Welcome to the CodeTrappers blog! In this post, we’ll be discussing the step-by-step process for properly testing your WordPress website before updating it.

1. Create a staging environment: Before making any changes to your live website, it’s important to create a staging environment where you can test your updates. This will allow you to make sure everything is working properly before pushing the changes to your live site. There are a few different ways you can create a staging environment, including using a staging plugin or creating a separate subdomain.
2. Backup your website: Before making any changes, it’s essential to create a backup of your website. This will allow you to easily restore your site if something goes wrong during the update process. There are several WordPress plugins available for backing up your site, or you can use a service like CodeGuard to automate the process.
3. Test the update on a local copy of your website: Once you have your staging environment set up, the next step is to test the update on a local copy of your website. This will allow you to test the update in a controlled environment without affecting your live site. You can use a tool like Local by Flywheel to easily create a local copy of your website.
4. Update any custom code or plugins: If you have any custom code or plugins on your website, it’s important to make sure they are compatible with the update before proceeding. This may require testing the update on a local copy of your website and making any necessary changes.
5. Test the update on your staging environment: Once you’ve tested the update on a local copy of your website and made any necessary changes, it’s time to test the update on your staging environment. This will allow you to see how the update will affect your live site and make any necessary adjustments before pushing the changes to your live site.
6. Push the update to your live site: If everything is working properly on your staging environment, it’s time to push the update to your live site. It’s important to do this during a time when traffic to your site is low to minimize any disruptions.
7. Monitor your website after the update: After pushing the update to your live site, it’s important to monitor your website for any issues. This can include checking for any broken links or problems with your site’s functionality.

By following these steps and using the right tools and scripts, you can ensure that your WordPress website is properly tested before updating it. This will help to minimize any disruptions and ensure that your website is always running smoothly.

Thanks for reading! We hope this post has been helpful in explaining the step-by-step process for properly testing your WordPress website before updating it. If you have any questions or would like more information, don’t hesitate to contact the CodeTrappers team.