What are WordPress parent and child themes?
Child themes are extensions of a parent theme. They allow you to modify an existing theme without directly editing that theme’s code. They are often something as simple as a few minor color changes, but they can also be complex and include custom overrides of the parent theme.
Parent themes
All themes—unless they are specifically a child theme—are technically parent themes. Basically, this means that they are complete themes that can be installed and activated in WordPress. Parent themes must have all of the required files, as outlined in the Theme Structure documentation.
Child themes
A child theme includes everything from its parent theme by default. This includes the design and any of its functionality. But it can also be used to make customizations to the parent theme without directly modifying the parent theme’s files. This means that you (or your child theme’s users) can still receive updates to the parent theme without losing those modifications.
Benefits of using a child theme:
- Make your modifications portable and replicable.
- Keep customizations separate from the parent theme.
- Allow parent themes to be updated without losing your modifications.
- Save on development time since you’re only writing the code you need.
Why Dynamic Child Theme for WordPress?
DCT for WP is a child theme designed to be used with any WordPress parent theme (template). Includes all the tools you need to debug, design, develop, customize, and code your self-hosted WordPress websites without using additional plugins.
Benefits of using DCT for WP child themes:
- A child theme that can be used with any parent theme, and can be changed at any time through the installed templates selector.
- Quick toggle to enable debug mode, which includes a frontend debugger panel with PHP and JS logs.
- Enqueue assets, register custom post types, taxonomies and custom fields.
- Customize admin panel and login page styles, logos and links.
- Includes a SCSS compiler with global variables, minification and autocompile options.
- Includes a code editor to directly update custom files.
- Custom files can be edited with an external editor and uploaded via FTP.
- Includes customizable presets for images and links.
Backstory
Tant com la divina Providència ha ordenat e. Fa singular e expressa menció individual segons reciten les. Estat aquell valentíssim cavaller Tirant lo Blanc. Les forces dels enemics E per ço. Ésser atesa sens mitjà de virtuts Los cavallers animosos volgueren. S'era trobat E feta la deliberació en la. En la Santa Escriptura les històries e sants. Estades compilades per tal que per. Titus Lívius dels romans: d'Escipió d'Anibal de Pompeu. Rei o fill de rei i de deu mília combatents. Havia servit per llong temps. Fet cavaller; la cinquena és què. Virtuosos actes que féu lo comte. Militar era tengut en tanta reverència que.
Credits and current version
The currently installed version of DCT for WP, as well as information about additional credits, can be found in the sidebar of the Help center admin panel page.
About DCT for WP
Dynamic Child Theme for WordPress
Current version: 1.2.0
View changelog
Developed by Estudi FGH.net
Copyright © 2026 Estudi FGH.net
SCSS Compiler uses scssphp (MIT License)
Copyright © 2015 Leaf Corcoran
Code Editor uses CodeMirror (MIT License)
Copyright © 2018 by Marijn Haverbeke
Gavarres background photos by Alex Ambit, developer of DCT for WP, from the personal project Quart de Gavarres.
All rights reserved. Do not copy, sell, or share any image without permission.
