WP-CLI is the command-line interface for WordPress, enabling users to manage sites and automate administrative tasks without opening a browser. Designed to make WordPress scriptable, it supports common operations such as installing, updating, and verifying WordPress core; managing plugins, themes, users, posts, and multisite networks; and exporting or importing databases. Users can also run database-wide search-and-replace operations, inspect scheduled events, flush caches, and handle other maintenance tasks from the terminal.

WP-CLI can be incorporated into scripts, cron jobs, and deployment pipelines, helping teams repeat routine work across environments. Developers can extend it by creating custom commands in PHP or selecting tools from the community package index. The project has shipped continuously since 2011 and is maintained by volunteers across the WordPress ecosystem, with public governance and contributions spanning documentation, translation, testing, and command development. WP-CLI also supports emerging WordPress automation workflows involving the Abilities API, AI connectors, and the Model Context Protocol.