Add a PHP page to WordPress

Overview

WordPress runs on PHP but discourages arbitrary scripts in the web root. Custom functionality belongs in themes or plugins using hooks and templates.

Page templates let editors assign layouts per page in the admin.

Implementation

Create page-custom.php with Template Name header. Add /* Template Name: Custom Report */ at top. Select it in Page attributes. Load WordPress with require 'wp-load.php' only for standalone legacy scripts outside theme.

Enqueue scripts with wp_enqueue_script.

When implementing guidance from Add a PHP page to WordPress, start in a controlled environment that mirrors production versions of operating systems, runtimes, and network policies. Capture a baseline before changes: export configs, snapshot VMs, or tag releases in source control so rollback stays straightforward if behavior regresses.

Document prerequisites, expected outcomes, and verification steps in a short runbook. Automated checks—smoke tests, health endpoints, or query validations—catch regressions early when platforms receive patches. Security belongs in every workflow: apply least privilege, rotate secrets, and review audit logs after deployment.

If results differ across machines, compare environment variables, permission models, time zones, and regional settings. Intermittent issues often trace to caching layers, stale DNS, or duplicated services bound to the same port.

Example