On most hosting Joomla is installed in automatic mode. You only need to pay the tariff (there are even offers optimized for the engine), connect the domain and select CMS in the catalog of available for installation applications.
The main features of the engine:
- Technical optimization under the requirements of search engines.
- Creating an unlimited number of pages.
- Pre-installed registration system with 9 user groups with different access rights.
- Visual editor for minor design changes and quick addition of new materials without entering the administrative panel
- Content manager, which helps to monitor how visitors react to the posted materials.
- The engine is equipped with several features that distinguish it from other free CMS: accelerated page loading, debugging mode and the ability to communicate with users in private conversations organized through a common email system. All this is basic functionality, which is noticeably expanded by installing plugins.
Modules that add new features are available for download from the official Joomla catalog or from third-party resources. You can also create them yourself – this is the advantage of the open source system. CMS configuration depends on what plugins you add. Completely without them is unlikely to do without them, because extensions perform a number of very important tasks:
- protect against unauthorized access and spam;
- allow you to create backups;
- help optimize the site to meet the requirements of search engines;
- improve site usability by adding useful widgets and applications.
Each plugin has a set of settings that are responsible for its functionality. This makes Joomla a very flexible system that can be used to create a variety of sites. If there are not enough features that offer ready-made solutions for the realization of the project, you can customize the system at a deeper level. Joomla is a PHP and JavaScript scripts. These are common programming languages, so there are no problems with finding specialists or training materials for self-training.
The engine has a high level of protection against hacking and unauthorized access. Developers regularly release updates, including those with new security tools. However, the weak point of the system remains extensions. It is impossible to control the quality of plugins downloaded from unknown sources. Therefore, it is recommended to use only add-ons from the official catalog and make sure that the developer does not abandon their support.
Design
The appearance of the site depends on what template you took and how you modified it. There are several options for choosing a design:
- Download free templates for Joomla;
- Buying premium themes;
- Self-created layout;
- Ordering the development of a customized solution.
The choice of method depends on what skills and budget you have. In most cases, for the first site is enough for the first option – free templates for Joomla. Favor, there are many offers, especially if you look on foreign sites.
In the administrative panel Joomla does not have a built-in library of templates. Therefore, your favorite theme must first be downloaded to your computer, and then uploaded to the server via “Install Extensions”. After adding the file, the new theme will appear in the “Template Manager” section, where you need to assign it the “Default” status.
