Understanding the layer.
WHAT IT CONTROLS
How your content is displayed Layout and structure Typography and colour
Which areas exist: headers, sidebars, footers
WHAT IT DOES NOT CONTROL
Your content, which lives in the database Your plugins and their functionality
WHY THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS
Changing theme changes appearance, not content.
In principle. In practice, themes that store content in their own way make switching difficult.
WHAT A THEME INCLUDES
Templates for each kind of page Styles Sometimes bundled plugins and features
THE BUNDLED FEATURES PROBLEM
A theme providing functionality means that functionality disappears if you change theme.
Functionality belongs in plugins. Appearance belongs in themes.
Many commercial themes ignore this.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
A theme that displays your content well and does not own it.
