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Code Snippets in WordPress: What You Should Have Known?

Regina

June 12, 2024
4 min read
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Code Snippets in WordPress: What You Should Have Known?

Code snippets are small pieces of code that can be added to your WordPress site to enhance its functionality. They offer a flexible and powerful way to customize your website without the need for full-fledged plugins. In this guide, we’ll explore what code snippets are, how to use them, and best practices for managing them effectively.

Table of Contents

1. What are Code Snippets?

Code snippets are short segments of code written in PHP, CSS, JavaScript, or HTML that you can add to your WordPress site. These snippets can perform various functions, such as modifying themes, adding custom features, or enhancing performance.

2. Why Use Code Snippets?

Code snippets allow you to customize your WordPress site beyond the capabilities of themes and plugins. They provide granular control over specific aspects of your site. Using code snippets can also be more efficient than installing multiple plugins, reducing the load on your site and improving performance. Lastly, for developers and enthusiasts, working with code snippets is an excellent way to learn more about WordPress and experiment with new features.

Read: How to Connect Google Drive to Your WordPress Media Library

3. How to Add Code Snippets to Your WordPress Site?

Here are three ways to add code snippets to your WordPress website:

1. Using the Theme’s functions.php File

The functions.php file in your theme is a common place to add PHP code snippets. Here’s how:

Go to Appearance ⟶ Theme Editor.
Select the functions.php file from the list on the right.
Copy and paste the code snippet at the end of the functions.php file.
Click Update File to save your changes.

Example: Adding a Custom Excerpt Length

function custom_excerpt_length($length) {

return 20;

}

add_filter('excerpt_length', 'custom_excerpt_length');

2. Using a Code Snippet Plugin

Plugins like Code Snippets provide a safer and more organized way to manage your snippets.

Go to Plugins ⟶ Add New.
Search for Code Snippets plugin.
Click Install Now and then Activate.
Go to Snippets ⟶ Add New. Enter a title for your snippet.
Paste your code into the Code field. Choose whether to run the snippet everywhere or only on the admin side.
Click Save Changes and Activate.

3. Using a Site-Specific Plugin

Creating a site-specific plugin allows you to keep your customizations even if you change themes.

Create a new file in your WordPress wp-content/plugins directory, e.g., my-custom-snippets.php.
Add Plugin Header and Code Snippets:

<?php

/*

Plugin Name: My Custom Snippets

Description: Site-specific code snippets.

Version: 1.0

Author: Your Name

*/

// Add your code snippets below this line.

Go to Plugins ⟶ Installed Plugins. Find “My Custom Snippets” and click Activate.

4. Best Practices for Managing Code Snippets

Primarily, always back up your site before adding new code snippets. This ensures you can restore your site if something goes wrong.

Test in a Staging Environment: Test new snippets in a staging environment before applying them to your live site. This helps prevent potential issues from affecting your live site.
Comment Your Code: Add comments to your code snippets to explain their purpose. This makes it easier to understand and manage your customizations later.
Use Descriptive Titles: When using a plugin like Code Snippets, use descriptive titles for your snippets. This helps you quickly identify their function.
Keep Snippets Organized: Organize your snippets logically, whether by grouping related functions or using categories in a snippet management plugin.

Know more: How to Install and Set Up a WordPress Multisite Network

5. Common Code Snippets

Here are some common code snippets that can be use in a WordPress blog:

i) Disable WordPress Emojis

remove_action('wp_head', 'print_emoji_detection_script', 7);

remove_action('wp_print_styles', 'print_emoji_styles');

ii) Add Google Analytics Tracking Code

function add_google_analytics() { ?>

<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-XXXXXXXXX-X"></script>

<script>

window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];

function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}

gtag('js', new Date());

gtag('config', 'UA-XXXXXXXXX-X');

</script>

<?php }

add_action('wp_head', 'add_google_analytics');

iii) Change Login Logo URL

function custom_login_logo_url() {

return home_url();

}

add_filter('login_headerurl', 'custom_login_logo_url');

iv) Disable XML-RPC

add_filter('xmlrpc_enabled', '__return_false');

Wrapping Up

Code snippets are a powerful tool for customizing and enhancing your WordPress site. By understanding how to add, manage, and utilize code snippets, you can tailor your site to meet specific needs without relying heavily on plugins. Remember to follow best practices such as backing up your site, testing in a staging environment, and commenting on your code to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow. Happy coding!