deeper:

  • In the admin area, if you have site access, edit the page and check the “Page Attributes” section. The template assigned will be listed there.
  • For public-facing sites, it’s trickier. Unless there are clear clues in the code (like a body class such as page-template-contact), it may not be practical to precisely identify the page template.

Benefits of Identifying a WordPress Template

Why bother figuring out the template or theme a site uses? Here are some compelling reasons:

  • Save Design Time: Get instant inspiration and possibly purchase or download the same theme.
  • Understand Features: Discover if a favorite functionality is theme-based or provided by plugins.
  • Aid in Site Redesigns: Pinpoint elements you want to emulate on your own WordPress site.
  • Gather Plugin Insights: See what tools and widgets are popular or compatible with certain themes.

Challenges When Detecting a WordPress Theme

While these methods work in most cases, there are challenges and exceptions:

  • Custom-Built Themes: Some sites use fully custom themes whose names aren’t available anywhere else.
  • Obfuscated Code: Advanced users may rename theme folders or hide identifying details.
  • Plugin Overlap: Key functionality and design may depend heavily on plugins, which aren’t always detected easily.
  • Caching and Security: Some sites may block stylesheet access or mask theme and template information to enhance security.

Don’t be discouraged! Even if you can’t find the exact theme, you’ll likely still get useful hints and inspiration for your own project.

Practical Tips and Best Practices

Want to get the most out of your investigation? Keep these practical pointers in mind:

Tip 1: Use Multiple Methods

  • Combine manual browser inspection with automated tools.
  • If one method doesn’t work, try another for a complete picture.

Tip 2: Verify Theme Availability

  • If you discover a theme you like, check if it’s commercially available or custom-made.

Tip 3: Respect Intellectual Property

  • If a site uses a custom or heavily modified theme, don’t copy or use it without permission. Use official downloads or theme shops.

Tip 4: Check for Child Themes

  • Customizations are often made through child themes, so consider both the parent and child for the full feature set.

Tip 5: Explore Plugin Details

  • Many theme detectors also identify installed plugins. These can add major features or visuals you admire.

Cost Considerations

What about costs? If you’re trying to match the look and feel of another WordPress site, consider the following tips to keep expenses in check:

  • Free Themes: Many beautiful themes are free from WordPress.org, with broad support and community usage.
  • Premium Themes: Commercial themes from reputable developers often include support, updates, and advanced features. Check official markets before buying—in some cases, you may find themes at lower launch prices.
  • Custom Work: If hiring a developer or designer, clarify up front who owns the modified theme and what ongoing support costs may arise.
  • DIY Approaches: Learning basic customization or using drag-and-drop builders can reduce reliance on paid themes or expensive customizations.
  • Avoid Piracy: Don’t download “nulled” (illegally shared) themes. They pose security risks and lack support.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I quickly check what theme a WordPress site uses?

The fastest method is to view the site’s source code. Look for /wp-content/themes/ in the code, which reveals the theme’s folder name. Alternatively, use online WordPress theme detector tools for instant analysis.

2. Can I find out which plugins a WordPress site is using?

Many theme detector tools will also list visible plugins used on a site. However, not all plugins can be detected, especially if their code is obfuscated or the plugin only functions on the backend.

3. What if the site uses a child theme—can I still identify the design?

Yes. The parent theme is responsible for core design elements, while the child theme is for customizations. By identifying both, you can better understand the site’s layout and features.

4. Are there any risks to copying a website’s design?

Replicating a website’s theme isn’t inherently risky if you use officially distributed themes and respect copyrights. Never use nulled or pirated software, and don’t simply copy a site’s custom graphics, branding, or text.

5. Why do some sites not reveal their theme or template?

Security or branding concerns may lead website owners to hide theme details by renaming folders or using code obfuscation. In such cases, it may be impossible to identify the theme, especially if it is custom-built.

Conclusion

Figuring out “what template is this WordPress” can be both fun and practical. With the strategies outlined above—manual inspection, theme detector tools, and awareness of customizations—you can uncover the foundations of most WordPress sites. Whether you want to emulate a design you love, understand the technology behind the site, or get ideas for your next project, a little detective work can go a long way. Always respect copyrights and choose reputable sources for your themes and plugins, and you’ll be well on your way to crafting a website that’s both beautiful and unique.

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