Headless WordPress is my preferred method for using WordPress, largely due to the speed of the frontend systems I select. In the past, I’ve worked with GatsbyJS and NextJS. Currently, I utilize FaustJS, which is built upon the NextJS framework, which in turn is built with React. While this might sound complex, the result is a powerful and efficient setup. When considering a headless system, you’ll inevitably need to evaluate headless managed WordPress hosting options, as the separation of the frontend and backend necessitates distinct hosting solutions for each.
Backend Hosting for Headless WordPress
For my WordPress backend, a crucial component of headless managed WordPress hosting, I rely on Amazon Web Services. While AWS has a steeper learning curve, its robust environment suits my comfort level. I often use command-line tools like Terminal.app (though I prefer iTerm2.app) to manage files on the server. Although my AWS setup supports FTP clients like Transmit, I haven’t integrated that into my workflow and likely won’t. The key takeaway is that when implementing headless managed WordPress hosting, your WordPress instance can reside on virtually any hosting platform, provided your frontend can access its data via an API.
WordPress offers a built-in API called the WP REST API. This API readily exposes a significant portion of your data. While you might occasionally need custom code to access all your specific data, the WordPress plugin repository usually contains solutions for common requirements.
FaustJS, however, leans towards a different API architecture. The WP REST API can deliver more data than your frontend might actually need. GraphQL, and specifically WP GraphQL, offers a more efficient approach by providing precisely the data you request, in the exact structure you specify. This targeted data retrieval is a significant advantage when considering different APIs for your headless managed WordPress hosting setup.
Ultimately, the choice of API isn’t the most critical factor. Whether you opt for WP REST API or WP GraphQL, as long as your frontend can effectively retrieve the necessary data, your headless managed WordPress hosting setup will function. Personally, I prefer GraphQL for its efficiency.
Frontend Hosting for Headless WordPress
For the frontend of this particular website, an integral part of headless managed WordPress hosting, I’ve chosen Netlify. I appreciate Netlify’s built-in build tools. When I push code changes to my repository, Netlify automatically detects these changes, pulls them in, builds the code, and deploys the updated frontend with remarkable speed.
I receive notifications not only when everything works seamlessly but, more importantly, when issues arise. Netlify provides an additional layer of protection against problematic code. If any step in the build and deployment process encounters an error, the entire system halts and alerts me for review. This robust error detection is a key reason why I favor Netlify for my headless managed WordPress hosting frontend.
Summary
Headless WordPress involves using a separate frontend and backend, requiring distinct hosting solutions. For the backend, which runs the WordPress instance, any hosting platform capable of API data access can be used. Amazon Web Services is one preferred option due to its robust environment. WordPress offers the WP REST API, but WP GraphQL is favored for more efficient, targeted data retrieval. For the frontend, Netlify is highlighted for its build tools and automated deployment with error detection. Overall, the key to headless managed WordPress hosting is ensuring the frontend can access the backend’s data through an API, with choices like AWS, WP GraphQL, and Netlify offering distinct advantages.