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What is a theme framework?

Frameworks are for theme developers. They offer a set of standards for theme developers to use in creating their own themes. They’re a set of functions/features created to aid development.

How Frameworks Work?

• Frameworks come packaged within a single folder.
• Developers drop the framework folder into a new parent theme and load the framework.
• Users create a child theme based on the parent theme to house their customizations, allowing both the framework and parent theme to be updated.

Some examples of such frameworks include:

• Carrington Core
• WPOnion Framework
• Gantry Framework
• Beans Theme Framework
• Options Framework
• SMOF
• Unyson
• UpThemes Framework
• WordSmith
• Cherry
• TypeRocket Framework

Commercial framework examples:

• Codestar Framework
• Genesis Framework

Functionality Included in Theme Frameworks

Some Theme Frameworks will include pre-defined code to facilitate further Theme development, such as:

• Custom functions to be used in the Theme
• Custom action hooks used in the Theme template
• Custom filter hooks used to output Theme content
• Theme options page integration
• Custom callbacks for core WordPress action and filter hooks
• Script library integration and functionality, e.g. jQuery sliders

Recommended reading

• Frameworks? Parent, child, and grandchild themes?
• How I used a WordPress Child Theme To Redesign My Blog The Smart Way
• Why I created a WordPress theme framework
• Parent/Child Themes in WordPress: The Future of WordPress Themes
• Theme Inheritance
• How to make a “child theme” for WordPress. A pictorial introduction for beginners