Professional WordPress® Plugin Development

Chapter 15. Multisite

WHAT'S IN THIS CHAPTER?

• Using Multisite versus standard WordPress

• Understanding Multisite terminology

• Exploring common Multisite functions

• Switching between sites in a network

• Managing how to aggregate content across sites

• Working with network and site options

• Understanding users and site roles

• Determining database schema differences

• Installing and configuring Multisite

WordPress Multisite, formerly WordPress MU or Multiuser, is a powerful feature included in WordPress. Multisite enables you to create multiple sites with a single install of WordPress. This makes it easy for anyone running WordPress to create and administer a network of sites. This network can enable open user and site registration, or be a closed network where only administrators can create new sites and users.

Each site in your Multisite network can also run separate plugins, offer different themes, store unique content, and have a completely separate user base. It doesn't take much to realize how powerful Multisite is in WordPress. Because of this, as a plugin developer you need to understand what features are available when working with Multisite in WordPress.

DIFFERENCES

WordPress Multisite is included in every install of WordPress since version 3.0. Multisite, however, is not enabled by default. There are some key differences between standard WordPress and Multisite, so you need to understand those differences when developing plugins for WordPress.

WordPress Versus Multisite Network

By default when you ...