// any code included here occurs before the wordpress loop and is always displayed
<?php if (have_posts()) : ?>
// if there are posts to display, process any code included here only once
// display any code output from this region above the entire set of posts
<?php while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
// loop through posts and process each according to the code specified here
// process any code included in this region before the content of each post
<?php the_content(); ?> // this function displays the content of each post
// process any code included in this region after the content of each post
<?php endwhile; ?>
// stop the post loop and process any code included here only once
// any code output will be displayed below the entire set of posts
<?php else : ?>
// if there are no posts to display, process any code that is included here
// the output of any code included here will be displayed instead of posts
<?php endif; ?>
// any code included here occurs after the wordpress loop and is always displayed