FAQ

WordPress code snippets are small pieces of code that can be added to your WordPress website to add new functionality or modify existing features. These code snippets can be added to the functions.php file in the active theme of your WordPress website, or as a standalone WordPress plugin.

Code snippets are used to modify the behavior of your WordPress site, and have a variety of purposes such as adding custom post types, modifying the appearance of your site (front and back end), optimising the functionality and performance of your site, just to name a few.

The best part is that you don’t have to be a developer to use code snippets – there are many pre-made code snippets available that you can simply copy and paste into your WordPress site to achieve your desired result. Browse our extensive library of pre-made code snippets to find the snippet you need!

To add a code snippet to your WordPress site, there are a few methods you can use depending on your level of comfort with coding and your preferred workflow. We created an overview of all the methods here: Add Custom Code to WordPress Without a Plugin—The Right Way. In a nutshell:

1. You can use the functions.php file of the active theme of your WordPress site.

2. You can use a plugin to add code to your site

3. You can write your own plugin! See our guide: Create a Plugin

There are many resources available online where you can find WordPress code snippets to add new functionality or modify existing features on your website. Here are a few places you can look:

1. WordPress.org: The official WordPress website has a Code Reference section that contains a variety of code snippets you can use.

2. GitHub: GitHub is a popular code repository that has many WordPress-related projects, including code snippets.

3. WordPress blogs and websites: There are many WordPress-focused blogs and websites that offer tutorials and code snippets for various WordPress functions, like WPBeginner, WPMU DEV and WP Tavern.

4. Our WordPress code snippet library contains a lot of pre-made snippets you can copy and paste!

Yes, you can create your own WordPress code snippets to add new functionality or modify existing features on your website. Here’s how:

1. Identify the function you want to modify or add: Before creating a code snippet, identify the specific function you want to modify or add. You can do this by reviewing the WordPress Code Reference or browsing through existing code snippets for inspiration.

2. Write your code: Once you’ve identified the function you want to modify or add, write your code snippet using the appropriate WordPress functions and syntax. Make sure to test your code thoroughly before deploying it on a live site.

3. Choose a method for adding your code snippet: There are several methods you can use to add your code snippet to your WordPress site, including using the functions.php file, a custom plugin, or a code snippet plugin. Choose the method that works best for your workflow and level of comfort with coding.

4. Implement your code snippet: Once you’ve chosen a method for adding your code snippet, implement it on your site and test it thoroughly to ensure that it works as intended.

WordPress code snippets can be written in a variety of programming languages, including PHP, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. PHP is the primary language used in WordPress development, and most code snippets will be written in PHP.

Yes, you can use WordPress code snippets to modify the functionality of your site. Code snippets can be used to add new features or modify existing functionality, such as adding custom post types, adding custom fields, customizing the front and/or back end, customize menus, modifying the behavior of existing WordPress functions, and much more!

Yes, you can use code snippets to customize your WordPress theme! Browse all snippets in the category Theme development.

Code snippets can be used to add new functionality or modify existing features in your theme, such as changing the layout or adding custom post types.

However, before using code snippets to customize your theme, it’s important to consider whether the changes you want to make are better suited for a child theme or a custom plugin. In general, it’s recommended to use a child theme for making customizations to a theme, as this allows you to make changes without modifying the original theme files, making it easier to update the theme in the future.

Yes, you can use WordPress code snippets to improve the performance of your site. Browse all snippets in the category Performance.

Here are some examples of code snippets that can help improve site performance:

1. Disable WordPress features you don’t use: You can use code snippets to disable features in WordPress that you don’t need, such as the REST API, emoji support, or XML-RPC. This can help improve site speed by reducing the amount of code that needs to be loaded and processed.

2. Lazy load images: Lazy loading is a technique that defers the loading of images until they are needed. This can help improve site speed by reducing the amount of data that needs to be loaded when a user visits your site.

3. Minify CSS and JavaScript: You can use code snippets to minify your site’s CSS and JavaScript files, which can help reduce file size and improve load times.

4. Cache frequently accessed data: WordPress code snippets can be used to implement caching of frequently accessed data, such as database queries or API responses. This can help improve site speed by reducing the amount of time it takes to fetch data from the server.

To add a shortcode to your WordPress site using code snippets, you can use the add_shortcode() function. Read more about it here: WordPress Custom Shortcode Tutorial (PHP Examples)

Yes, you can use our WordPress code snippets to create custom post types. Custom post types are a powerful feature of WordPress that allow you to create new types of content on your site, such as products, services, events, or testimonials.

Yes, you can use WordPress code snippets to modify the WordPress admin dashboard. Browse all our snippets in the category Admin.

There are many things you can do, such as adding or removing dashboard widgets, adding custom CSS or JavaScript, customizing the admin bar, and more.

Creating a plugin using WordPress code snippets is a great way to add custom functionality to your site without modifying the theme files directly. Here are the basic steps to create a simple plugin using code snippets: Create a Plugin

Creating a child theme is a great way to add features or modifications to your WordPress site, without modifying theme files directly. Here’s how you can create a child theme: How to create a WordPress Child Theme (Step by Step)

Yes, there are several best practices you should follow when using WordPress code snippets to ensure that your website remains secure, stable, and functional:

1. Always test your code: Before deploying a code snippet on your live site, make sure to test it thoroughly on a staging or test site to ensure that it works as intended and doesn’t cause any conflicts or errors.

2. Use reputable sources: Only use code snippets from trusted sources, such as the official WordPress.org Code Reference or reputable WordPress blogs and websites. Avoid using code from unknown or unverified sources, as it may contain security vulnerabilities or other issues.

3. Keep your code organized: If you’re using multiple code snippets on your site, consider organizing them in a plugin or in the functions.php file to keep them organized and easy to manage.

4. Keep your code up to date: WordPress is constantly evolving, so it’s important to make sure that your code snippets are compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Make sure to update your code regularly and check for any compatibility issues.

5. Use conditional statements: When adding code snippets to your site, use conditional statements to ensure that they only run when necessary. This can help prevent conflicts with other plugins or themes and keep your site running smoothly.

6. Always back up your site: Before making any changes to your site, always make sure to back up your site’s files and database. This can help you easily revert back to a previous version of your site if something goes wrong.

Here are some tips for determining whether a code snippet is safe to use:

1. Check the source: If you’re getting code snippets from a third-party source, make sure it’s a reputable source, such as the official WordPress documentation, reputable developer blogs, or the WordPress plugin repository.

2. Check the comments: Code snippets should have clear and descriptive comments that explain what the code does and how it works. This will help you to understand what the code is doing and whether it’s safe to use.

3. Test the code: Before using a code snippet on your live site, it’s important to test it thoroughly on a development or staging site. This will allow you to catch any potential issues before they cause problems on your live site.

4. Keep your site up-to-date: Keeping your WordPress installation and plugins up-to-date is essential for ensuring that your site is secure and stable. Make sure to regularly update your site and test any code snippets after updates to ensure that they still work correctly.