The WordPress Dashboard

The Dashboard and Navigation Menu are your main tools for creating and managing your site content. This is also referred to as the “back end” of the website.


The Dashboard

The Dashboard (light grey area) is a simple at-a-glance style area that gives you a general overview of your site. This area is customized by clicking on the Screen Options tab in the upper left corner of the site, just below your name. By clicking on a check box, you are able to toggle each feature on and off. If you aren’t happy with the order in which these dashboard items have appeared, you can drag and drop them into the placement you prefer. There is no need to save your settings because WordPress will automatically save any changes you make as you make them.

Dashboard-nav-settings

The Dashboard is home to “widgets” that help to provide you with easy access to tools and information about your site. Links to more information on specific widgets is found below:


The Navigation Menu

The Navigation Menu (referred to as the Dashboard Navigation Menu) is the list of navigation items to the left of the Dashboard (black area) and your main method of navigating through the back end of your site.