Is it advisable for me to make modifications to my Wordpress theme on my own?

After using the w3 validator to check the validity of my free WP theme from the WordPress marketplace, I found some warnings that I need to address.

With a background in HTML and CSS, I noticed warnings such as "The header element does not need a role attribute" and "the complementary role is unnecessary for element aside.

My goal is to eliminate these attributes and correct the warnings, but I'm unsure if I am permitted to edit a free theme. Should I make these changes?

Answer №1

Understanding the concept of child themes is essential in order to maintain the ability to update your current theme while making modifications.

Answer №2

The W3 validator may not always flag critical errors as it checks against the HTML5 standard. It is possible for code that fails the validation to still work properly in most browsers. Exercise caution when making edits to your WordPress theme, and only do so if you understand what you are changing and have a genuine concern that any errors or warnings reported by the validator are affecting the functionality of the theme.

Answer №3

I agree with the previous responses. It's important to test your website in various browsers, but minor errors may not be a cause for concern, especially for smaller sites.

When it comes to editing themes, creating a child theme is often recommended. This allows you to make changes without altering the original code and makes updating the parent theme easier.

The Wordpress Codex is a helpful resource for creating child themes: https://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes

There are also many tutorials available online to guide you through the process.

If you're interested in delving into theme development, there are starter themes designed for customization. However, a solid understanding of HTML/CSS and PHP syntax is recommended before attempting to develop your own theme.

Here are a couple of starter themes that I recommend:

  • underscores.me
  • Shoestrap (includes Bootstrap integration)

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