How to Enable Search by Product SKU in WooCommerce

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. What is SKU?
3. Why Enable SKU Search?
4. Steps to Enable SKU Search
   • Step 1: Backup Your Site
   • Step 2: Add the Custom Code
   • Step 3: Save and Test the Search Functionality
5. Conclusion
6. FAQ

Overview

If you run a WooCommerce store, improving search functionality can significantly enhance the user experience. One effective method is allowing customers to search for products using their SKUs (Stock Keeping Units). In this blog post, we’ll guide you through enabling SKU-based searches in WooCommerce using a custom code snippet.

What is SKU?

SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit. It is a unique identifier for each product, allowing for efficient tracking and inventory management. By enabling SKU searches, customers can quickly locate specific products, leading to a smoother shopping experience.

Why Enable SKU Search?

1. Improved User Experience
   • Letting customers search by SKU simplifies their shopping journey.
   • Enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.
2. Increased Sales
   • Easier product discovery reduces friction in the buying process.
   • Boosts conversion rates and sales.
3. Better Inventory Management
   • Tracks frequently searched SKUs for optimized stock levels.
   • Helps make data-driven restocking decisions.
4. Enhanced Customer Support
   • SKU search enables faster customer assistance.
   • Reduces response times and improves service quality.
5. Competitive Advantage
   • Advanced search capabilities set your WooCommerce store apart.
   • Attracts more customers with improved functionality.

Steps to Enable SKU Search

Step 1: Backup Your Site
Before making any changes, always back up your website. This ensures you can restore it if something goes wrong.

Step 2: Add the Custom Code
You’ll need to add a custom function to your theme’s functions.php file or create a site-specific plugin. Here’s the code to enable SKU search:

add_filter( 'pre_get_posts', 'codebykp_sku_search_helper' );

function codebykp_sku_search_helper( $wp ) {
    global $wpdb;
    $uwa_table_postmeta = $wpdb->prefix . 'postmeta';

    // Check to see if query is requested
    if ( ! isset( $wp->query['s'] ) || ! isset( $wp->query['post_type'] ) || $wp->query['post_type'] != 'product' ) {
        return;
    }
    
    $sku = $wp->query['s'];

    // Construct cache key
    $cache_key = 'sku_ids_' . $sku;
    $ids       = wp_cache_get( $cache_key, 'postmeta' );

    if ( false === $ids ) {
        // Execute query to fetch product IDs by SKU
        $ids = $wpdb->get_col( $wpdb->prepare("SELECT post_id FROM {$wpdb->prefix}postmeta WHERE meta_key = '_sku' AND meta_value = %s", $sku) );

        // Cache the IDs
        if ( $ids ) {
            wp_cache_set( $cache_key, $ids, 'postmeta' );
        }
    }

    if ( ! $ids ) {
        return;
    }
    
    // Clear the search query
    unset( $wp->query['s'] );
    unset( $wp->query_vars['s'] );
    
    // Add product IDs to the query
    $wp->query['post__in'] = array();
    foreach ( $ids as $id ) {
        $post = get_post( $id );
        if ( $post->post_type == 'product_variation' ) {
            $wp->query['post__in'][]      = $post->post_parent;
            $wp->query_vars['post__in'][] = $post->post_parent;
        } else {
            $wp->query_vars['post__in'][] = $post->ID;
        }
    }
}

Step 3: Save and Test the Search Functionality

After adding the code, save the changes to your functions.php file. Then, go to your WooCommerce store and use the search bar to enter a SKU. Verify that the products associated with that SKU appear in the search results.

Conclusion

Enabling SKU searches in WooCommerce is a straightforward yet effective way to enhance your store’s search functionality. By implementing the provided code snippet, you help customers find products faster, improving their overall shopping experience. Feel free to customize the code to meet your specific needs.

FAQ