Filters

The Problem of Duplicate GUIDs A globally unique identifier (GUID) is a unique reference number used as an identifier in WordPress database tables. GUIDs are stored in the guid column of key tables like wp_posts and wp_comments. They help WordPress track and relate pieces of content. Ideally, every post, page, attachment, revision, and comment should…

Forgetting to Check if the Filter/Action Exists First A common mistake when removing a WordPress filter or action from an external class is failing to check if that filter or action is actually registered. Removing non-existent hooks will generate PHP errors and warnings that could break the site. Before removing any hooks, use has_filter() or…

What are Anonymous Object Filters in WordPress Anonymous object filters in WordPress refer to filters that are added without a unique name or handle. They allow developers to hook into WordPress actions and filters to execute custom code without having to define a separate callback function. The main issue with anonymous object filters is that…

What is functions.php and Why is it Important? functions.php is a core WordPress file that allows users to customize and enhance the functionality of their WordPress site. This file serves as a repository for hooks, filters, and custom functions that add to or alter the default WordPress behavior. When WordPress loads a site, it will…

Understanding Actions and Filters in WordPress Defining Actions and Filters Actions and filters are hooks that allow plugins and themes to interact with the WordPress core software and other plugins and themes. They make WordPress extremely extensible and customizable. Actions are hooks that let developers execute custom functions at specific points during WordPress loading and…

Why Modify Core Functionality? There are several key reasons why a developer may want to modify WordPress core functionality: Solving Specific Site Issues Sometimes the out-of-the-box WordPress code does not fully accommodate a website’s needs. For example, the standard WordPress title structure may not format properly with a site’s SEO goals. By modifying the wp_title…

Overriding WordPress core functionality allows developers to customize and extend default WordPress behavior beyond what is available out of the box. There are important best practices to follow when overriding WordPress core to ensure proper functionality, security, and maintainability of a WordPress site. Why Override Core Functionality There are several key reasons a developer may…

Filters and actions are integral concepts in WordPress development that allow plugins and themes to hook into WordPress to modify data and execute code at specific points. This comprehensive guide will demystify filters and actions – explaining what they are, when and how to use them effectively, and provide practical examples for implementation in your…

Improving WordPress Speed with Caching Plugins Caching plugins play a vital role in accelerating WordPress site speeds by storing cached versions of pages and assets to reduce server workload. There are three main types of caching solutions: Object Caching Object caching stores full database queries, API requests, and computationally intensive operations in memory to return…

Overview of Default WordPress Post Statuses WordPress comes with several default post statuses that you can assign to posts in order to indicate the current state of the post. Understanding these statuses can help manage and organize your site’s content more effectively. The main default post statuses in WordPress are: Published The published status means…