How to Sort WooCommerce Products by Date: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, offers various options to display products in your online store. By default, products are often sorted by popularity, price, or name. However, many store owners want to showcase their newest products first, creating a fresh and engaging experience for their customers. Sorting by date, specifically the publication date, ensures that your latest additions take center stage. This article will guide you through several methods to sort WooCommerce products by date, allowing you to tailor your store to your specific needs and improve user experience.
Main Part: Sorting WooCommerce Products by Date
There are multiple approaches you can take to achieve date-based product sorting in WooCommerce. We’ll explore the most common and effective methods:
1. Using the WooCommerce Default Sorting Options
WooCommerce offers a built-in dropdown menu for sorting products on the shop page. While it might not directly say “Date,” you can achieve the desired result by selecting the right option.
- Navigate to WooCommerce Settings: Go to `WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display`.
- Default Product Sorting: Find the “Default product sorting” option.
- Choose “Date”: Select “Sort by date” from the dropdown menu. This will sort your products by their publication date, displaying the newest products first.
- Save Changes: Click “Save changes” at the bottom of the page.
This method is the easiest and quickest way to sort products by date and requires no coding. However, it relies on the default WooCommerce functionality, and might not be the most customizable option for all scenarios.
2. Customizing the Shop Loop using Code
For more advanced customization, you can modify the WooCommerce shop loop directly using code. This method provides greater control over the sorting process but requires some familiarity with PHP and WordPress development.
a. Editing your theme’s `functions.php` file (Child Theme Recommended):
It is highly recommended to use a child theme to avoid losing your customizations when the main theme is updated. Add the following code snippet to your child theme’s `functions.php` file:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby', 'custom_default_catalog_orderby' );
function custom_default_catalog_orderby( $sortby ) {
return 'date'; // Sort by date (publication date)
}
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_catalog_orderby’, ‘custom_catalog_orderby’ );
function custom_catalog_orderby( $orderby ) {
$orderby[‘date’] = ‘Sort by newness’; // Rename ‘Default sorting’ to ‘Sort by newness’
return $orderby;
}
Explanation:
- `woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby`: This filter sets the default sorting option to ‘date’ when a user first visits the shop page.
- `woocommerce_catalog_orderby`: This filter modifies the available sorting options in the dropdown menu. We add (or rename) an entry to be more descriptive to users (e.g., “Sort by newness”).
b. Modifying the WooCommerce Query:
Another code-based approach involves directly altering the WooCommerce query to sort products by date.
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'custom_pre_get_posts_query' );
function custom_pre_get_posts_query( $query ) {
if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_shop() ) {
$query->set( 'orderby', 'date' );
$query->set( 'order', 'DESC' ); // Optional: Descending order (newest first)
}
}
Explanation:
- `pre_get_posts`: This action hook allows you to modify the main WordPress query before it’s executed.
- `is_admin()`: Ensures the code only applies to the front-end of the site, not the admin area.
- `is_main_query()`: Targets the main query of the page.
- `is_shop()`: Confines the sorting to the shop page.
- `set( ‘orderby’, ‘date’ )`: Sets the ordering parameter to ‘date’.
- `set( ‘order’, ‘DESC’ )`: Sets the order to descending (newest products first). Omitting this defaults to ascending (oldest products first).
Important Considerations for Code-Based Sorting:
- Child Theme: Always use a child theme to avoid losing your changes during theme updates.
- Backup: Back up your website before making any code changes.
- Testing: Thoroughly test your code to ensure it works as expected and doesn’t introduce any conflicts.
3. Using a WooCommerce Plugin
Several WooCommerce plugins provide advanced sorting options, including the ability to sort by date, popularity, price, and other criteria. These plugins often offer a user-friendly interface and additional customization options.
- Search for “WooCommerce Product Sorting” plugins: In your WordPress admin panel, navigate to `Plugins > Add New` and search for relevant plugins.
- Examples:
- *WooCommerce Product Sorting*
- *Advanced Product Sorting for WooCommerce*
- Review Features: Compare different plugins based on their features, reviews, and compatibility with your WooCommerce version.
- Install and Activate: Install and activate the plugin of your choice.
- Configure: Follow the plugin’s documentation to configure the sorting options according to your needs.
Plugins offer a convenient and often code-free solution for sorting products, but it’s essential to choose a reputable plugin and ensure it doesn’t conflict with other plugins on your site.
Conclusion:
Sorting your WooCommerce products by date is a simple yet effective way to highlight your newest additions and improve the user experience of your online store. You can choose from the default WooCommerce settings, customize the shop loop using code, or leverage a dedicated plugin. The best method depends on your technical skills, desired level of customization, and the complexity of your specific needs. Remember to always back up your site before making changes and thoroughly test your implementation to ensure everything works correctly. By carefully choosing the right approach, you can effortlessly present your latest products to your customers and drive sales in your WooCommerce store.
