Creating a WordPress plugin is easy – learn how here

Daniel Saucedo

Creating a WordPress plugin is a great way to extend the functionality of WordPress and add new features to your website. With WordPress plugins, you can create custom post types, shortcodes, widgets, and much more. WordPress plugins are easy to create and can be done in a few simple steps. This guide will provide an overview of the process, from planning to publishing.

First, you should plan out the features you want to add to your plugin. Think about what kind of functionality you want to add and what will be the most useful for your website. Once you have an idea of what you want to create, you can start coding.

You will need to create a folder and add a “readme.txt” file to the folder. This file should contain a brief description of the plugin and its features. The plugin should also have a “main file” which will contain the code and be the main entry point for WordPress.

Before you can publish the plugin, you will need to create a zip file containing all of the files in the plugin folder. This zip file should be named with the name of the plugin. Finally, you will need to upload the plugin to the WordPress repository. You can

How to create a plugin for WordPress?

If you’re looking to create a plugin for WordPress, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you have a good understanding of how WordPress works. Once you have that under your belt, you need to create a plugin skeleton. This consists of a plugin file (in the wp-content/plugins directory) and a plugin manifest file. The plugin file should include the following:

  • The plugin’s name
  • The plugin’s description
  • A short description of what the plugin does
  • A list of required files and folders
  • The plugin’s author
  • The plugin’s copyright information
  • The plugin’s license
  • The plugin’s install instructions

The plugin manifest file should include the following:

  • The plugin’s name
  • The plugin’s version number
  • The plugin’s file path
  • The plugin’s slug
  • The plugin’s activation method
  • The plugin’s default activation condition
  • The plugin’s dependencies

Once you have these files created, you can install the plugin by uploading it to the WordPress plugin directory and activating it in the WordPress admin area.

5 Steps for creating your first plugin

  1. Set up a development environment: Before you begin creating a WordPress plugin, it’s important to set up a development environment. This includes installing a web server, database, and WordPress on your local machine. This will allow you to test your plugin without affecting a live website.
  2. Create your plugin folder and file: Once your development environment is set up, you’ll need to create a folder and file for your plugin. The folder should be placed in the wp-content/plugins directory of your WordPress install. You can call it anything you like, but it’s a good idea to give it a unique and descriptive name. The file should be named the same as your folder and should contain the plugin’s code.
  3. Write your plugin code: Now that your plugin folder and file are set up, you can start writing your plugin code. This will depend on what you’re trying to achieve with your plugin, but it should include a plugin header that contains important information about your plugin. This should include a Plugin Name, Plugin URI, Description, Version, Author, Author URI, License, and Text Domain.
  4. Test and debug your plugin: Once you’ve written your plugin code, it’s time to test and debug it. This can be done by activating the plugin in your WordPress admin area and testing it out on your local development environment. If there are any errors or bugs, you can use debugging tools such as Xdebug to locate and fix them.
  5. Upload your plugin to the WordPress repository: Once you’ve tested and debugged your plugin, you can upload it to the WordPress repository. This allows other users to find and install your plugin on their websites. To upload your plugin, you’ll need to create a WordPress.org account and submit your plugin for review. If approved, it will be available in the WordPress plugin directory.

Code and Hooks

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: My Plugin
Plugin URI: https://example.com/my-plugin
Description: An example plugin for WordPress.
Version: 1.0
Author: Your Name
Author URI: https://example.com
License: GPL2
Text Domain: my-plugin
*/

// Plugin code goes here

// Hooks
register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'my_plugin_activate' );
register_deactivation_hook( __FILE__, 'my_plugin_deactivate' );

// Activation
function my_plugin_activate() {
    // Code to run on activation
}

// Deactivation
function my_plugin_deactivate() {
    // Code to run on deactivation
}