How To Sort Product By Category In Woocommerce

How to Sort Products by Category in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction:

WooCommerce is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform, but sometimes the default product presentation isn’t ideal. One common requirement is the ability to sort products by category, allowing customers to easily browse and find what they’re looking for within specific product groupings. This article will guide you through various methods to achieve effective category-based product sorting in your WooCommerce store, enhancing user experience and potentially boosting sales. We’ll cover both code-based solutions and plugin options, providing you with a comprehensive overview.

Main Part: Implementing Category-Based Sorting

Why Sort Products by Category?

Sorting by category provides several benefits:

• Improved User Experience: Customers can quickly navigate to the products they’re interested in, reducing frustration and bounce rates.
• Enhanced Product Discoverability: Makes it easier for users to find specific items within a broad catalog.
• Increased Conversions: A streamlined shopping experience can lead to more completed purchases.
• Better Website Navigation: Clearly defined categories contribute to a more intuitive website structure.

Method 1: Using the Default WooCommerce Category Pages

The simplest (though not always the most elegant) method is to leverage the default WooCommerce category pages. WooCommerce automatically creates a page for each product category. You can access these pages by navigating to `yourwebsite.com/product-category/category-name/`.

Pros:

• No coding required.
• Built-in functionality.

Cons:

• Limited customization options for sorting.
• May not be visually appealing without further theme customization.

Method 2: Customizing the `woocommerce_catalog_orderby` Filter

This method involves using the `woocommerce_catalog_orderby` filter to add category-specific sorting options to the product archive pages. This provides more flexibility than the default category pages.

Steps:

1. Access your theme’s `functions.php` file (or create a child theme). Always use a child theme when modifying core theme files to avoid losing your changes during theme updates.

2. Add the following code snippet to your `functions.php` file:

add_filter( 'woocommerce_catalog_orderby', 'custom_woocommerce_catalog_orderby' );

function custom_woocommerce_catalog_orderby( $sortby ) {

$sortby[‘category_name’] = ‘Sort by Category Name’; // Example: Sort by Category Name

return $sortby;

}

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args’, ‘custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args’ );

function custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args( $args ) {

if ( isset( $_GET[‘orderby’] ) && ‘category_name’ == $_GET[‘orderby’] ) {

$args[‘orderby’] = ‘term_id’; // Or ‘name’ if you want to sort by category name alphabetically

$args[‘order’] = ‘ASC’; // Or ‘DESC’ for descending order

$args[‘taxonomy’] = ‘product_cat’; // Specify the taxonomy

$args[‘meta_key’] = ”; // remove meta_key

}

return $args;

}

Explanation:

• The `custom_woocommerce_catalog_orderby` function adds a new sorting option labeled “Sort by Category Name” (you can customize this label) to the dropdown menu on product archive pages.
• The `custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args` function hooks into the `woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args` filter. It checks if the user selected “Sort by Category Name” and modifies the query arguments to sort products by category `term_id` in ascending order.
• The `$args[‘taxonomy’] = ‘product_cat’;` ensures that the sorting is applied specifically to the product category taxonomy.

Pros:

• Greater control over sorting options.
• Doesn’t require plugins.

Cons:

• Requires coding knowledge.
• Changes directly affect your theme (use a child theme!).

Method 3: Using a WooCommerce Plugin

Several plugins provide advanced product sorting and filtering capabilities, including the ability to sort by category. Some popular options include:

• Product Filter by WooBeWoo: Offers advanced filtering and sorting options.
• WooCommerce Product Filter: Another robust plugin for product filtering.
• YITH WooCommerce Ajax Product Filter: Popular for its AJAX filtering functionality.

Steps (General Plugin Installation):

1. Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.

2. Search for a suitable WooCommerce product filter plugin.

3. Install and activate the plugin.

4. Configure the plugin settings to enable category-based sorting. Refer to the plugin’s documentation for specific instructions.

Pros:

• Easy to install and use.
• Often provides advanced features beyond basic category sorting.
• No coding required (usually).

Cons:

• May require a premium license for advanced features.
• Can add extra weight to your website, potentially impacting performance.

Important Considerations:

• Performance: Adding custom sorting or using plugins can impact website performance. Test your site’s speed after implementation.
• User Experience: Ensure that the sorting options are clearly labeled and easy to understand.
• Child Theme: ALWAYS use a child theme when making modifications to your theme’s files. This prevents your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.
• Testing: Thoroughly test the sorting functionality after implementation to ensure it works as expected.

Conclusion:

Sorting products by category in WooCommerce significantly enhances the user experience and helps customers find what they need more easily. Whether you choose to utilize the default category pages, implement custom code using the `woocommerce_catalog_orderby` filter, or leverage the power of WooCommerce plugins, the methods outlined in this article provide a solid foundation for implementing effective category-based product sorting in your online store. Remember to prioritize user experience and website performance when selecting and implementing your chosen method.