Software Engineering in WordPress, PHP, and Backend Development
Personal opinions and how-to’s that I’ve written both here and as contributions to other blogs.
When you need to update user profiles with code in WordPress, there are two hooks available:
And there’s a subtle difference between the two. If you don’t use the proper hook for the task at hand, then you may not end up with the result you’re expecting.
The idea for this post is coming based on some work I’ve done on a recent project, and I thought it’d be worth sharing how the two hooks work and when one is preferable over the other (or when you may want to use both).
If you’re looking to get started with WordPress, whether or not you’re a new user or someone who’s looking to start building things with WordPress, then there’s a lot of information to cover.
Some of this include understanding the ins-and-outs of themes and plugins, and it also includes getting a deep understanding of everything that comprises WordPress.
There’s no doubt: It’s a lot.
Some people already have a little bit of experience when it comes to the topics mentioned above, but not everyone does. And if you’re looking to learn that information, then you often have to pay for a course or a membership to a site.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but what if you’re looking for a primer on this information?
When it comes to what it means to learn WordPress, and depending on who you talk to, you’re going to find one of two answers:
You know what’s true about both of those statements? They are both true but they are only true within the context of the implied assumptions they make. And if you’re new to WordPress and you make the wrong assumption, then you’re going to feel as if you’re at a loss.
So here’s my take on if it’s really is easy to learn WordPress (or not).
Originally, I was going to title this post “changing the vernacular of WordPress” but I didn’t think that was as clear as just saying “how we talk about WordPress influences how others perceive it.”
The bottom line of what I’m trying to say, though, is that we use the word “WordPress” to mean something different depending on the context in which we’re speaking.
And I’m sure you can come up with much better examples than I have.
Anyway, though it works for those of us who are using the platform, it doesn’t necessarily clarify what we’re talking about to outsiders.
“Clean up WordPress” is a phrase that those of us involved in WordPress hear a lot. It’s misleading though because if you’re a developer, it might mean one thing. If you’re a user, then it likely means another thing.
But without any more context, you can still ask: Clean up WordPress? In what way?
And so on. You see what I’m saying, though? It’s a particular point of discussion, but your experience may vary depending on how you use WordPress.
Though I try not to talk about content from other blogs on my blog, sometimes an article and/or a comment brings up a point that strikes a chord with me. So I feel inclined to do so.
Kinsta offers premium managed WordPress hosting for everyone, small or large. Powered by Google Platform and strengthened by Cloudflare, they take performance to the next level. All hosting plans include 24/7/365 support from their team of WordPress engineers. Get started with a free migration today.
If you are looking for WordPress guides and unbiased reviews, I recommend checking out WPKube. They also have an exclusive deals section.
© 2025 Tom McFarlin
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑