How do child themes work?

Question

I was creating a wordpress theme based on Twenty Fifteen and then someone suggested me to use a child theme instead.

What's the biggest difference? I've heart both parent and child themes functions.php will be loaded.

Themes usually load scripts and CSS files directly from the functions.php file. Does this mean it will load the files from the parent theme in any case ? Or it will look for those files in the child theme before loading them from the parent?

Will I have total control over the theme by just creating and applying a child theme? Or Will I be restricted in some way?

Answer 1

Child themes are different then parent themes (in this case Twenty Fifteen is the parent theme). Child themes are just copies of your parent themes files. Then you modify those child theme files and they override your parent theme.

The advantage of doing this over creating a new theme is that you can update the Twenty Fifteen theme without affecting anything. If you created a new theme you would need to modify it manually to add the Twenty Fifteen update. Also, if you just modified your parent theme when you update you would lose off your customizations.

Will I have total control over the theme by just creating and applying a child theme? Or Will I be restricted in some way?

Child themes do not restricted anything. If anything it actually frees you up.

Have you read Child Themes?

What is a great question. Have you read the Codex page on Child Themes? If not it will answer any other questions you may have.