Discover the Steps To Use WordPress do_shortcode

WordPress, which is innovative and handy to work on, still makes it a nice tool to create sites for users. Apart from many other elements that make WordPress a strong platform, the ability to tackle shortcodes is also a plus. 

do_Shortcodes provide a way to perform a wide range of tasks and display dynamic content, which is very easy to do. These include but are not limited to, the function do_shortcode, which is very useful and notable among the others.

In this article, we will look at the do_shortcode technique and its proper usage in the context of WordPress.

Understanding do_shortcode

Let's begin not with the implementation of the steps but rather with the understanding of what do_shortcode actually does. In WordPress, shortcode tags are enclosed in square brackets [shortcode]. These tags are holders that are later escaped by WordPress and replaced with dynamic content or functionalities when a page or post is displayed. 

WordPress provides a function called do_shortcode which enables developers to run these shortcodes themselves in their code rather than leaving WordPress to execute them automatically.

Step 1: Identify the Shortcode

The first part of using do_shortcode is defining the shortcode you want to execute. Shortcodes can be created by the themes, the plugins and manually within your WordPress content. Identify the shortcode you want to use and record its name and any arguments that it is supposed to take.

Step 2: Prepare Your PHP Code

Once you've discovered the shortcode, you'll need to write PHP code to run it using do_shortcode. This entails inserting the do_shortcode function into your PHP code at the proper spot. For example, if you want to use a shortcode in a WordPress hosting template file, find the area of code where you want the shortcode to be performed.

Step 3: Implement do_shortcode

With your PHP code prepared, it's time to implement do_shortcode. Simply call the do_shortcode function and pass the shortcode as a parameter. Here's a basic example of how it's done:

echo do_shortcode('[your_shortcode]');

?>

Replace [your_shortcode] with the actual shortcode you wish to execute. This line of code will execute the specified shortcode and output its result at the location where the code is placed.

Step 4: Handling Shortcode Attributes

Many shortcodes in WordPress accept attributes that modify their behavior or output. If the shortcode you're executing requires attributes, you can pass them to do_shortcode as well. Simply include the attributes within the shortcode string passed to do_shortcode. Here's an example:

echo do_shortcode('[your_shortcode attribute="value"]');

?>

Replace attribute="value" with the actual attribute and its value as required by the shortcode you're executing.

Step 5: Using do_shortcode in WordPress Functions

In addition to embedding do_shortcode directly within your PHP code, you can also use it within WordPress functions. This allows you to execute shortcodes in various contexts, such as widget areas, theme options, or custom plugins. Here's how you can use do_shortcode within a WordPress function:

$output = do_shortcode('[your_shortcode]');

echo $output;

?>

This example indicates how you can store the output of do_shortcode in a variable.

Step 6: Testing & Troubleshooting

After implementing do_shortcode, it's crucial to test your code thoroughly. Check that the shortcode is executed correctly and that any attributes are applied as intended. If you encounter any issues, carefully review your code for errors or consult the documentation for the shortcode you're using.

Final Words

Finally, the shortcode functionality makes do_shortcode an effective tool for doing shortcodes in WordPress. This article will help you to achieve the above by using the outlined steps and thus use shortcodes to dynamically add content to your WordPress website. 

Be it via the inclusion of dynamic data, from plugins, or during theme customization, the do_shortcode feature is flexible and efficient. Try different shortcodes and expand your knowledge of do_shortcode to amaze yourself as you build your WordPress development. For more hosting and cloud related solution-get in touch with our experts.