Types of updates
Before delving into the importance and why it is necessary and recommended to carry out updates, let’s try to clarify immediately which are the main update categories:
- core update;
- plugin update;
- theme update.
Core update
The first is the core update: it includes all those elements that are part of the CMS (Content Management System) and that allow your website to function properly.
Obviously the updates are not all the same: we are talking about minor releases and major releases. With the first term we mean those that bring small changes and that do not overwhelm the structure of the CMS / site; the latter are the most challenging and lead to major changes. If we take WordPress into consideration, when we talk about minor realeases we have, for example, the transition from version 5.9.2 to 5.9.3; in the major release, on the other hand, we pass from 5.9.3 to 6.0. In this second case, the update presents certainly more important changes than in the previous case.
Plug-in Update
Plug-ins are programs that allow you to add functionality to your website. Obviously it is important to know their features and understand which ones are actually useful for your website and which ones we can do without. Plugins tend to allow us to introduce a variety of functions, such as: creating customizable contact forms, creating innovative publications, customizing and modifying the login URL and much more.
If on the one hand they seem to solve many problems, on the other hand it is good to remember that each plugin brings with it elements to add to the site and consequently, too many programs could burden your site or could lead to page display bugs. (this can happen for example if they are no longer compatible with your WordPress version).
You must therefore be careful what you decide to install on your CMS and keep them constantly updated so as not to run into further problems.
Theme update
Last but not least is also the update of the theme installed on your website. Also in this case, it is good to make the required updates to ensure that the site always remains functional and, on the graphics side, continues to maintain a modern layout.
The advice we give you is to constantly update these three elements, in order to keep your website safe and always in step with the evolution of the digital world.
Each update, in fact, involves improvements and corrections of any bugs present in previous versions.
Why update your site?
As you may have understood by now, updating your CMS, plugin and theme is very important.
But why?
Let’s try to explain point by point what the main reasons are. These updates lead to benefits.
- They keep the site stable : the moment I stop updating my site, this could lead to display problems in the long run. It may happen that some plugins or the same theme used to create your website is no longer compatible with the version of your CMS.
This could generate problems of any nature: in the best of cases, some elements no longer work correctly, but it is also possible that the site is no longer supported and, when you land on the pages of the site, error writings may appear. . - Keep the site secure – this is essential. The most widespread CMSs are in fact those that are exposed to the greatest security risks. Precisely because more used by people, it is easier to carry out attacks, affecting a greater number of users. For this reason, if you don’t update your CMS, you are keeping your system exposed to possible attacks.
- They allow you to implement new features and functionalities.
- Leads to speed and performance improvements of your website.
How often should you update?
As mentioned before, sites built with CMS such as WordPress, Prestashop, Joomla and so on require more maintenance than those designed directly by the developer through code.
Obviously the amount of updates to be made varies according to the CMS used: WordPress, being the software best known and used by the population, will release a greater number of updates than other CMSs.
Being the most widespread management software, it is also the CMS with the greatest security and vulnerability risks. A CMS, however well developed, will never be perfect and in line with digital evolution; precisely for this reason, after a few weeks or even days it is possible to find updates to be made.
Obviously there is no precise answer to this question, but the advice we can give you is to constantly check your site both from fronted and backend in order to always check its correct functioning and make the updates required by your CMS / plugin / theme.
Before updating, it is preferable to always make a backup: in this way, if the update leads to problems, you can restore the previous version.
Not sure how to keep it updated?
Don’t have time to devote to your website or are you afraid of blowing everything up? No problem!
BASE315 is committed to keeping your website or e-commerce always up to date.
We take care to carry out periodic checks to verify that everything is in order and to update the website as long as possible.
All these interventions are part of the annual maintenance, an activity that we carry out annually without you noticing anything. You can learn more about this topic at following page .
