Woocommerce How To Add Shopping Cart Button On Navigation

WooCommerce: How to Add a Shopping Cart Button to Your Navigation Menu (Boost Sales & UX!)

Introduction:

In the competitive world of e-commerce, user experience (UX) is paramount. A key aspect of a smooth shopping experience is making the shopping cart easily accessible to your customers. Adding a shopping cart button directly to your navigation menu in WooCommerce is a simple yet effective way to boost sales and improve your website’s UX. This article will guide you through several methods to achieve this, empowering you to create a seamless and conversion-optimized online store. We’ll cover different approaches, from using simple CSS to more advanced PHP modifications, ensuring there’s a solution for every skill level. Let’s dive in and make your shopping cart more visible!

Adding a Shopping Cart Icon to Your WooCommerce Navigation

There are several ways to add a shopping cart button to your WooCommerce navigation menu. We will explore three primary methods: using a plugin, using custom CSS, and using a custom PHP function. The best method for you will depend on your comfort level with code and your specific theme.

1. Using a WooCommerce Cart Icon Plugin

This is arguably the easiest and most user-friendly method, especially for those who are not comfortable with code. Several plugins available in the WordPress repository make this process incredibly simple.

• Example: Consider plugins like “WooCommerce Menu Cart” or “Add to Cart Button for WooCommerce.” These plugins typically offer:
• Easy Installation & Activation: Simply install and activate the plugin through your WordPress dashboard.
• Customization Options: Most plugins provide options to customize the cart icon (choose from different icons or upload your own), the text displayed (e.g., “Cart,” “View Cart,” or simply the item count), and the icon’s position in the menu.
• Dynamic Cart Updates: The cart icon will dynamically update to reflect the number of items and the total price in the cart.
• Theme Compatibility: Well-maintained plugins are generally compatible with a wide range of WooCommerce themes.

How to use a plugin (example using “WooCommerce Menu Cart”):

1. Install and Activate: Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard, search for “WooCommerce Menu Cart,” install, and activate the plugin.

2. Configure the Plugin: Go to Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce Menu Cart (or the plugin’s dedicated settings page) to configure your cart icon.

3. Customize Settings: Adjust the settings such as:

• Which menu to display the cart in
• The icon to use
• Text to display
• Alignment of the icon and text

2. Using Custom CSS (Simpler Themes)

This method is suitable if your theme provides sufficient CSS hooks or if you are comfortable making minor CSS adjustments. It relies on using the WooCommerce shortcode for the cart content and then styling it.

• Considerations: This method requires a basic understanding of CSS. It may not work perfectly with all themes, especially if they have very specific menu structures.

Steps:

1. Add the Cart Shortcode to a Menu Item:

• Go to Appearance > Menus in your WordPress dashboard.
• Create a new custom link menu item with the URL set to `#` (or any temporary URL).
• Set the Link Text to `WooCommerce Cart`.
• Add the menu item to your desired menu.

2. Add Custom CSS to your theme:

• You can add CSS to your theme by:
• Using the WordPress Customizer (Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS)
• Editing your theme’s `style.css` file (carefully and with a backup!)
• Using a child theme (recommended for larger changes)
• Add the following CSS (adjust selectors as needed for your theme):

.menu-item-type-custom a[href=”#WooCommerce Cart”]:before {

content: “f07a”; /* Font Awesome cart icon (adjust as needed) */

font-family: FontAwesome; /* or ‘Font Awesome 5 Free’ if using FA5 */

margin-right: 5px;

}

.woocommerce-cart-item-count {

/* Style the cart item count badge */

background-color: #f00;

color: white;

padding: 2px 5px;

border-radius: 50%;

font-size: 0.8em;

vertical-align: super;

}

Explanation of the CSS:

• `.menu-item-type-custom a[href=”#WooCommerce Cart”]:before` targets the custom link menu item.
• `content: “f07a”;` adds a Font Awesome cart icon *before* the link text. You’ll need to ensure Font Awesome is loaded on your site (many themes include it). You can find different cart icon codes on the Font Awesome website.
• `font-family: FontAwesome;` specifies the Font Awesome font.
• The subsequent CSS styles a hypothetical `.woocommerce-cart-item-count` element, which you would need to generate programmatically (see the PHP method below for an example). Without PHP, you’d need to rely on a plugin to dynamically update the cart count in the menu.

3. Using Custom PHP Code (Advanced, Most Flexible)

This method offers the most flexibility but requires a good understanding of PHP and WordPress theme development. You’ll be directly modifying your theme’s files (using a child theme is *strongly recommended*).

• Considerations: This is the most complex method. Errors in your code can break your site. Always back up your theme files before making changes.

Steps:

1. Create a Child Theme: This is crucial! Do *not* edit your parent theme’s files directly. Create a child theme to preserve your changes during theme updates.

2. Edit your Child Theme’s `functions.php` file: Add the following code to your child theme’s `functions.php` file:

<?php

add_filter( ‘wp_nav_menu_items’, ‘woo_add_cart_link_to_menu’, 10, 2 );

function woo_add_cart_link_to_menu( $items, $args ) {

// Check if WooCommerce is active

if ( ! function_exists( ‘WC’ ) ) {

return $items;

}

// Check if we’re on the correct menu (replace ‘primary’ with your menu’s location)

if ( $args->theme_location == ‘primary’ ) { // Adjust ‘primary’ to your menu’s location

$cart_count = WC()->cart->get_cart_contents_count();

$cart_url = wc_get_cart_url();

$cart_link = ‘

• ‘;

  $cart_link .= ‘‘;

  $cart_link .= ‘ ‘; // Add your Font Awesome cart icon here

  $cart_link .= ‘Cart’;

  if ( $cart_count > 0 ) {

  $cart_link .= ‘ ‘ . esc_html( $cart_count ) . ‘‘;

  }

  $cart_link .= ‘‘;

  $cart_link .= ‘

‘;

$items .= $cart_link;

}

return $items;

}

?>

Explanation of the PHP Code:

• `add_filter( ‘wp_nav_menu_items’, ‘woo_add_cart_link_to_menu’, 10, 2 );`: This adds our function to the `wp_nav_menu_items` filter, which allows us to modify the menu items.
• `woo_add_cart_link_to_menu( $items, $args )`: This is our custom function.
• `if ( ! function_exists( ‘WC’ ) ) { return $items; }`: Checks if WooCommerce is active.
• `if ( $args->theme_location == ‘primary’ )`: Specifies which menu to add the cart link to. *Replace `’primary’` with the actual theme location of your navigation menu.* You can find the theme location in Appearance > Menus by inspecting the menu settings.
• `$cart_count = WC()->cart->get_cart_contents_count();`: Gets the number of items in the cart.
• `$cart_url = wc_get_cart_url();`: Gets the URL of the cart page.
• The code then constructs the HTML for the cart link, including the cart icon (using Font Awesome – ensure it’s loaded) and the optional cart item count.
• `esc_url()` and `esc_html()` are used for security to sanitize the URL and text.
• Finally, the cart link is appended to the menu items.

3. Add CSS (if needed): You may need to add CSS to style the cart link and the cart item count badge. Use the same CSS methods described in the “Custom CSS” section.

Conclusion: Enhance Your WooCommerce Store with a Visible Cart

Adding a shopping cart button to your WooCommerce navigation menu is a simple change that can have a significant impact on your store’s user experience and conversion rates. By making the cart readily accessible, you reduce friction in the purchasing process, encouraging customers to complete their orders.

• Choose the method that best suits your skills and comfort level. Plugins are the easiest option, while custom PHP provides the most flexibility.
• Always test your changes thoroughly to ensure they work correctly and don’t conflict with other plugins or theme customizations.
• Pay attention to styling to ensure the cart icon integrates seamlessly with your website’s design.

By implementing these techniques, you’ll create a smoother, more intuitive shopping experience that delights your customers and boosts your sales. Good luck!