Unlocking the World of Vector Graphics: Uploading SVG Image in WordPress without a Plugin

Have you ever wondered how to use high-quality vector images on your WordPress website? Look no further than SVG images! While WordPress is known for its user-friendly customization, the platform isn’t always seamless when it comes to certain image formats, including SVG. But fear not! We’re here to guide you through the process of uploading SVG images without a plugin.

What is SVG Image?

SVG, short for Scalable Vector Graphics, is an XML-based vector image format for two-dimensional graphics with support for interactivity and animation. SVG images can be edited with any text editor and can be used in various applications. It is particularly suited for graphics that need to be resized in various formats without losing their resolution.

Why Use SVG Images?

1. Scalability: SVG images are vector-based, making them perfect for graphics and visual elements that need to be resized.
2. Optimized for Web: SVG images are optimized for web use, loading faster, and using less bandwidth than other image formats.
3. Interactivity: Unlike other image formats, SVG images can be interactive, allowing users to hover, click, and manipulate various elements on the image.
4. SEO Benefits: Using SVG images can improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) by reducing page load times and improving user engagement.

How to Upload SVG Image in WordPress without Plugin

To upload SVG images, follow these steps:

Step 1: Creating a Child Theme

Creating a child theme allows you to make changes to your website’s theme’s functions.php file without affecting the parent theme.

1. Create a new folder in wp-content/themes/ directory and give it a name, e.g., my-child-theme.
2. Inside the my-child-theme folder, create a new style.css file.
3. Inside the style.css file, add the following code:

/* Theme Name: My Child Theme Template: parent-theme-directory-name-here */ 
@import url('../parent-theme-directory-name-here/style.css');

Replace parent-theme-directory-name-here with the name of the parent theme directory, then save the file and upload the my-child-theme directory to the wp-content/themes/ directory of your WordPress installation.

Step 2: Modify the Functions.php File

You need to modify your website’s theme’s functions.php file to allow SVG images to be uploaded. Here’s how:

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard and click on the Appearance menu, then the Editor submenu.
2. Select your child theme from the dropdown menu and click on the functions.php file located on the right-hand side of the editor screen.
3. Backup the original functions.php file, then add the following code to the file:

/* Allow SVG */ 
add_filter('upload_mimes', 'my_custom_mimes'); 
function my_custom_mimes($mimes = array()) { 
  $mimes['svg'] = 'image/svg+xml'; 
  return $mimes; 
}

This code adds the SVG image mime type to the list of allowed file types in WordPress.

Step 3: Upload SVG Image

Now that you’ve modified the functions.php file, uploading SVG images to WordPress is easy!

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard and click on the Media menu, then the Add New submenu.
2. Click on the Select Files button and browse to the location of the SVG file on your computer.
3. Click on the Upload button to upload the SVG image to WordPress.
4. Once the SVG image is uploaded, click on the Edit button to view the image details.
5. Copy the URL of the SVG image.

Step 4: Insert SVG Image into Your Website

It’s time to showcase your SVG image on your website! Follow these steps:

1. Open the post or page where you want to add the SVG image.
2. Click on the Add Media button and select the Insert from URL tab.
3. Paste the URL of the SVG image in the text field.
4. Click on the Insert into post button to add the SVG image to your website.

Conclusion

Voila! You can now easily upload and use SVG images on your WordPress website without a plugin. Remember to create a child theme before modifying the functions.php file to avoid losing any changes in future updates.