How To Edit Template Woocommerc Product Category

# How to Edit WooCommerce Product Category Templates: A Beginner’s Guide

WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for selling online, but sometimes its default designs need a little tweaking. Want to change how your product categories look? This guide shows you how to edit WooCommerce product category templates, even if you’re a complete coding newbie. We’ll walk through the process step-by-step, using clear explanations and real-world examples.

Understanding WooCommerce Templates

Before diving into code, let’s understand the basics. WooCommerce uses templates to determine how your website displays various elements. The product category template controls how your product categories are shown on your website, including the layout of products, descriptions, and other elements. You’ll find these templates in your WooCommerce installation’s theme files.

Method 1: Using the Theme’s Customizer (Easiest Method)

Many modern WooCommerce themes offer a powerful customizer. This is the easiest method for beginners, allowing you to modify aspects of your category page without touching any code.

• Access the Customizer: Log into your WordPress dashboard, go to *Appearance > Customize*.
• Explore Theme Options: Look for settings related to “Shop,” “WooCommerce,” or “Product Categories”. These settings often allow you to adjust:
• Layout: Number of products per row, product display (grid or list), sidebar position.
• Typography: Font styles, sizes, and colors for category titles and descriptions.
• Colors: Background colors, text colors, and other stylistic elements.

Example: Let’s say you want to display products in a list format instead of a grid. You’d likely find a setting like “Shop Product Display” or “Category Product Layout” within the Customizer. Changing this setting from “Grid” to “List” would instantly alter the display.

Method 2: Child Themes & Editing Template Files (Intermediate Method)

If your theme’s customizer doesn’t offer enough customization options, you’ll need to edit the template files. Always use a child theme! This prevents your changes from being lost when you update your main theme.

• Create a Child Theme: If you don’t have one, create a child theme. This is crucial to prevent losing your edits during theme updates. There are many tutorials online for creating child themes.
• Locate the archive-product.php file: This file is often responsible for displaying product categories in your theme. The exact location depends on your theme’s structure; it’s usually found within your child theme’s directory. If not, check your parent theme (but remember to NEVER edit the parent theme directly!).
• Edit the file: Open `archive-product.php` with a code editor. Look for sections controlling the product display (loops), category descriptions, and other elements. You can then modify the HTML and potentially PHP to change the layout and content.

Example: Changing the Category Description:

You might find code similar to this:

<?php
if ( category_description() ) :
echo '
';
echo category_description();
echo '
';
endif;
?>

You could customize the `div` class (`category-description`) to style the description differently using CSS in your child theme’s `style.css` file. Or, you could entirely restructure how the description is presented.

Method 3: Using a WooCommerce Plugin (Advanced Method)

Some advanced plugins provide extensive control over WooCommerce templates. These plugins often allow you to create completely custom category pages without touching code directly – though some configurations might require some coding knowledge. Research plugins that offer “WooCommerce template customization” or “WooCommerce theme builder” functionality. Be sure to choose a reputable plugin with positive reviews.

Conclusion

Editing your WooCommerce product category templates can significantly improve your store’s appearance and user experience. Whether you use the Customizer for simple tweaks or delve into template files for more advanced changes, remember to always back up your website before making any changes. Start with the simplest method (the customizer) and only move to more advanced methods if necessary. This step-by-step guide empowers you to take control of your store’s visual appeal.