Child Themes

  • Resolved KJ82

    (@kj82)


    7 years, 10 months ago

    I don’t understand how the child themes are working. I’ve used the help documentation. I created one, but my question is…

    The point of a child theme is so that I can make changes to the files, and my changes won’t be deleted if I update with a new version of the theme.

    So I copy a file, like header.php to the child folder, and make my changes. Then if the theme author makes security changes to header.php, and I update… my changes won’t be deleted… But in this case, since it’s loading MY header.php file, instead of the newly fixed file, the security changes aren’t applied to my website.

    Because my header.php file, just overrides any changes that were made by the author’s update. So I would have to go into my header.php file and make the security changes myself. ?

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    Exactly right.

    Thread Starter KJ82

    (@kj82)

    OK so then, would it be better just to avoid using child themes, and just do my changes again after an update? Either way, I’m modifying the file, and I have no idea what the author might change.

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    No, a child theme is the way to go. It segregates your changes and CSS from the parent’s. And when the parent updates, you site won’t change. You must have to make a mental note to see what changed and determine if there were security implications.

    Thread Starter KJ82

    (@kj82)

    I didn’t know I could see what changed. I always just clicked the update button.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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