Modern themes and page builders like Elementor offer robust template customization options, reducing the need for traditional child themes in many cases. However, there are still scenarios where a child theme might be necessary or preferable. In this article, I discussed Child Themes vs. Page Builders: Their advantages, Their differences and My take on this subject matter.
Are Child Themes still necessary?
1. Performance Considerations
Streamlined Code: Customizing via a child theme allows you to create more streamlined and efficient code compared to page builders, which often add additional layers of abstraction that can slow down a site. I highly recommend using the Astra theme with its child theme generator.
2. Total Control Over the Theme
Full Template Overrides: Some developers prefer the fine-grained control a child theme offers. For instance, if you need to heavily modify the layout or logic in a file like single.php or archive.php, doing so in a child theme is often cleaner and more maintainable than working within a page builder’s limitations.
3. Complex Theme Integrations
Third-Party Integrations: If your site requires complex integrations with third-party services or custom PHP code that needs to be tightly coupled with your theme’s structure, a child theme offers the necessary flexibility.
4. Consistency Across Projects
Development Standards: For developers working on multiple projects, using child themes can provide a consistent approach to customizations, making it easier to manage and maintain across different sites.
What are the disadvantages in using Child Themes vs. Page Builders?
While child themes offer numerous benefits, they also come with some potential downsides. Here are the cons of using a child theme:
1. Complexity for Beginners
Learning Curve: Creating and managing a child theme requires some understanding of HTML, CSS, PHP, and WordPress structure. This can be challenging for beginners who may not be familiar with coding.
2. Maintenance Requirements
Ongoing Updates: As WordPress and the parent theme receive updates, your child theme might require adjustments to stay compatible. This can lead to additional maintenance work, especially if the parent theme undergoes significant changes.
3. Dependency on Parent Theme
Limited by Parent Theme: A child theme inherits all the functionality and design of the parent theme. If the parent theme is poorly coded or lacks flexibility, you might find it difficult to achieve your desired customizations without extensive modifications.
4. Potential for Conflicts
Compatibility Issues: If the parent theme is updated and includes changes that conflict with your child theme’s customizations, it can break your site. Resolving these conflicts might require significant troubleshooting and adjustments.
5. Increased Complexity in Debugging
Harder to Troubleshoot: When issues arise, it can be more difficult to diagnose problems since you need to consider both the parent and child theme files. This added layer of complexity can make debugging more time-consuming.
6. Slower Site Performance
Additional Files to Load: Although generally minimal, using a child theme adds extra files that WordPress needs to load. This can lead to slightly slower performance compared to a single, well-optimized theme.
7. Lack of Visual Editing
No Visual Interface: Unlike modern page builders, which provide a visual interface for customization, child themes require manual coding. This can be a drawback for users who prefer or need a more visual approach to site design and customization.
8. Limited Support from Theme Developers
Support Challenges: If you’re heavily customizing a theme via a child theme, you might find that the theme developer’s support is limited or unavailable for your specific modifications. This can leave you on your own when troubleshooting issues or implementing new features.
Should I use Page Builders then to customize my website?
Page builders have become a popular choice for many WordPress users and developers due to their ease of use and flexibility. Here are the key advantages of using page builders:
1. User-Friendly Interface
Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Page builders typically offer a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for users to create complex layouts without needing to write code. This visual approach is intuitive and accessible, even for beginners.
2. Real-Time Editing
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get): Page builders allow you to see changes in real-time as you edit your pages. This immediate feedback helps you design more efficiently and ensures that what you see in the editor matches what appears on the live site.
3. Pre-Built Templates and Blocks
Ready-Made Layouts: Most page builders come with a variety of pre-built templates and content blocks, such as headers, footers, galleries, and call-to-action buttons. These templates can be customized to fit your needs, saving time and effort.
4. Flexibility and Customization
Design Freedom: Page builders provide extensive customization options for individual elements, such as colors, fonts, spacing, and animations. This allows you to create unique and personalized designs without relying on a theme’s default settings.
5. Compatibility with Themes
Works with Most Themes: Page builders are designed to work with almost any WordPress theme, giving you the flexibility to switch themes without losing your custom layouts. This compatibility makes them a versatile choice for various projects.
6. Responsive Design
Mobile-Friendly Layouts: Many page builders include responsive design options, allowing you to easily adjust how your site looks on different devices. This ensures that your site is optimized for mobile, tablet, and desktop users.
7. Speed and Efficiency
Faster Development: With the ability to create and customize layouts quickly, page builders can significantly speed up the development process. This is especially beneficial for users who need to build websites quickly or manage multiple projects.
8. No Coding Required
Code-Free Customization: Page builders enable users to create sophisticated designs and layouts without needing to know HTML, CSS, or PHP. This democratizes web design, making it accessible to non-developers.
9. Integration with Other Plugins
Extensive Plugin Support: Many page builders are designed to work seamlessly with other popular WordPress plugins, such as WooCommerce, Yoast SEO, and contact form plugins. This integration enhances the functionality of your site without requiring additional coding.
10. Reusable Elements
Save and Reuse Designs: Page builders often allow you to save custom elements, sections, or entire pages as templates that can be reused across your site. This feature promotes consistency and saves time when building similar pages.
11. Built-In SEO Features
Optimized Content: Some page builders come with built-in SEO features or compatibility with SEO plugins, helping you optimize your content for search engines directly within the editor.
12. Regular Updates and Support
Active Development: Leading page builders are regularly updated with new features, bug fixes, and improvements. They also often come with extensive documentation, tutorials, and support to help you get the most out of the tool. So in terms of Child Themes vs. Page Builders, you may want to consider using the latter for more stable and updated code.
When to Use a Child Theme
- If you need custom functionality or design that isn’t possible with a page builder.
- If you are comfortable with coding and want to avoid the performance overhead of page builders.
- If you require long-term stability and minimal dependence on third-party tools.
When to Use a Page Builder
- If you prefer a visual, drag-and-drop interface for designing your site.
- If you need to create a website quickly without diving into code.
- If you want access to pre-designed templates and elements that can be customized easily.
My Personal Take on Child Themes vs. Page Builders
Over the years, I’ve been heavily reliant on child themes for fully customizing WordPress websites. This approach gave me complete control over every aspect of the site, which was invaluable for creating unique designs and functionalities. However, as time passed and I began working with a diverse range of clients, each with their own unique needs, I found myself gravitating towards more modern tools like page builders.
Page builders, such as Elementor and Beaver Builder, have proven to be incredibly useful. They offer a level of flexibility and straightforwardness that makes customization a breeze. I can now streamline the entire customization process, which is especially beneficial when clients want the ability to make their own tweaks. With the drag-and-drop features that these builders provide, clients no longer need a developer for every small change—they can handle it themselves. I support this by providing tutorials and videos to guide them through the process.
That said, when it comes to advanced customization, I’m still more than happy to step in. Despite the user-friendly nature of page builders, there are times when deeper customization is required, and I’m ready to help, even though these tools reduce the need for extensive coding knowledge.
In the past, I would rely on the child theme’s functions.php file for all my customizations. However, this often led to messy and disorganized code. Nowadays, I prefer using the Code Snippets plugin to keep my custom code clean and streamlined.
So, for now, I recommend using page builders every day, with the addition of code snippets when necessary. While child themes might seem like a thing of the past, I wouldn’t advise completely abandoning them—they still have their place, especially for those who require a higher level of customization.
