The question will be asked many times. Here is the answer for the DIY person who does not need to know code to use the Divi Theme. The Divi Theme has integrated a method to tidy up the loose code all over the Internet. Code isn’t perfect and it doesn’t always work the way it is supposed to. The modification of the Divi Theme will essentially be in the area of the functions.php files. This is only if you want to build a template or a specific style.
If you are a developer and specifically want to build unique Themes and use the Divi Framework, then you would create a Child Theme. But it is not necessary to think you have to use a Child Theme just because the Divi Theme updates regularly. This is what you do want with a Theme, regular updates.
Misinformation
This is one of the most unfortunate problems on the web. You have to check out the information and take a look at what’s in it for the person giving you the information. Not everyone has your best interests in mind. What they have in mind is to tell you that you need something when you don’t. How do you know the difference? If you find a beautiful Theme styled in Divi made by a developer and decide you want to use that Theme, then you use that theme. This will most probably be a Child Theme and the developer will have instructions on how to use the Child Theme.
When I first started out with WordPress, I used a styled Theme because I did not know how WordPress worked. I had to operate within the limitations of the Theme. After a while the Theme I was using was too restricting, I wanted the freedom to have a different layout on the page. I only had a choice of a single column or two columns. When I added pictures it didn’t look right and I wasn’t satisfied. There had to be a better Theme. There was, I wrote about it in this article.
What’s the Purpose of the Website?
If the Website is for a large company with a membership base, or a forum, then we’re departing from the basic five page website. That’s a different story, but depending on what you want to extend the website into will help you make the decision about using a Child Theme.
To help make that decision read the Ultimate Divi Child Theme Guide for 2018 by Tim Strifler of Divi Life. This guide takes you through the information so you can make an informed decision based on what is the purpose of the website.
But, it is not true that you have to use a Child Theme. You don’t, unless you decide you want to use one based on the specific needs for your website. If you use CSS styling in the Advanced tab in a module, you won’t lose the styling when Divi updates.
It is easy to get overwhelmed by the subject of whether you should or should not use a Child Theme.
Leaping Technology
We can hardly keep up with all this tech stuff. It can get overwhelming. It’s not going to slow down, but what does improve is the software, like WordPress and the Divi Theme. I only mention these two products because I use them every day. One of the new leaps in technology is the coming changes to the WordPress editor section, the place where you enter content onto the page or post. This change only puts the icon in a different place, but it is the same icon.
Have you noticed how you might visit a website and the design is totally changed from what it was when you last visited the page. You have to mouse around to find a setting, it’s just in a different place. Well, the same is true with the new WordPress Editor, named Gutenberg.
WordPress is an incredible software and it takes its place as the number one used software worldwide because it is a deserved place. It is powered by developers who are committed to its excellence and the project is open source. This means developers from all over the world contribute to the core code which is what the Divi Theme overlays.
Change Is Easy To Deal With
The Divi Theme is a complete WordPress Premium Theme on it’s own. Here’s the real secret; the developer and the designer don’t want you to know they use the Divi Theme. There are also premade layouts in the Divi Library that you can use to build a website.
The Child Theme question is based on what you need, not a “best practice” use. This is why you don’t need a Child Theme.
