WordPress code snippets

Hooks, shortcodes and theme helpers (GPL). 28 free snippets, each with an explanation and usage notes.

28
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#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Generate and refresh translation files for a theme or plugin.
# Requires WP-CLI with the i18n command package:  wp package install …
set -euo pipefail
TEXT_DOMAIN="${TEXT_DOMAIN:-acme-theme}"
ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
LANG_DIR="$ROOT/languages"
POT="$LANG_DIR/$TEXT_DOMAIN.pot"
command -v wp >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "wp-cli is required" >&2; exi…

WordPress · InternationalisationPOT generation script with WP-CLIA shell script that extracts translatable strings to a .pot file, merges them into .po files and compiles .mo and JSON files.i18npotwp-cli

post-types.php

/**
 * Room post type and Amenity taxonomy.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
function acme_register_room_content(): void {
  register_post_type(
    'acme_room',

WordPress · DatabaseCustom post type with a linked taxonomyRegister a bookable-room post type with a hierarchical amenity taxonomy, REST support and a safe rewrite flush on theme switch.cpttaxonomyrewrite

dark-mode.php

/**
 * Dark / light mode toggle.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
// Runs before paint so the saved or system mode is applied with no f…
function acme_mode_bootstrap(): void {
  echo "<script>(function(){var m;try{m=localStorage.getItem('acme-mo…

WordPress · ThemingDark and light mode toggle without flashA theme-level colour mode switch that respects the visitor's system setting, remembers a choice and avoids a flash of the wrong theme.dark-modetoggleaccessibility

theme.json

{
  "$schema": "https://schemas.wp.org/trunk/theme.json",
  "version": 3,
  "settings": {
    "appearanceTools": true,
    "layout": { "contentSize": "720px", "wideSize": "1200px" },
    "color": {
      "defaultPalette": false,
      "palette": [

WordPress · Themingtheme.json colour, type and spacing presetsA compact theme.json that defines a palette, fluid font sizes, a spacing scale and element styles for the block editor.theme-jsonblock-themedesign-tokens

audio-dock.php

/**
 * Sticky audio dock.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
function acme_audio_dock_assets(): void {
  $uri = get_template_directory_uri() . '/assets/';
  wp_enqueue_style( 'acme-dock', $uri . 'audio-dock.css', array(), '1…

WordPress · UtilitiesSticky mini audio player dockA fixed bottom audio dock that plays any link marked with data-audio and keeps playing while the visitor browses the page.audioplayerpodcast

settings-page.php

/**
 * Settings page: Settings -> Acme.
 *
 * @package Acme_Core
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
add_action( 'admin_menu', static function (): void {
  add_options_page( __( 'Acme settings', 'acme-core' ), __( 'Acme', '…
} );

WordPress · FormsSettings API options pageA complete options page using register_setting, sections and fields with sanitise callbacks and a capability gate.settings-apioptionsadmin

icons.php

/**
 * Inline SVG icons from /assets/icons/<name>.svg
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
/** Tags and attributes a plain icon needs. Anything else is removed.…
function acme_svg_allowed_html(): array {
  $common = array( 'class' => true, 'fill' => true, 'stroke' => true,…

WordPress · UtilitiesSanitised inline SVG icon helperLoad SVG icons from the theme folder, strip anything unsafe with wp_kses and a strict allow-list, and print them inline.svgiconskses

rest-routes.php

/**
 * REST: /wp-json/acme/v1/bookmarks
 *
 * @package Acme_Core
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
add_action( 'rest_api_init', static function (): void {
  register_rest_route( 'acme/v1', '/bookmarks', array(
    array(

WordPress · APIsREST route with permission callback and schemaRegister a REST API route that validates its arguments, authorises with permission_callback and returns a shaped response.rest-apipermission-callbackvalidation

related-posts.php

/**
 * Related posts.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
/** @return int[] IDs of related posts, best match first. */
function acme_related_post_ids( int $post_id, int $limit = 4 ): array…
  $key = "acme_related_{$post_id}_{$limit}";

WordPress · UtilitiesRelated posts by shared taxonomy termsQuery the posts that share the most tags with the current one, fall back to its category, and cache the result in a transient.related-postswp-querytaxonomy

reveal.js

/**
 * Reveal on scroll. Markup: <div data-reveal data-reveal-delay="120"…
 * Without JavaScript the elements stay visible because the hiding cl…
 */
(() => {
  const items = document.querySelectorAll('[data-reveal]');
  if (!items.length) return;
  const reduce = window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)'…
  if (reduce.matches || !('IntersectionObserver' in window)) return; …

WordPress · AnimationReduced-motion aware scroll revealFade elements in as they enter the viewport with an IntersectionObserver, staggered delays and a full opt-out for reduced motion.scroll-revealintersection-observerreduced-motion

post-extras.php

/**
 * Reading time and table of contents.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
function acme_reading_time( int $post_id = 0 ): int {
  $content = get_post_field( 'post_content', $post_id ?: get_the_ID()…
  $words   = str_word_count( wp_strip_all_tags( strip_shortcodes( (st…

WordPress · UtilitiesReading time and automatic table of contentsFilter the_content to add heading anchors, a linked table of contents and a words-per-minute reading time estimate.the-contenttocreading-time

pricing.php

/**
 * [acme_pricing] shortcode.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
function acme_pricing_shortcode(): string {
  $plans = array(
    array( 'name' => 'Starter', 'month' => 12, 'year' => 120, 'featur…

WordPress · PricingMonthly / yearly pricing toggle shortcodeA pricing table shortcode with an accessible monthly and yearly switch driven by data attributes and a few lines of script.pricingshortcodetoggle

schema-episode.php

/**
 * PodcastEpisode JSON-LD.
 *
 * Expects post type "acme_episode" with meta: acme_audio_url, acme_d…
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
function acme_episode_schema(): void {

WordPress · SEOPodcastEpisode structured dataOutput valid PodcastEpisode JSON-LD in the head of single episode pages, built from post data and safely encoded.json-ldschema-orgpodcast

ajax-note.php

/**
 * Save a short note through admin-ajax.
 *
 * @package Acme_Core
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
function acme_ajax_assets(): void {
  wp_enqueue_script( 'acme-ajax-note', plugin_dir_url( __FILE__ ) . '…
  wp_localize_script( 'acme-ajax-note', 'acmeNote', array(

WordPress · APIsNonce and capability checked AJAX endpointA WordPress admin AJAX action that verifies a nonce, checks a capability, sanitises input and answers with JSON.ajaxnoncecapability

live-blog.php

/**
 * Live blog feed endpoint.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
function acme_live_blog_register_route(): void {
  register_rest_route(
    'acme/v1',

WordPress · Feedback and empty statesLive blog with polling auto-refreshA REST endpoint returns entries newer than a timestamp and a small script polls it, pausing while the tab is hidden.live-blogrest-apipolling

youtube-facade.js

/**
 * Replaces [data-yt] buttons with a youtube-nocookie iframe on first…
 * Markup: <button type="button" class="yt-facade" data-yt="VIDEO_ID"…
 */
(() => {
  const ID = /^[\w-]{11}$/; // YouTube ids are 11 safe characters.
  function mount(btn) {
    const id = btn.dataset.yt;
    if (!ID.test(id || '')) return;

WordPress · UtilitiesLazy-loading YouTube facadeShow a thumbnail and play button instead of an iframe, and swap in the real embed only when the visitor clicks.youtubelazy-loadingperformance

booking-bar.php

/**
 * Booking bar: shortcode + admin-post handler.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
function acme_booking_bar(): string {
  ob_start();
  <form class="acme-booking" method="post" action="<?php echo esc_url…

WordPress · FormsBooking bar form with date validationA date and guests booking bar shortcode with a nonce, server-side validation and a redirect to a results page.bookingformadmin-post

events.php

/**
 * Event archive query + month grid.
 *
 * Assumes a post type "acme_event" with a "Y-m-d" meta key "acme_eve…
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
// 1. Archive: upcoming first, optional ?month=YYYY-MM filter.

WordPress · LayoutsUpcoming events archive with month gridOrder an event archive by date, hide past events and render a month calendar grid that groups events by day.eventscalendarwp-query

class-callout-widget.php

/**
 * A "Callout" widget for Elementor.
 *
 * @package Acme_Core
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
class Callout_Widget extends Widget_Base {
  public function get_name(): string {
    return 'acme-callout';

WordPress · HooksElementor widget skeletonA minimal custom Elementor widget with controls, escaped rendering and the registration hook, ready to extend.elementorwidgetpage-builder

block-styles.php

/**
 * Paragraph block style: Drop cap.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
add_action( 'init', static function (): void {
  register_block_style(
    'core/paragraph',

WordPress · ThemingDrop cap paragraph block styleRegister a Drop cap style for the paragraph block and style it with a pure CSS first-letter rule that works in editor and front end.block-stylesdrop-captypography

demo-importer.php

/**
 * Demo content importer (Tools -> Demo content).
 *
 * Reads demo/content.json: [ { "key": "home", "type": "page", "title…
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
add_action( 'admin_menu', static function (): void {

WordPress · UtilitiesOne-click demo content importerAn admin tools page that imports pages and posts from a bundled JSON file idempotently, behind a nonce and capability check.importdemo-contentadmin-page

timetable.php

/**
 * [acme_timetable] weekly grid.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
/** Sessions: day (1 = Monday), start time, title, coach. Replace wit…
function acme_timetable_sessions(): array {
  return apply_filters( 'acme_timetable_sessions', array(

WordPress · LayoutsWeekly class timetable gridTurn a flat list of sessions into an accessible day-by-time table with a shortcode, escaped output and empty cell handling.timetableschedulegrid

style.css

/*
Theme Name:   Acme Theme Child
Theme URI:    https://example.com/
Description:  Child theme for Acme Theme. Put overrides here, not in …
Author:       Acme Studio
Template:     acme-theme
Version:      1.0.0
License:      GNU General Public License v2 or later
License URI:  https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

WordPress · ThemingChild theme starterA minimal child theme with a correct stylesheet header and a functions file that loads parent and child styles with cache busting.child-themeenqueuecustomisation

changelog.php

/**
 * Changelog entries with a version number.
 *
 * @package Acme_Theme
 */
defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
add_action( 'init', static function (): void {
  register_post_type( 'acme_release', array(
    'label'        => __( 'Releases', 'acme-theme' ),

WordPress · DatabaseChangelog post type with version meta boxA release-notes post type with a nonce-protected version field, admin columns and a shortcode that lists releases newest first.changelogmeta-boxcpt