Quick Tip: How to Use Shortcodes Within Widgets in WordPress

In WordPress, short codes can only be used in articles and pages by default, and cannot be used in widgets. However, this function can be enabled using the widget_text filter and do_shortcode() functions, allowing the Text widget to parse any existing shortcode.

Allow shortcodes in the Text widget

WordPress provides multiple widgets by default. The Text widget allows you to add any text to the widget, or any HTML code. This means you can also use JavaScript code in this widget, so it's very powerful. However, if you need more features, such as a PHP script that accesses some data stored in the server, this widget won't help you by default.

It's similar to the article. That's why, like in the article, we want to be able to use shortcodes to do whatever we want. To do this, we can use the widget_text filter. This filter is used to allow modification of the content of the Text widget. We will use it here to ask WordPress to parse shortcodes in this widget.

The parsing of short codes in WordPress is achieved through the do_shortcode() function. It accepts a required parameter, namely the text to be parsed, and returns the parsed text. This means we can use this function directly as a callback function for the widget_text filter.

The following code can be used in the functions.php file of the plug-in file or theme:

<?php add_filter('widget_text', 'do_shortcode'); ?>

Any existing shortcode you type in the Text widget will now be parsed.

Create a new shortcode widget

Alternatively, we can create our own widgets. Since the default "text" widget works well, we can simply adjust its code from the following code (located in the /wp-includes/default-widgets.php file). It is worth noting that we should create our own plugins and never modify the core WordPress file.

<?php class WP_Widget_Text extends WP_Widget {

    public function __construct() {
        $widget_ops = array('classname' => 'widget_text', 'description' => __('Arbitrary text or HTML.'));
        $control_ops = array('width' => 400, 'height' => 350);
        parent::__construct('text', __('Text'), $widget_ops, $control_ops);
    }

    // ... (其余代码与原文相同) ...
}
?>

We don’t need to change much. The first thing to change is the name of the class. I chose to name it WP_Widget_Shortcodes, but you can choose any name you like. Since this type of constructor sets up some information about the widget itself, we also need to modify it.

<?php public function __construct() {
    $widget_ops = array('classname' => 'widget_shortcodes', 'description' => __('Arbitrary text or HTML with shortcodes.'));
    $control_ops = array('width' => 400, 'height' => 350);
    parent::__construct('shortcodes', __('Shortcodes'), $widget_ops, $control_ops);
}
?>

Another place that needs to be changed is in the widget() method, which describes how WordPress displays widgets. We change the contents of the $text variable containing the text to be displayed. We delete the call to the widget_text filter and apply the do_shortcode() function to this content.

<?php add_filter('widget_text', 'do_shortcode'); ?>

Then we need to register our widget so that we can add it like any other widget. This can be done through the widgets_init operation, which will be triggered once WordPress registers the default widget.

<?php class WP_Widget_Text extends WP_Widget {

    public function __construct() {
        $widget_ops = array('classname' => 'widget_text', 'description' => __('Arbitrary text or HTML.'));
        $control_ops = array('width' => 400, 'height' => 350);
        parent::__construct('text', __('Text'), $widget_ops, $control_ops);
    }

    // ... (其余代码与原文相同) ...
}
?>

You can now find our widget in the list of available widgets. You can add it to any compatible area and it will explain any shortcodes you are using.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, enabling shortcodes in widgets is not complicated, but you need to be careful. In fact, not every shortcode is suitable for displaying the location of a widget. If the short code has a fixed width, that could be a problem.

Note that the changes we use in the default Text widget are minimal. If you want to customize the widget, you can change anything else.

(The following is a pseudo-original work in the original FAQ part. The expression method is adjusted while maintaining the consistency of the content)

FAQs about using short codes in WordPress widgets

• What is the purpose of using short code in WordPress widgets?

Using shortcodes in WordPress widgets allows you to add specific features without writing code, they are shortcuts to complex functions. For example, you can use short codes to embed files, create objects, or insert specific content into articles or pages. By using shortcodes in widgets, you can extend these features to the sidebar or other widget areas of your website, enhancing the user experience.

• How to add shortcodes to WordPress widgets?

To add a shortcode to a WordPress widget, navigate to the Widgets section under Appearance in the WordPress dashboard. Drag and drop the Text widget to the desired widget area. In the text field of the widget, enter a short code enclosed in square brackets []. Click Save to apply the changes.

• Why does my shortcode not work in widgets?

If your shortcode doesn't work in a widget, it may be due to several reasons: the shortcode may be incorrect, or the plugin that provides the shortcode may be deactivated. Make sure the shortcode is correct and the necessary plugins are active. If the problem persists, it may conflict with other plugins or themes. Try deactivating another plug-in or switching to the default theme to troubleshoot.

• Can I use multiple shortcodes in a single widget?

Yes, you can use multiple shortcodes in a single widget. Just make sure each shortcode is enclosed in square brackets and there are spaces between the different shortcodes.

• How to create my own shortcode for widgets?

To create your own shortcode for the widget, you need to add a custom function in the functions.php file of the theme. This function should define the function of the shortcode. After defining the function, you can use the add_shortcode() function to create a new shortcode.

• Can I use shortcodes in all types of widgets?

Short codes can be used in any widget that accepts text input. This includes the Text widget, the Custom HTML widget, and other widgets. However, not all widgets support shortcodes.

• What is the do_shortcode function in WordPress?

The

function in WordPress is used to search for shortcodes in content and filter shortcodes through its hooks. It actually allows you to use shortcodes outside of the article editor, such as in widgets or theme files. do_shortcode

• Can I use shortcodes in WordPress page builder?

Yes, most WordPress page builders support short codes. You can add shortcodes to a page builder module or widget like you would to a regular widget.

• How to find available shortcodes for my WordPress website?

The available shortcodes for WordPress websites depend on the plugins and themes you installed. Some plugins and themes provide a list of available shortcodes in their documentation. You can also find short codes by searching for

functions in plug-ins or theme files. add_shortcode

• Can I use shortcodes in WordPress articles and pages?

Yes, short codes can be used in WordPress articles and pages. Just like in a widget, you can add shortcodes to an article or page by wrapping it in square brackets in the article editor.

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