How To Sort Products By Variation Woocommerce

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

Introduction:

WooCommerce, a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform built on WordPress, offers a wide range of functionalities for managing your online store. One common requirement for online stores with products offering different variations (e.g., color, size, material) is the ability to sort products based on these variations. For instance, a clothing store might want customers to sort t-shirts by size, or a furniture store might want to allow sorting sofas by color. While WooCommerce doesn’t natively offer this feature, there are several ways to achieve it. This article will guide you through different methods, from simple plugin solutions to more advanced code-based approaches, allowing you to enhance your customer’s shopping experience.

Main Part:

Why Sort by Variation is Important

Enabling your customers to sort products by their variations offers several key benefits:

• Improved User Experience: Makes it easier for customers to find exactly what they’re looking for, reducing frustration and increasing satisfaction.
• Increased Conversion Rates: When customers can quickly locate their desired product, they’re more likely to make a purchase.
• Enhanced Product Discoverability: Highlights different variations of your products, increasing the chances of customers discovering options they might not have otherwise considered.
• Better Store Navigation: Simplifies the browsing process, making your online store more user-friendly and intuitive.

Methods for Sorting Products by Variation

There are several methods you can use to sort products by variation in WooCommerce. We’ll explore both plugin-based solutions and code-based implementations.

#### 1. Using Plugins: The Easiest Approach

The easiest and often the most recommended method is using a dedicated WooCommerce plugin. Several plugins offer this functionality.

* Benefits:

• No coding required.
• Usually comes with a user-friendly interface.
• Often includes additional features and support.

* Drawbacks:

• Reliance on third-party developers.
• Potential compatibility issues with other plugins.
• Possible performance impact depending on the plugin’s quality.
• Often paid solutions for advanced functionality.

Some popular plugins include:

• Variation Swatches and Photos: While primarily focused on visual swatches, some variation swatch plugins also allow for sorting based on variation attributes.
• Advanced Woo Search: A more general search and filtering plugin that can be configured to filter by variation attributes. (Check plugin descriptions carefully to ensure variation sorting is supported).
• WooCommerce Product Filter: A comprehensive filtering plugin that often allows for filtering and sorting by variations.

Steps for Using a Plugin:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New, search for your chosen plugin, install, and activate it.

2. Configure Plugin Settings: Each plugin will have its own configuration settings. Look for options related to filtering or sorting attributes. You’ll typically need to select which attributes you want to enable sorting for (e.g., color, size).

3. Test and Adjust: After configuring the plugin, thoroughly test the sorting functionality on your product pages to ensure it’s working correctly. Adjust the settings as needed.

#### 2. Code-Based Implementation: A More Flexible Approach

For developers or those comfortable with code, a code-based implementation offers more flexibility and control. This approach involves modifying your theme’s `functions.php` file or creating a custom plugin.

* Benefits:

• Greater control over the implementation.
• Potentially better performance (if coded efficiently).
• Avoidance of reliance on third-party plugins.
• Customized to exactly fit your needs.

* Drawbacks:

• Requires coding knowledge (PHP, WordPress hooks).
• Potential for errors that could break your site.
• Maintenance overhead (keeping code updated and compatible).

Example Code for Sorting by a Specific Variation Attribute (e.g., ‘Size’):

/**
Add a custom sorting option to WooCommerce.
*/
add_filter( 'woocommerce_catalog_orderby', 'add_variation_sorting_option' );
function add_variation_sorting_option( $sortby ) {
$sortby['size'] = __( 'Sort by Size', 'your-theme-textdomain' );
return $sortby;
}

/

* Implement the custom sorting logic.

*/

add_action( ‘woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args’, ‘variation_sorting_args’ );

function variation_sorting_args( $args ) {

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

$args[‘meta_key’] = ‘attribute_pa_size’; // Replace ‘attribute_pa_size’ with the actual meta key for your size attribute. Find this in the database if unsure.

$args[‘orderby’] = ‘meta_value’;

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

}

return $args;

}

Explanation:

1. `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_catalog_orderby’, ‘add_variation_sorting_option’ );`: This filter adds a new sorting option to the dropdown menu on your product pages.

2. `add_variation_sorting_option( $sortby )`: This function defines the new sorting option (‘Sort by Size’) and adds it to the `$sortby` array. Replace `’your-theme-textdomain’` with your theme’s text domain for translation purposes.

3. `add_action( ‘woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args’, ‘variation_sorting_args’ );`: This action allows you to modify the query arguments used to retrieve products.

4. `variation_sorting_args( $args )`: This function checks if the user has selected the ‘Sort by Size’ option. If so, it modifies the query arguments to sort products by the `meta_value` associated with the `attribute_pa_size` meta key. Crucially, you must replace `’attribute_pa_size’` with the actual meta key for your size attribute. Variation attribute meta keys generally follow the pattern `attribute_pa_{attribute_name}`. Look in your database (table `wp_postmeta`) for the correct key if you’re unsure.

5. `$args[‘order’] = ‘ASC’;`: This sets the sorting order to ascending. Use `’DESC’` for descending order.

Important Considerations for Code Implementation:

• Finding the Correct Meta Key: The most crucial part of the code is the meta key (`attribute_pa_size`). This key is specific to your variation attribute. You can find it by inspecting the database table `wp_postmeta` for a product variation and looking for a `meta_key` associated with your attribute.
• Attribute Configuration: Ensure that the attribute you’re sorting by is configured as a “product attribute” within WooCommerce. This is done under Products > Attributes.
• Code Placement: Place the code snippet in your theme’s `functions.php` file (child theme is highly recommended) or in a custom plugin. Avoid directly modifying parent theme files as changes will be lost during theme updates.
• Testing: Thoroughly test your implementation to ensure it’s working correctly and doesn’t introduce any conflicts.
• Error Handling: Implement error handling and validation to prevent potential issues.
• Performance: Optimize your code for performance, especially if you have a large product catalog.