How to Create a Shortcode with a WordPress Plugin

Table of Contents

• What is a WordPress Shortcode?
• Why Use Shortcodes in WordPress?
• How to Create a Shortcode with a WordPress Plugin
  • Step 1: Create a Custom Plugin
  • Step 2: Register the Shortcode
  • Step 3: Implement the Shortcode Function
  • Step 4: Test the Shortcode
• Complete Shortcode Plugin Code
• Bonus: Add Shortcode Attributes
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is a WordPress Shortcode?

A shortcode is a small piece of code in square brackets [ ] that lets you add dynamic content to posts, pages, and widgets without writing complex code.

Why Use Shortcodes in WordPress?

Shortcodes allow you to:

• Reuse code easily
• Add custom content anywhere
• Improve flexibility in your WordPress theme or plugin

How to Create a Shortcode with a WordPress Plugin

Follow these steps to create a shortcode using a custom plugin.

Step 1: Create a Custom Plugin

1. Go to your WordPress site’s root directory.
2. Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/.
3. Create a new folder, e.g., my-custom-shortcode.
4. Inside the folder, create a PHP file, e.g., my-custom-shortcode.php.
5. Add this code at the top of the file:
6. Please visit this blog for more information.

<?php
/**
 * Plugin Name: My Custom Shortcode
 * Description: A simple WordPress shortcode plugin.
 * Version: 1.0
 * Author: Your Name
 */

if (!defined('ABSPATH')) exit; // Exit if accessed directly

Step 2: Register the Shortcode

Add this function to define a simple shortcode:

function my_shortcode_function() {
    return '<p>This is my custom shortcode content.</p>';
}
add_shortcode('myshortcode', 'my_shortcode_function');

Step 3: Implement the Shortcode Function

You can customize the shortcode output. Example with attributes:

function my_custom_shortcode($atts) {
    $atts = shortcode_atts(
        array(
            'text' => 'Default Text',
        ),
        $atts,
        'myshortcode'
    );
    return '<p>' . esc_html($atts['text']) . '</p>';
}
add_shortcode('myshortcode', 'my_custom_shortcode');

Step 4: Test the Shortcode

1. Activate your plugin in WordPress.
2. Add [myshortcode] to a post or page.
3. Refresh and check if the shortcode works.

Bonus: Add Shortcode Attributes

Modify the shortcode to accept parameters:

[myshortcode text="Hello World"]

This will display: Hello World instead of Default Text.

Complete Shortcode Plugin Code

Here’s the full code for your custom shortcode plugin:

<?php
/**
 * Plugin Name: My Custom Shortcode
 * Description: A simple WordPress shortcode plugin.
 * Version: 1.0
 * Author: Your Name
 */

if (!defined('ABSPATH')) exit; // Exit if accessed directly

function my_custom_shortcode($atts) {
    $atts = shortcode_atts(
        array(
            'text' => 'Default Text',
        ), 
        $atts, 
        'myshortcode'
    );
    return '<p>' . esc_html($atts['text']) . '</p>';
}
add_shortcode('myshortcode', 'my_custom_shortcode');

Save this as my-custom-shortcode.php, upload it to /wp-content/plugins/, and activate it in WordPress.

FAQ