The Developer’s Guide to Debugging WordPress Like a Pro
WordPress is a beast—powerful, flexible, but sometimes a nightmare to debug. A blank screen or a cryptic error can derail your day, but with the right approach, you can squash bugs like a seasoned pro. Here’s how to tackle WordPress debugging head-on.
1. Enable Debug Mode
Start by flipping the switch on WordPress’s built-in debugger. In your wp-config.php file, add:
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);This logs errors to wp-content/debug.log without scaring your visitors.
2. Check the Logs
Found a “500 Internal Server Error”? Open that debug log. Look for clues—like a plugin throwing a fatal error or a theme missing a file. Real example: Call to undefined function often means a plugin’s outdated.
3. Use Query Monitor
Install the Query Monitor plugin to see what’s slowing your site. It tracks database queries, hooks, and PHP errors in real time. Spot a query taking 2 seconds? Optimize it or ditch the culprit plugin.
4. Deactivate and Test
Suspect a plugin clash? Deactivate all plugins via the dashboard (or rename the plugins folder via FTP). Reactivate them one-by-one until the issue reappears. Tedious? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
5. Leverage Browser Tools
Hit F12 in Chrome to open Developer Tools. The “Console” tab reveals JavaScript errors, while “Network” shows failed resource loads. A missing CSS file once cost me hours—don’t let it happen to you.
Debugging isn’t glamorous, but it’s a skill that separates amateurs from experts. Master these tricks, and you’ll fix WordPress woes faster than you can say “update failed.”
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