View source for Getting Started with Joomla!

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<noinclude>{{Joomla version|version=4.x}}</noinclude>
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==Introduction== <!--T:2-->
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Joomla! is one of the most popular, free and open-source content management systems (CMS) available for publishing web content. It is user friendly, extendable, multilingual, accessible, responsive, search engine optimised and so much more. '''Joomla! 4''' is the current version, released in August 2021. 
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Joomla! must be installed on a web server, either on your own computer for private testing purposes or a hosting service to make your content available to the rest of the world.

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==Understanding Joomla!== <!--T:13-->
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If you're having trouble visualizing how Joomla! works, it might be useful for you to think of Joomla! as an Operating System (OS), like Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS or Linux.</translate>

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The most important similarity is that both your OS and Joomla! are not really intended for direct use. You need to install applications onto your OS (and extensions for Joomla!) to be able to actually do something useful with your computer (and your web site). Just like your OS, Joomla! comes with enough ''core'' extensions to allow you to create a fully functional web site.</translate>

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Further similarities and differences can be found in the following table.</translate>
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===Comparison Table=== <!--T:17-->
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{| class="wikitable"
! <translate><!--T:19-->
Joomla! concept</translate>
! <translate><!--T:20-->
Operating System concept</translate>
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| [[S:MyLanguage/Extension|<translate><!--T:21-->
Extension</translate>]] ||  <translate><!--T:22-->
Added Application (e.g. Word, Chrome, Music Player, Photoshop)</translate>
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| <translate><!--T:23-->
Core extensions</translate> || <translate><!--T:24-->
Built-in applications (e.g. Start button, Screen Saver, File Search)</translate> 
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| <translate><!--T:25-->
Database</translate> || <translate><!--T:26-->
File system (one type of Files)</translate>
|-
| <translate><!--T:27-->
File system</translate> || <translate><!--T:28-->
File system (another type of Files)</translate>
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| <translate><!--T:29-->
Viewing a page</translate> || <translate><!--T:30-->
Using an application (Added or Built-in)</translate>
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| <translate><!--T:31-->
Updating Joomla!</translate> || <translate><!--T:32-->
Installing updates for your OS (Security patches and bug fixes)</translate>
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Migrating between Joomla! versions</translate> || <translate><!--T:34-->
Installing a new version of your OS, for example moving from MS Windows 7 to MS Windows 10.</translate>
|}
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== What You Will Need == <!--T:35-->
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=== A Hosting Environment ===</translate>
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* '''On your own laptop or desktop.''' Install a WAMP or XAMP or LAMP stack. This looks daunting but is usually very easy and may be installed already along with your operating system. The W stands for Windows, the X for Mac OS X and L for Linux, your OS software; the A stands for Apache, the web server software; the M stands for MySQL (or MariaDB), the database software; the P for PHP, a widely use web scripting language. You should also install phpMyAdmin to create a Database and Database User. </translate>
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** Check whether your OS provides the appropriate stack. If it does, check that it is installed or install it. If not, search the web for a download site. All of this software is free! You should not need to pay or provide any personal details. 
** If stuck, try [https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html XAMPP] which is a free pacakge used to install and manage all of the required components, except Joomla. It works on all platforms. WAMP is restricted to Windows.</translate>
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* '''On a Hosting Service.''' Almost all will provide the necessary environment. However, the cheapest may have over-restrictive php.ini settings so it is best to check the recommended settings in the Installing Joomla tutorial with what a proposed hosting service provides.</translate>
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===An Installed Copy of Joomla!=== <!--T:36-->
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This is described in more details in the Installing Joomla! tutorial.</translate>
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* '''Download''' the latest version of Joomla to your local computer from the [https://www.joomla.org Joomla] site. </translate>
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* '''Move or copy''' it to the root of your web site, uncompress it and give the folder a short name. </translate>
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* '''Install''' Joomla!.
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**Installing with Sample Data allows you to to explore a Joomla! site before you have created one for your own content. </translate>
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====Alternatives==== <!--T:41-->
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* '''Use a Demo Installation'''. Many hosting services or script installer sites offer 'demo' versions of a Joomla! installation. You will at least be able to make changes, but they will not be permanent. 'Demo installations' are reset back to a 'fresh' installation state at regular intervals.</translate>
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* '''One-click Installation'''. Many hosting services offer a one-click installation of popular web site programs.</translate>
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== Getting Started Tutorials == <!--T:44-->
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* [[J4.x:Installing_Joomla|Installing Joomla]]
* [[J4.x:Logging_in_to_Joomla|Logging in to Joomla]]
* [[J4.x:Articles_and_categories|Articles and Categories]]
* [[J4.x:Getting_Started:_Adding_an_Article|Adding an Article]]
* [[J4.x:Getting_Started:_Adding_a_Category|Adding a Category]]
* [[J4.x:Getting_Started:_Adding_a_Menu_Item|Adding a Menu Item]]
* [[J4.x:Getting_Started:_Adding_a_Module|Adding a Module]]
* [[J4.x:Getting_Started:_Site_and_Administrator_templates|Site and Administrator Templates]]
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===Summing it all up=== <!--T:65-->
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*Articles are the main type of web site content.</translate> 
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*Categories create an organisational hierarchy to control web site content.</translate> 
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*Menus provide a navigational method to use or browse the web site content (pages).</translate>
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*Modules provide a means to combine web site content (Articles) with other information.</translate>
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*Templates control the look of a Joomla! web site.</translate> 

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[[Category:Beginners{{#translation:}}]]
[[Category:Joomla!_4.x{{#translation:}}]]
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