WooCommerce Grid/List Toggle: How to Add One to Your Store and Enhance User Experience
Are you looking to improve the shopping experience on your WooCommerce store? One simple yet effective way to do this is by adding a grid/list toggle feature. This allows customers to switch between viewing products in a visually appealing grid layout or a more detailed list view, giving them control over how they browse your catalog. This article will guide you through the process of adding a grid/list toggle to your WooCommerce store, discuss its benefits, and explore different methods for implementation. Improving user experience can lead to increased sales and customer satisfaction.
Why Add a Grid/List Toggle?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why a grid/list toggle is beneficial:
- Enhanced User Experience: Different shoppers have different preferences. Some prefer the visual appeal of a grid layout for quick browsing, while others prefer the detailed information available in a list view.
- Improved Navigation: Allows users to quickly find products that match their specific needs and preferences.
- Increased Engagement: Giving users control over their viewing experience can lead to more time spent browsing your store.
- Mobile-Friendliness: List views often work better on mobile devices with smaller screens.
- Caters to Different Product Types: A grid view might be ideal for visually-driven products like clothing, while a list view might be better for products with complex specifications like electronics.
- Easy to Install and Configure: No coding required.
- Pre-built Functionality: Saves development time.
- Often Includes Additional Features: Some plugins may offer extra customization options.
- Regular Updates and Support: Plugin developers typically provide updates and support.
- Plugin Bloat: Using too many plugins can slow down your website.
- Compatibility Issues: Plugins may not always be compatible with your theme or other plugins.
- Premium Costs: Some plugins offer advanced features only in premium versions.
Implementing a Grid/List Toggle in WooCommerce
There are several ways to add a grid/list toggle to your WooCommerce store. We will cover two popular methods: using a plugin and implementing it manually through code.
Method 1: Using a WooCommerce Plugin
This is the easiest and most straightforward approach, especially for users who are not comfortable with coding. Numerous plugins offer this functionality, both free and premium.
Here’s a general guide on how to use a plugin:
1. Search and Install: Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard. Search for “WooCommerce grid list toggle.”
2. Choose a Plugin: Carefully review the plugin’s ratings, reviews, and features. Popular options include “WooCommerce Grid List Toggle,” “Product Grid / List View for WooCommerce,” and similar plugins.
3. Install and Activate: Install the plugin you choose and activate it.
4. Configure Plugin Settings: Go to the plugin’s settings page (usually found under WooCommerce > Settings or a dedicated plugin settings area). Here, you can configure the toggle’s appearance, position, and other options.
5. Test: Visit your shop page and verify that the grid/list toggle is functioning correctly.
Benefits of using a Plugin:
Considerations when using a Plugin:
Method 2: Manual Implementation with Code
For those who are comfortable with coding and want more control over the implementation, a manual approach is viable. This involves modifying your theme’s files. Always create a child theme before making any changes to your theme’s core files to avoid losing customizations during theme updates.
Here’s a general outline of the steps involved (this is a simplified example and may require adjustments based on your specific theme):
1. Create a Child Theme: This is crucial to prevent overwriting your customizations when the theme is updated. If you don’t have a child theme already, create one.
2. Add the Grid/List Toggle HTML: You’ll need to add the HTML for the toggle to your shop page. The location will depend on your theme structure, but a common place is in your theme’s `woocommerce/archive-product.php` file (copied to your child theme, of course).
Note: You will need to include the Font Awesome library (or another icon library) for the icons to display correctly. You can do this by adding the following line to your child theme’s `functions.php` file:
function enqueue_font_awesome() {
wp_enqueue_style( 'font-awesome', 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.0.0/css/all.min.css' );
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'enqueue_font_awesome' );
3. Add the JavaScript (jQuery) Code: This code handles the switching between grid and list views when the toggle buttons are clicked. Add this to a JavaScript file in your child theme (e.g., `child-theme/js/custom.js`) and enqueue it in your `functions.php` file.
jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#grid’).on(‘click’, function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
$(‘.products’).removeClass(‘list’).addClass(‘grid’);
localStorage.setItem(‘display’, ‘grid’); // Store the preference in local storage
});
$(‘#list’).on(‘click’, function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
$(‘.products’).removeClass(‘grid’).addClass(‘list’);
localStorage.setItem(‘display’, ‘list’); // Store the preference in local storage
});
// Check local storage on page load
if (localStorage.getItem(‘display’) == ‘list’) {
$(‘.products’).removeClass(‘grid’).addClass(‘list’);
} else {
$(‘.products’).removeClass(‘list’).addClass(‘grid’);
}
});
To enqueue the script, add this to your `functions.php` file:
function enqueue_custom_scripts() {
wp_enqueue_script( 'custom-script', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/js/custom.js', array('jquery'), '1.0', true );
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'enqueue_custom_scripts' );
4. Add the CSS Styling: You’ll need to add CSS to style the grid/list toggle and define the grid and list views. Add this to your child theme’s `style.css` file.
.grid-list-toggle {
text-align: right;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.grid-list-toggle a {
display: inline-block;
padding: 5px 10px;
background-color: #f0f0f0;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
text-decoration: none;
color: #333;
margin-left: 5px;
}
.grid-list-toggle a:hover {
background-color: #ddd;
}
/* Grid View */
.products.grid {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
}
.products.grid li.product {
width: 25%; /* Adjust as needed */
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
/* List View */
.products.list li.product {
display: flex;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.products.list li.product img {
width: 200px; /* Adjust as needed */
margin-right: 20px;
}
.products.list li.product .woocommerce-loop-product__title {
font-size: 1.2em;
}
Remember: This CSS is a basic example. You’ll likely need to adjust it to match your theme’s design and the specific appearance you want to achieve. Pay close attention to the `.products.grid` and `.products.list` classes, as these are the key to controlling the display. Also, be prepared to modify your theme’s product loop template to fully customize the list view.
Benefits of Manual Implementation:
- Complete Control: You have full control over the code and appearance.
- Lightweight: Avoids plugin bloat.
- Customizable: Tailor the functionality to your specific needs.
Considerations for Manual Implementation:
- Requires Coding Knowledge: You need to be comfortable with HTML, CSS, JavaScript (jQuery), and PHP.
- More Time-Consuming: Takes more time and effort to implement.
- Maintenance: You are responsible for maintaining the code and ensuring compatibility with future WooCommerce updates.
- Potential for Errors: Incorrect code can break your website. Always back up your website before making any code changes.
Conclusion
Adding a grid/list toggle to your WooCommerce store can significantly enhance the user experience, leading to increased engagement and potentially higher sales. Whether you choose to use a plugin for simplicity or implement the feature manually for greater control, the benefits are undeniable. Carefully consider your technical skills, budget, and the level of customization you need when deciding which method to use. Remember to always test your implementation thoroughly and back up your website before making any changes. By offering your customers the flexibility to view products in their preferred format, you’ll be providing a more enjoyable and user-friendly shopping experience. A happy customer is more likely to become a returning customer.
