Automatic updates

Automatic updates keep WordPress ✕ WordPress is the world's most-used content management system, letting you build and manage websites and blogs without coding skills. More in the glossary → , themes and plugins current by themselves when a new version appears, without waiting for you to do it manually. Their big advantage is security: many attacks exploit ✕ An exploit is code that specifically takes advantage of a security flaw to break into a system or plant malware. More in the glossary → flaws already fixed in outdated software, so installing patches on time closes that door. The risk is that an update breaks compatibility with another component, which is why it is best to pair them with backups and, where possible, a staging environment ✕ A staging environment is a private test copy of your site, separate from the public version. There you rehearse changes safely before publishing them. More in the glossary → . Managed WordPress ✕ Managed WordPress is hosting where the provider handles the technology, updates, security, and backups for WordPress. You only deal with the content. More in the glossary → hosting ✕ Web hosting is renting space on a server so your website is reachable around the clock. The host takes care of the technology, security, and availability. More in the glossary → usually handles all of this for you, testing and applying updates with a safety net. That keeps your site secure with minimal effort. Which providers automate it best is covered in the best WordPress hosting comparison.