Published on June 17, 2023
In today's digital landscape, websites are the heart and soul of businesses. They define the online presence of a brand, offering users a first glimpse into what a company is all about. As a web developer, marketer, or tech enthusiast, you may have wondered, "how to tell what platform a website is built on?" This question can be critical when you're trying to replicate a website's functionality or looking for inspiration for your projects.
The first step in deciphering how to tell what platform a website is built on involves understanding that websites can be built on various platforms. These platforms could be content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, or e-commerce platformsSoftware solutions that allow businesses to create and manage online stores, such as Shopify, WooCom... like Shopify or Magento. Some sites may also be built from scratch using programming languages like JavaScript, PythonA high-level programming language widely used for data analysis and machine learning., or Ruby.
Browser inspection tools provide a handy method to identify the platform on which a website is built. Here's how you can do it:
Right-Click and Inspect: On any webpage, right-click and select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element." This will open the browser's Developer Tools pane, usually at the bottom or right side of your screen.
Check the HTML Code: The 'Elements' tab displays the page's HTML code. Look for platform-specific code, such as wp-content for WordPress, or sites/all for Drupal.
Remember, this method requires some level of familiarity with HTML and CSS and may not always provide accurate results.
If you want to save time, online tools such as BuiltWith, Wappalyzer, and WhatCMS can do the job for you. Just enter the website URL and these tools will provide comprehensive details about the website's underlying technology, including the platform it's built on.
Sometimes, a website's URL structure can offerThe specific product or service being promoted by affiliates. clues about the platform. For instance, if you see a URL with ?p= (a question mark followed by p and equal sign), it's likely a WordPress website. On the other hand, if you find /node/ in the URL, it suggests that the website is built on Drupal.
Many websites mention their platform in the footer. You'll often see "Powered by WordPress," "Proudly powered by Joomla," or similar statements. However, this isn't a surefire method as many websites choose not to disclose this information.
While these methods can identify many platforms, some custom-built websites or those that use less common platforms may not be identifiable.
Yes, it's legal and ethical, provided you're not using the information for malicious purposes.
Online tools like BuiltWith can often provide information about a website's hosting provider.
Understanding how to tell what platform a website is built on can give you a competitive edge, whether you're a web developer, digital marketer, or business owner. It helps you understand your competition better, improves your web development skills, and can even influence your platform choice for future projects.
Wanting to find out what eCommerce platform a site is using? Check out this Bliss Drive blog.
