Resolving the White Screen of Death in WordPress

Why the White Screen Appears

The WordPress "White Screen of Death" (WSoD) occurs when a fatal PHP error halts execution before any HTML renders. Because output buffering hides the error, you see a blank page.

Step-by-Step Resolution

1. Enable WP_DEBUG in wp-config.php:

   define('WP_DEBUG', true);
   define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
   define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
   

2. Read the log: check wp-content/debug.log for the fatal error.
3. Deactivate plugins: rename wp-content/plugins to isolate the cause.
4. Switch theme: activate a default theme to rule out theme conflicts.
5. Re-upload core files: replace wp-admin and wp-includes if corrupted.

Tip

Paste your debug.log into the FormatHub WordPress Parser to convert a dense wall of PHP notices into a structured, readable dashboard.