Divi Technology Intelligence

What is Divi?

Divi is both a WordPress theme and a visual page builder developed by Elegant Themes. It provides an all-in-one website building solution with real-time visual editing, pre-made layouts, and extensive customization options without requiring coding knowledge.

Launched in 2013, Divi has grown into one of the most popular WordPress products with over 800,000 customers. Unlike standalone page builders, Divi combines a fully-featured theme with the builder, providing complete site design control including headers, footers, and global styles. Elegant Themes' lifetime membership model and continuous feature updates have created a loyal user community.

Key Features

Visual Builder

• Real-Time Editing: Click-and-type directly on the page
• Drag-and-Drop: Position elements with visual feedback
• Responsive Editing: Device-specific design controls
• Right-Click Actions: Context menu for quick operations
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Productivity features for power users

Modules (40+)

• Content: Text, image, video, gallery, slider
• Navigation: Menu, sidebar, search
• Forms: Contact form, email opt-in, login form
• E-commerce: WooCommerce shop, product, cart modules
• Social: Social follow, share, comments

Theme Builder

• Headers: Global and conditional headers
• Footers: Sitewide footer designs
• Templates: Post types, categories, archives
• Dynamic Content: Populate from WordPress data

Design System

• Global colors and fonts
• Presets for consistent styling
• Design library with 2,000+ layouts
• Element copying and pasting styles

Use Cases

Freelancer Client Sites

Freelance designers build client websites rapidly using Divi's layout library. The visual builder enables design iteration during client meetings, and lifetime licensing supports unlimited projects.

Small Business Websites

Business owners create and maintain their own websites using Divi's intuitive interface. Pre-made layouts for restaurants, law firms, agencies, and other industries provide starting points.

E-commerce Stores

WooCommerce stores customize every aspect of the shopping experience. Product pages, shop layouts, and checkout processes are all visually editable.

Marketing Sites

Marketing teams create landing pages and promotional content without developer assistance. A/B testing through split testing features optimizes conversions.

Portfolio Websites

Creatives showcase work with gallery layouts and project case studies. The visual editor makes organizing and presenting work intuitive.

Agency Production

Digital agencies use Divi for efficient site production. Saved layouts, global elements, and design presets maintain consistency across client projects.

Development and Customization

Custom Module Creation

// Create custom Divi module
class Custom_Module extends ET_Builder_Module {
    public $slug = 'custom_module';
    public $vb_support = 'on';

    public function init() {
        $this->name = 'Custom Module';
        $this->main_css_element = '%%order_class%%';
    }

    public function get_fields() {
        return [
            'title' => [
                'label' => 'Title',
                'type' => 'text',
                'toggle_slug' => 'main_content',
            ],
            'content' => [
                'label' => 'Content',
                'type' => 'tiny_mce',
                'toggle_slug' => 'main_content',
            ],
        ];
    }

    public function render($attrs, $content = null, $render_slug) {
        return sprintf(
            '<div class="%1$s">
                <h3>%2$s</h3>
                <div>%3$s</div>
            </div>',
            $this->module_classname($render_slug),
            esc_html($this->props['title']),
            $this->props['content']
        );
    }
}

new Custom_Module;

Child Theme Customization

/* Custom CSS in child theme */
.et_pb_section {
    padding: 4% 0;
}

.et_pb_text h2 {
    font-family: 'Playfair Display', serif;
    color: #2c3e50;
}

/* Custom button styles */
.et_pb_button {
    border-radius: 30px !important;
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

Divi Hooks

// Add custom functionality
add_action('et_header_top', 'add_top_bar');
function add_top_bar() {
    echo '<div class="top-bar">Call us: 555-1234</div>';
}

// Modify builder options
add_filter('et_builder_load_requests', 'modify_builder_options');
function modify_builder_options($options) {
    // Custom modifications
    return $options;
}

Pricing and Comparison

Elegant Themes Membership

• Yearly Access: $89/year - Divi + 86 themes + plugins
• Lifetime Access: $249 one-time - Lifetime updates
• Unlimited Sites: No per-site licensing
• Includes: Divi, Extra, Bloom, Monarch

Key Benefits

• Value: Lifetime license is exceptional value
• All-in-One: Theme + builder in single product
• Layout Library: 2,000+ professional layouts
• Split Testing: Built-in A/B testing (unique feature)
• Community: Large, active user community

Considerations

• Performance: Can be heavy with many elements
• Lock-in: Switching away requires redesign
• Learning Curve: Many options can overwhelm beginners

Comparison

• vs Elementor: Divi includes theme; Elementor more widgets
• vs WPBakery: Divi more modern and feature-rich
• vs Beaver Builder: Divi more features; Beaver cleaner code
• vs Webflow: Divi WordPress-based; Webflow hosted platform