How to Modify Your WooCommerce Cart Page: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
The WooCommerce cart page is a crucial touchpoint in the customer journey, acting as the bridge between browsing your products and completing a purchase. A well-designed and functional cart page can significantly impact conversion rates and overall user experience. However, the default WooCommerce cart page might not perfectly align with your brand or business needs. That’s where the power of modification comes in. This article will guide you through various methods to modify your WooCommerce cart page, allowing you to create a customized and optimized shopping experience for your customers. We’ll explore different techniques, from using plugins to implementing custom code, empowering you to tailor your cart page to perfection. Improving your cart page will directly impact your sales.
Understanding the WooCommerce Cart Page Structure
Before diving into the modifications, it’s essential to understand the structure of the WooCommerce cart page. This foundational knowledge will make the modification process much smoother. The cart page is primarily built using templates, which are PHP files responsible for generating the HTML output.
Key components of the WooCommerce cart page include:
- Cart Table: Displays the products added to the cart, their quantities, prices, and the option to remove them.
- Cart Totals: Shows the subtotal, shipping costs (if calculated), taxes, and the final total amount.
- Update Cart Button: Allows customers to update the quantities of items in their cart.
- Coupon Form: Provides a field for entering coupon codes.
- Proceed to Checkout Button: Navigates the user to the checkout page.
- Ease of Use: Most plugins offer a user-friendly interface for making changes.
- No Coding Required (Generally): Avoids the need to write complex code.
- Quick Implementation: You can quickly implement changes without extensive development time.
- Plugin Bloat: Using too many plugins can slow down your website.
- Compatibility Issues: Plugins may conflict with each other or with your theme.
- Limited Customization (Sometimes): Plugins may not offer the exact customizations you desire.
- Cost: Premium plugins require a purchase.
- WooCommerce Cart Notices: Add notices to encourage customers to add more items.
- WooCommerce Additional Variation Images: Add more variation images to product in cart.
- WooCommerce Checkout Field Editor: Customize the checkout page and cart page.
- Full Customization: You have complete control over the design and functionality.
- No Plugin Dependencies: Reduces the reliance on third-party plugins.
- Potentially Better Performance: Custom code can be more efficient than some plugins.
- Requires Coding Knowledge: You need to be comfortable with HTML, CSS, and PHP.
- Risk of Errors: Incorrect code can break your website.
- Maintenance Overhead: You are responsible for maintaining your custom code.
- Update Complications: Requires careful management during theme updates.
Understanding how these elements are structured and rendered will give you the insight you need to effectively modify them.
Methods for Modifying the WooCommerce Cart Page
There are several approaches to modifying the WooCommerce cart page, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
1. Using WooCommerce Plugins
This is often the simplest and most convenient method, especially for users with limited coding experience. Numerous plugins are available on the WordPress repository (both free and premium) that provide pre-built functionalities for customizing the cart page.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Example Plugins:
2. Modifying Theme Files (Child Theme Recommended)
This method involves directly editing the WooCommerce template files within your theme. It is strongly recommended to use a child theme to prevent losing your changes when the parent theme is updated.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
How to Modify Template Files:
1. Create a Child Theme: If you don’t have one already, create a child theme for your active theme.
2. Copy the Template Files: Copy the template files you want to modify from the `woocommerce` directory within the parent theme to the `woocommerce` directory within your child theme. For the cart page, the relevant template files are typically located in `woocommerce/templates/cart/`. Common files include `cart.php`, `cart-item.php`, and `cart-totals.php`.
3. Edit the Template Files: Open the template files in your child theme and make the desired changes.
4. Save the Changes: Save the modified template files.
Example: To remove the “Update Cart” button, you might comment out or remove the relevant code in the `cart.php` template file within your child theme.
<?php /**
defined( ‘ABSPATH’ ) || exit;
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_cart’ ); ?>
<form class="woocommerce-cart-form" action="” method=”post”>
|
<?php echo apply_filters( // phpcs:ignore WordPress.Security.EscapeOutput.OutputNotEscaped ‘woocommerce_cart_item_remove_link’, sprintf( ‘ב, esc_url( wc_get_cart_remove_url( $cart_item_key ) ), esc_html__( ‘Remove this item’, ‘woocommerce’ ), esc_attr( $product_id ), esc_attr( $_product->get_sku() ) ), $cart_item_key ); ?> |
<?php if ( ! $_product->is_visible() ) { echo wp_kses_post( $thumbnail ); } else { printf( ‘%s‘, esc_url( $_product->get_permalink( $cart_item ) ), wp_kses_post( $thumbnail ) ); } ?> |
||||
|
<input type="text" name="coupon_code" class="input-text" id="coupon_code" value="" placeholder="” /> <button type="submit" class="button” name=”apply_coupon” value=””> <button type="submit" class="button” name=”update_cart” value=””> |
|||||
<?php
/
* Cart collaterals hook.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_cross_sell_display
* @hooked woocommerce_cart_totals – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_cart_collaterals’ );
?>
To remove the update cart button, simply comment out this line:
<!-- <button type="submit" class="button" name="update_cart" value=""> -->
IMPORTANT: Back up your website before making any changes to theme files!
3. Using WooCommerce Hooks
WooCommerce provides a robust system of hooks (actions and filters) that allow you to modify its functionality without directly editing template files. This is considered a best practice as it’s less prone to causing issues with future updates and maintainability.
Advantages:
- Safer Than Template Editing: Avoids modifying core WooCommerce files.
- More Maintainable: Changes are less likely to be overwritten during updates.
- Flexibility: Allows you to add or modify functionality in various parts of the cart page.
Disadvantages:
- Requires Coding Knowledge: You need to understand how to use WooCommerce hooks.
- More Complex Than Plugins: Requires writing custom code.
How to Use WooCommerce Hooks:
1. Identify the Appropriate Hook: Determine the specific action or filter that controls the element you want to modify. You can refer to the WooCommerce documentation for a comprehensive list of hooks.
2. Write a Custom Function: Create a PHP function that performs the desired modification.
3. Attach the Function to the Hook: Use the `add_action()` or `add_filter()` function to attach your custom function to the chosen hook.
Example: To add a custom message above the cart table, you can use the `woocommerce_before_cart` action:
add_action( 'woocommerce_before_cart', 'add_custom_cart_message' );
function add_custom_cart_message() {
echo ‘
‘;
}
This code snippet adds a `div` with a custom message above the cart table. The code should be placed in your child theme’s `functions.php` file or in a custom plugin.
4. Custom PHP Snippets (Code Snippets Plugin)
The “Code Snippets” plugin allows you to safely add PHP code snippets to your website without directly editing theme files. This is a great way to implement custom modifications using hooks without creating a full-fledged plugin or risking errors within your theme.
Advantages:
- Easy Snippet Management: Provides a simple interface for managing and activating/deactivating code snippets.
- Safe Execution: Minimizes the risk of breaking your website by providing a safe environment for testing code.
- No Theme Modification Required: Avoids directly editing theme files.
Disadvantages:
- Requires Basic PHP Knowledge: You still need to write valid PHP code.
- Can Become Unorganized: Managing a large number of snippets can become challenging.
How to Use Code Snippets Plugin:
1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Install the “Code Snippets” plugin from the WordPress repository and activate it.
2. Add a New Snippet: Navigate to the “Snippets” section in your WordPress admin menu and click “Add New.”
3. Enter the Code: Paste your PHP code (e.g., the code for adding a custom message using a WooCommerce hook, as shown above) into the code editor.
4. Save and Activate: Give the snippet a descriptive name and click “Save Changes and Activate.”
Specific Modifications and Examples
Here are some specific modifications you might want to make to your WooCommerce cart page, along with example code snippets using hooks (suitable for child theme’s `functions.php` or the Code Snippets plugin):
1. Adding a Custom Field to the Cart Item
add_filter( 'woocommerce_cart_item_name', 'add_custom_field_to_cart_item', 10, 3 );
function add_custom_field_to_cart_item( $product_name, $cart_item, $cart_item_key ) {
if ( isset( $cart_item[‘custom_field’] ) ) {
$product_name .= ‘
Custom Field: ‘ . esc_html( $cart_item[‘custom_field’] ) . ‘‘;
}
return $product_name;
}
// Example of setting the custom field when adding to cart (you’ll need to adapt this to your specific scenario):
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_add_cart_item_data’, ‘add_custom_data_to_cart_item’, 10, 3 );
function add_custom_data_to_cart_item( $cart_item_data, $product_id, $variation_id ) {
if ( isset( $_POST[‘my_custom_field’] ) ) {
$cart_item_data[‘custom_field’] = sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘my_custom_field’] );
}
return $cart_item_data;
}
This example shows how to add a custom field (named “custom_field” in this example) to each cart item. This requires also modifying the product page’s add-to-cart form to include an input field named `my_custom_field`.
2. Changing the “Proceed to Checkout” Button Text
add_filter( 'gettext', 'change_checkout_button_text', 20, 3 );
function change_checkout_button_text( $translated_text, $text, $domain ) {
if ( $domain === ‘woocommerce’ && $text === ‘Proceed to checkout’ ) {
$translated_text = ‘Secure Checkout’;
}
return $translated_text;
}
This code changes the text of the “Proceed to checkout” button to “Secure Checkout”.
3. Moving the Coupon Form
remove_action( 'woocommerce_before_cart', 'woocommerce_coupon_form', 10 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_after_cart', 'woocommerce_coupon_form', 10 );
This code moves the coupon form from the top to the bottom of the cart page.
4. Adding a Call to Action (CTA)
add_action( 'woocommerce_cart_totals_before_order_total', 'add_custom_cta' );
function add_custom_cta() {
echo ‘
Get 10% off your next order by subscribing to our newsletter!
‘;
}
This snippet adds a call-to-action above the cart totals, encouraging users to subscribe to a newsletter. You’ll likely want to style the `custom-cta` class with CSS.
Optimizing for Mobile
Mobile optimization is critical for any eCommerce website. Make sure your cart page is responsive and looks good on all devices. Consider the following:
- Use a responsive theme: Ensure your theme is designed to adapt to different screen sizes.
- Test on multiple devices: Regularly test your cart page on various mobile devices and tablets.
- Optimize images: Use optimized images to reduce page load times on mobile.
- Simplify the design: Avoid cluttering the cart page with too many elements.
- Ensure touch-friendliness: Make buttons and links large enough to be easily tapped on mobile devices.
- Consider a one-page checkout: Streamline the checkout process by combining the cart and checkout pages on mobile.
Conclusion
Modifying the WooCommerce cart page is essential to tailoring the shopping experience to your brand and improving conversion rates. You have several methods at your disposal, from plugins to custom code, each with its own trade-offs. Choose the approach that best suits your technical skills and business requirements. Always remember to use a child theme when editing template files and back up your website before making any changes. Regularly test your changes to ensure they are functioning correctly and providing a positive user experience. By strategically customizing your cart page, you can create a seamless and engaging shopping experience that leads to increased sales and customer satisfaction. Remember to continually monitor and refine your cart page based on analytics and customer feedback.
