How To Add Cart Symbol To Menu With Woocommerce

How to Add a Cart Symbol to Your WooCommerce Menu: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction:

In the world of e-commerce, user experience is paramount. A clear and accessible shopping cart is crucial for encouraging purchases and streamlining the checkout process. Adding a cart symbol to your WooCommerce menu is a simple yet effective way to improve navigation and increase conversions. This article provides a comprehensive, SEO-friendly guide on how to achieve this, making it easier for your customers to find and access their shopping cart. By implementing this feature, you’ll enhance the overall usability of your online store and potentially boost sales.

Main Part:

There are several ways to add a cart symbol to your WooCommerce menu. We’ll explore the most common and straightforward methods:

Method 1: Using the WooCommerce Menu Cart Plugin

This is often the easiest and most recommended method, especially for users who are not comfortable with coding.

• Install and Activate the Plugin:
• Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
• Search for “WooCommerce Menu Cart.”
• Install and activate the plugin.
• Configure the Plugin Settings:
• Go to WooCommerce > Menu Cart in your WordPress dashboard.
• Here you can customize the cart icon, text, and display options. Pay attention to the following settings:
• Menu Item: Select the menu where you want to display the cart.
• Show Cart Icon: Choose the icon you want to use. Many plugins offer a selection of icons.
• Show Cart Totals: Decide whether to display the number of items in the cart or the total price.
• Always Display Cart: Enable this to show the cart even when it’s empty.
• Click Save Changes.

Method 2: Adding Code to Your Theme’s `functions.php` File

This method requires basic coding Explore this article on How To Add A Digital Download In Woocommerce knowledge. Always back up your theme before making any code changes!

• Access Your Theme’s `functions.php` File:
• Go to Appearance > Theme Editor in your WordPress dashboard.
• Locate and select the `functions.php` file from the list of theme files.
• Add the Following Code:

 add_filter( 'wp_nav_menu_items', 'woo_cart_menu_item', 10, 2 ); function woo_cart_menu_item ( $items, $args ) { if ( $args->theme_location == 'primary' ) { // Replace 'primary' with your menu's location $shop_page_id = wc_get_page_id( 'shop' ); $shop_page_url = get_permalink( $shop_page_id ); $cart_count = WC()->cart->get_cart_contents_count(); $cart_url = wc_get_cart_url(); 

$cart_item = ‘

• ‘;

  $cart_item .= ‘‘;

  $cart_item .= ‘ ‘; // Replace with your desired icon

  $cart_item .= ‘‘ . $cart_count . ‘‘;

  $cart_item .= ‘‘;

  $cart_item .= ‘

‘;

$items .= $cart_item;

}

return $items;

}

• Explanation of the Code:
• `add_filter( ‘wp_nav_menu_items’, ‘woo_cart_menu_item’, 10, 2 );`: This line hooks into the WordPress menu system.
• `if ( $args->theme_location == ‘primary’ )`: Crucially, replace `’primary’` with the actual theme location of the menu you want to modify. This ensures the code only affects the correct menu. Common locations include ‘primary’, ‘main-menu’, ‘top-menu’, etc. You can find this in Learn more about How To Set Up Woocommerce WordPress your theme’s documentation or by inspecting the menu settings in the WordPress admin.
• `$shop_page_id = wc_get_page_id( ‘shop’ );`: Gets the ID of your WooCommerce shop page.
• `$shop_page_url = get_permalink( $shop_page_id );`: Gets the URL of your WooCommerce shop page.
• `$cart_count = WC()->cart->get_cart_contents_count();`: Retrieves the number of items in the cart.
• `$cart_url = wc_get_cart_url();`: Gets the URL of the cart page.
• ``: This line displays the cart icon. You’ll need to have Font Awesome (or a similar icon library) integrated into your theme for this to work. If you don’t, you can replace this with an image URL or another icon library.
• `‘ . $cart_count . ‘`: Displays the number of items in the cart.
• Save the Changes: Click the “Update File” button.

Method 3: Using a Theme Customizer (If Available)

Some WooCommerce-compatible themes offer built-in options within the theme customizer to add a cart icon to the menu.

• Access the Theme Customizer:
• Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
• Look for WooCommerce or Menu Options:
• Explore the available options to see if your theme provides a setting for adding a cart icon to the menu.
• If you find the option, enable it and configure the settings as desired.
• Save Your Changes: Click the “Publish” button.

Conclusion:

Adding a cart symbol to your WooCommerce menu is a simple yet powerful way to improve user experience and boost sales. Whether you choose to use a plugin, add code directly to your theme, or utilize a theme customizer option, the result will be a more intuitive and user-friendly online store. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes, and ensure that your chosen method is compatible with your theme and WooCommerce version. By following these steps, you can ensure that your customers can easily access their shopping cart and complete their purchases seamlessly. Good luck!