Root Files
wp-login.php
PurposeHandles authentication-related flows: login, logout, registration, password reset, and admin email confirmation.FlowLoads WordPress via wp-load.php and enforces SSL if required.Determines...
index.php
PurposeEntry point for front-end requests. It only defines WP_USE_THEMES and hands off execution to wp-blog-header.php.FlowDefines WP_USE_THEMES as true to signal...
Root Files
Entry point files in the WordPress root directory.Source: WordPress installation rootBootstrapFileDescriptionindex.php.mdFront controller entry pointwp-load.php.mdEnvironment loaderwp-blog-header.php.mdTemplate loaderwp-settings.php.mdCore initializationwp-config.php.mdSite configurationwp-config-sample.php.mdConfig templateAuthenticationFileDescriptionwp-login.php.mdLogin/logout handlingwp-signup.php.mdMultisite...
wp-activate.php
PurposeMultisite activation endpoint. Validates signup activation keys and completes user/site activation.FlowDefines WP_INSTALLING and loads WordPress + front-end header.Requires multisite; otherwise...
wp-blog-header.php
PurposeLoads the WordPress environment and runs the front-end request lifecycle (query + template).FlowEnsures it only runs once via $wp_did_header guard.Requires...
wp-load.php
PurposeBootstraps WordPress by defining ABSPATH and loading wp-config.php, which then loads wp-settings.php. If no config exists, it initiates the setup...
wp-mail.php
PurposeImplements Post by Email: pulls messages from a configured POP3 mailbox and turns them into posts.FlowLoads WordPress and checks enable_post_by_email_configuration...
wp-settings.php
PurposeCore bootstrap that initializes WordPress: loads core libraries, sets constants, configures DB/cache, loads plugins and themes, and fires the key...
wp-signup.php
PurposeMultisite signup handler for new users and/or new sites, including validation and form rendering.FlowLoads WordPress (wp-load.php) and front-end context (wp-blog-header.php).Ensures...
wp-trackback.php
PurposeHandles incoming trackbacks/pingbacks, validates data, and creates trackback comments.FlowLoads WordPress and runs wp( array( 'tb' => '1' ) ) when...
xmlrpc.php
PurposeXML-RPC endpoint for remote publishing and legacy APIs (MetaWeblog, Blogger, MovableType, etc.).FlowDefines XMLRPC_REQUEST and clears cookies.Reads raw POST body and...
wp-comments-post.php
PurposeProcesses comment submissions and prevents duplicate/invalid posts.FlowRequires a POST request; otherwise returns 405.Loads WordPress and disables cache headers.Calls wp_handle_comment_submission() to...