What Web Developers Can Learn from AI About WordPress

Bywiredgorilla

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable tool for accomplishing tasks. The WordPress community is already leveraging it to write and debug code. Meanwhile, the WordPress project is working on making AI integrations more accessible for everyone.

This progress is exciting. However, we might be overlooking other potential uses. AI can do more than just handle routine tasks; it can also be a resource for learning more about WordPress and related technologies.

Human expertise is still important, and AI’s effectiveness depends on the user. So, why not maximize our learning? This technology could be a treasure trove of information, enhancing our project outcomes and helping us develop better processes.

So, what can AI teach us about WordPress? Let’s explore!

Explain What a Function or Code Snippet Does

Understanding code snippets can be challenging, especially if you’re not familiar with them. For instance, you might inherit a website with a custom plugin or theme template. Additionally, you might not remember the purpose of something you wrote years ago.

WordPress includes hundreds of hooks, filters, and functions, some with better documentation than others, which can still be hard to understand.

AI can quickly help you identify what a code snippet does. By pasting it into your preferred Large Language Model (LLM), you’ll get a detailed explanation. You can even ask follow-up questions for more clarity on specific lines.

Here’s a simple example using a snippet commonly found in theme templates and plugins. We’ll ask ChatGPT for details.

"What does the following code snippet do?"
if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
  exit;
}

ChatGPT provided a breakdown of the code’s functionality.

This snippet is a standard security measure used in WordPress PHP files, especially in plugins and themes.

What it does
It prevents the PHP file from being accessed directly via the browser.

How it works
1. ABSPATH

  • ABSPATH is a constant defined by WordPress in wp-config.php during the normal WordPress bootstrap process.
  • It contains the absolute filesystem path to the WordPress installation.

2. defined( ‘ABSPATH’ ) check

  • The code checks whether WordPress has already been loaded.
  • If WordPress is running normally, ABSPATH will exist.

3. Direct access scenario
If someone tries to access the file directly in a browser, e.g.:
https://example.com/wp-content/plugins/my-plugin/my-file.php

WordPress has not been loaded, so:
defined(‘ABSPATH’) === false

4. exit;
Because the constant isn’t defined, the script immediately stops executing.

Why this matters
Without this check:
-Someone could directly run the PHP file.
-Internal functions might run outside the WordPress environment.
-It could expose sensitive data, database queries, or admin functionality.

ChatGPT’s response was even more detailed than what’s shown above. It also included information on where the snippet is typically found and advice on security best practices.

This information is valuable. We now understand the purpose of our snippet and have a step-by-step explanation of its function.

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