If you know how to blog, maybe you know what is WordPress. And, what’s WordPress actually?

WordPress is a very popular open source Content Management Software (CMS), often used as a blog publishing application powered by PHP and MySQL, currently it’s powering more than 8.5% of all websites on the net.

In 2003, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Litte fork the blogging software b2 to create WordPress with 0.7 version. Years later, WordPress launched its versions with a lot of interface revolutions until 2010, version 3 came out. Nowadays, WordPress.com had passed 11 million users.

Don’t get confused with WordPress.com and WordPress.org. There are not the same. Just like BlogSpot (blogger.com), beginners can try out the free blogging service-WordPress.com that use the software named WordPress first.

Once you have get familiar with it, you can try to download WordPress from WordPress.org to install it at the host of your choice.

WordPress uses plugins, therefore users can use these free plugins to support their blogs. Thoundsands of plugins are available, and the most popular one is Hello Dolly and Akismet. The Akismer helps bloggers to catch spams automatically in the blog comments. Some others top downloaded plugins for bloggers are:

• All In One SEO Pack
• Google XML Sitemaps
• Contact Form 7
• Nextgen Gallery
• WordPress.com Stats
• WPTouch IPhone Theme
• Google Analyticator

One more reason why many people love to use WordPress is because there are many free, elegant, and beautiful themes available either from WordPress directory or from the Internet.

The most popular themes are Arras Themes, TwentyTen, LightWord, Thematic, Constructor, and Pixel. Easy customizable, setups, auto schedule backups, one button upgrades, and with security features for webmasters.

WordPress is also used by many top ranking websites like TechCrunch, BlackBerry, National Geographic, Forbes, etc.

What’s more? Have a look at the infographic designed by Joshua Strebel of Page.ly WordPress Hosting below.