WordPress Plugins: Adding Functionality to Your Website without Coding

WordPress is a widely popular open-source content management system that powers millions of websites globally. One key reason for its popularity is its vast library of plugins. These plugins allow website owners to customize their websites with specific functionalities without writing any code.

Plugins: Handy Pieces of Software

Plugins are software pieces that extend the functionality of WordPress websites. They can range from simple contact forms to complex e-commerce platforms. If you’re interested in creating a plugin for WordPress, this article will take you through the steps of making a simple plugin.

Step 1: Deciding on Plugin Functions

First and foremost, decide on the functionality you wish to add to your site. Several options could include adding a contact form, social media sharing widget or a custom post type. Once you have the basis of the functionality in mind, move to the next step.

Step 2: Environment Set-up

Before proceeding to code, establish a development environment. A development environment is a local server where you can test your plugin before uploading it to your WordPress site. Several alternative software options include XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP. After installation, make a new folder in your htdocs (where your local server serves files from) that contains your plugin files.

Step 3: Create a Folder for Your Plugin

In the file you created in step 2, create a new folder with the name of your plugin. If creating a contact form plugin, name it ‘my-contact-form.’ In the plugin folder, create a new file called ‘my-contact-form.php.’ This file is the primary plugin file, and it will contain all the code.

Step 4: Plugin Header Addition

The plugin header is a comment section at the beginning of your plugin file that includes information about your plugin, such as its name, description, version, author, and license. See an example plugin header below:


/*
Plugin Name: My Contact Form
Plugin URI: https://mywebsite.com/my-contact-form
Description: A simple contact form plugin for WordPress
Version: 1.0
Author: John Doe
Author URI: https://mywebsite.com
License: GPL2
*/


Step 5: Activation and Deactivation Hook Additions

Activate and deactivate your plugin by adding activation and deactivation hooks. Hooks are actions that trigger when a plugin is activated or deactivated. See an example of an activation hook and deactivation hook below:


// Activation hook
register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'my_contact_form_activate' );
function my_contact_form_activate() {
// Insert activation code here
}

// Deactivation hook
register_deactivation_hook( __FILE__, 'my_contact_form_deactivate' );
function my_contact_form_deactivate() {
// Insert deactivation code here
}


Step 6: Adding Plugin Menu

If your plugin requires a settings page, add a menu entry. In your plugin file, add the subsequent code:


// Add menu entry
add_action( 'admin_menu', 'my_contact_form_menu' );
function my_contact_form_menu() {
// Add menu entry here
}


Step 7: Adding the Shortcode

A shortcode is a small piece of code that displays your plugin’s functionality. For instance, if creating a contact form plugin, add a shortcode that displays the form. Here’s an example of a shortcode:


// Add shortcode
add_shortcode( 'my-contact-form', 'my_contact_form_shortcode' );
function my_contact_form_shortcode() {
// Insert shortcode code here
}


Step 8: Adding Plugin Functions

Finally, you need to add the functions that implement your plugin’s functionality. For example, if creating a contact form plugin, you need functions that handle form submissions, send emails, and display confirmation messages. Here’s an example of a simple contact form handler:


//Add contact form handler
add_action( 'wp_ajax_my_contact_form_submit', 'my_contact_form_submit' );
add_action( 'wp_ajax_nopriv_my_contact_form_submit', 'my_contact_form_submit' );
function my_contact_form_submit() {
// Handle form submission here
}


Conclusion

Creating a WordPress plugin is not difficult but requires some coding skills. In this guide, the steps involved in creating a simple plugin from scratch have been outlined. When the basics are mastered, try exploring more advanced topics like plugin security, performance optimization, and internationalization. With persistence and creativity, one can create a plugin that adds significant value to their website and the WordPress community in general.