What are Shortcodes in WordPress?
Shortcodes are a valuable tool in WordPress that lets you easily incorporate dynamic content into your website without any coding knowledge. Whether you want to insert contact forms, image galleries, or custom code, shortcodes make it possible with just a few clicks. In this in-depth guide, we will walk you through how to use and create shortcodes in WordPress.
Understanding the Purpose of Shortcodes
Before we dive into the details of adding shortcodes, it’s important to understand their purpose and significance in WordPress. Shortcodes are essentially code snippets that developers can create to add functionality to their themes and plugins. These snippets are enclosed in square brackets and can be seamlessly inserted into different sections of your website.
WordPress has built-in security measures that filter all content to prevent the injection of malicious code. While you can include basic HTML in your posts, PHP code is not allowed. This is where shortcodes come into play. They provide developers with a workaround by allowing them to register their code as a shortcode. Whenever a shortcode is detected in the content, WordPress automatically runs the associated code.
Adding Shortcodes in the Gutenberg Editor
If you’re using the new Gutenberg editor, adding shortcodes is a piece of cake. Follow these simple steps:
1. Edit the post or page where you want to add the shortcode.
2. Click on the “+” icon to add a block.
3. Look for the “Shortcode” block and add it.
4. Enter the shortcode provided by the plugin or theme you’re using.
5. Save your changes and preview the post or page to see the shortcode in action.
Shortcodes can also be used in WordPress sidebar widgets. Here’s how:
1. Go to Appearance » Widgets to access your widgets.
2. Add a “Shortcode” widget block to a sidebar.
3. Paste the shortcode inside the text area.
4. Click on the “Update” button to save your widget settings.
5. Visit your website to see the live preview of the shortcode in the sidebar widget.
Adding Shortcodes in the Classic Editor
For those still using the classic editor, adding shortcodes follows a similar process. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Edit the post or page where you want to add the shortcode.
2. Paste the shortcode anywhere within the content editor.
3. Ensure that the shortcode is on its own line.
4. Save your changes and preview the post or page to see the shortcode in action.
Shortcodes can also be used in WordPress theme files, but this requires editing the theme’s files directly. If you’re comfortable with coding, you can add a shortcode to any WordPress theme template by adding the following code:
Replace [my_shortcode] with the actual shortcode you want to use. WordPress will now detect and display the output of the shortcode within your theme template.
Creating Your Own Custom Shortcodes
If you want to take your website customization to the next level, you can create your own custom shortcodes. Although it requires some coding experience, it’s easier than you might think. Follow these steps:
1. Add the following code to your theme’s functions.php file or use a code snippet plugin:
function greeting_shortcode() {
// Code logic goes here
}
add_shortcode(‘greeting’, ‘greeting_shortcode’);
In the code snippet above, we created a function called greeting_shortcode and registered it as a shortcode named ‘greeting’. You can replace ‘greeting’ with any name you prefer.
Now, you can add the [greeting] shortcode to your posts, pages, and widgets. Whenever the shortcode is detected, it will run the associated function and display the desired output.
Practical Use of Shortcodes
Let’s illustrate the practical usage of shortcodes with an example. Suppose you want to display a Google AdSense banner within a shortcode. Here’s a sample code:
function ad_code_shortcode() {
return ‘
‘;
}
add_shortcode(‘my_ad_code’, ‘ad_code_shortcode’);
Replace ‘Your AdSense code here’ with your actual advertisement code. Now, you can use the [my_ad_code] shortcode anywhere in your content to display the banner.
Shortcodes vs. Gutenberg Blocks
It’s important to note the difference between shortcodes and Gutenberg blocks. While shortcodes have been widely used for adding dynamic content, Gutenberg blocks provide a more user-friendly approach. Blocks offer a visual interface for directly adding various types of content within posts and pages.
Many WordPress plugins have transitioned to using Gutenberg blocks because of their ease of use, especially for beginners. If you’re interested in exploring more block options, check out our list of the most useful Gutenberg block plugins for WordPress.
Conclusion
Shortcodes are a powerful feature in WordPress that allows you to enhance your website with dynamic elements. Whether you’re using pre-built shortcodes from plugins or creating your own custom ones, shortcodes offer a convenient way to add specialized functionality to your website. We hope this comprehensive guide has provided you with a solid understanding of how to add and use shortcodes effectively in your WordPress site. For more WordPress tutorials and updates, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
