WooCommerce: Showing the Full Item Title (and Why It Matters)
Are you using WooCommerce and frustrated that your product titles are getting cut off? Do you want the *entire* name Discover insights on Woocommerce How To Download Orders of your awesome item to be displayed, giving your customers a clear picture of what they’re browsing? You’re in the right place! This guide is specifically for WooCommerce newbies who want to take control of their product titles and make them work *for* their store.
Let’s dive in!
Why Show the Full Product Title?
Before we get into the “how,” let’s quickly address the “why.” Displaying the complete product title is crucial for several reasons:
* Clarity: Customers need to *know* what they’re looking at. A truncated title like “Luxury Scented C…” isn’t helpful. Showing “Luxury Scented Candle – Sandalwood & Vanilla” tells them exactly what they get.
* SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Search engines like Google use product titles to understand what you’re selling. If important keywords are cut off, your products might not rank as high as they could. Full titles allow search engines to fully index your products, and more search traffic is always a good thing.
* User Experience: A clear and informative title is simply a better user experience. It prevents confusion and helps customers find what they need quickly.
* Branding: Your product titles are part of your brand voice. They should be consistent and professional.
Imagine you’re selling handmade jewelry. A clipped title like “Handmade Earri…” leaves a lot to the imagination. “Handmade Earrings – Sterling Silver with Turquoise Stone” paints a much better picture and attracts the right customers.
Where Product Titles Might Be Truncated
You’ll typically encounter title truncation in these areas:
* Shop Pages: The main page where all your products are listed.
* Category Pages: Pages displaying products within a specific category.
* Product Archives: Pages that list products based on attributes, tags, etc.
* Related Products: The section at the bottom of a product page that displays similar items.
* Widgets: Product widgets displayed in your sidebar or footer.
Now, let’s fix this! There are several ways to achieve this, ranging from simple CSS fixes to more advanced code modifications.
Method 1: CSS (The Quick and Easy Fix – Often Works!)
This is usually the first thing to try. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) controls the visual presentation of your website. We can often use CSS to “tell” the title to wrap to the next line instead of truncating.
1. Identify the CSS Class: Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the product title and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”). Look for the CSS class associated with the product title (e.g., `.woocommerce-loop-product__title`, `.product-title`, etc.). The class will look something like this: `
`.
2. Add CSS to Your Theme: You have a few options here:
* WordPress Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS. This is usually the best option for beginners.
* Theme’s `style.css` file: This is more advanced and generally not recommended unless you know what you’re doing (it can break your site!).
* Child Theme’s `style.css` file: Recommended if you want to customize your theme beyond the Customizer. Google “WordPress child theme” to learn more.
3. Add the CSS Code: In the chosen location, add the following CSS, replacing `.woocommerce-loop-product__title` with the *actual* class you found:
.woocommerce-loop-product__title {
white-space: normal;
overflow: visible;
text-overflow: clip;
}
* `white-space: normal;` allows the title to wrap onto multiple lines if needed.
* `overflow: visible;` ensures that the title isn’t hidden if it exceeds the container’s width.
* `text-overflow: clip;` prevents the “…” (ellipsis) from appearing.
4. Save and Check: Save your changes and refresh your website. Check if the titles are now displaying fully.
Example:
Let’s say you’re selling handmade soaps and your product titles are being cut off on the shop page. You inspect the title and find it has the class `.soap-title`. You would then add the following CSS:
.soap-title {
white-space: normal;
overflow: visible;
text-overflow: clip;
}
This *might* be all you need to do! If not, move on to the next method.
Method 2: PHP Code (For More Control – Be Careful!)
This method involves modifying the theme’s PHP files. This can be risky if you’re not comfortable with code, so proceed with caution. Always back up your website before making changes.
1. Identify the Template File: You’ll need to find the template file responsible for displaying the product titles. Common files include:
* `woocommerce/templates/loop/title.php`
* `woocommerce/content-product.php`
* Your theme’s custom WooCommerce templates (often found in a `woocommerce` folder within your theme).
2. Create a Child Theme (Highly Recommended): As mentioned earlier, creating a child theme is the safest way to modify your theme’s files without losing changes during theme updates.
3. Edit the Template File: Copy the relevant template file from the WooCommerce plugin (or your parent theme) to your child theme. Then, edit the file.
4. Modify the Title Display: Look for the code that outputs the product title (usually something like `the_title()` or `woocommerce_template_loop_product_title()`). You might find code that limits the title length.
5. Remove the Length Restriction: If you find code that restricts the title length, carefully remove or modify it. For example, you might see something like this:
Remove or comment out the `substr()` function to display the full title:
Important: Be very careful when editing PHP code. A small error can break your site. Always test your changes thoroughly.
Example:
Let’s say you found the following code in `woocommerce/templates/loop/title.php`:
<?php global $product; echo '' . wp_kses_post( substr(get_the_title(), 0, 30) ) . '
'; ?>
This limits the title to 30 characters. To show the full title, you would change it to:
<?php global $product; echo '' . wp_kses_post( get_the_title() ) . '
'; ?>
Method 3: Using a Plugin (The Easiest but Potentially Overkill)
While not always necessary, there are plugins that can help manage WooCommerce product titles and descriptions. These are generally best avoided for this specific task unless you need other advanced title/description management features. They can add unnecessary bloat to your site.
Key Takeaways
* CSS is your friend: Start with CSS. It’s often the simplest and most effective solution.
* Child Themes are Essential: When modifying theme files, always use a child theme to protect your changes.
* Backups are Critical: Before making any code changes, back up your entire website.
* Test Thoroughly: After making changes, test your website on different devices and browsers to ensure everything looks correct.
* Clarity Sells: Showcasing full titles enhance the entire customer experiece.
By implementing these methods, you can ensure that your WooCommerce product titles are fully displayed, improving clarity, SEO, and the overall user experience of your online store. Good luck, and happy selling!
