How to Set Your WooCommerce Shop Page to Display Only One Category: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
WooCommerce is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform that allows you to build a fully functional online store. By default, the WooCommerce shop page displays all your products, which is perfectly fine for many businesses. However, there are scenarios where you might want to showcase only products from a specific category on your main shop page. Perhaps you’re running a targeted promotion, launching a new product line, or simply want to create a more focused shopping experience. This article will guide Check out this post: How To Set Up Woocommerce Booking you through the different methods of setting your WooCommerce shop page to display only one category, allowing you to customize your store’s front end to meet your unique needs. We’ll cover both code-based and plugin-based solutions.
Main Part: Methods to Display One Category on Your WooCommerce Shop Page
There are several ways to achieve this, each with its pros and cons. We’ll explore the most common and effective methods:
1. Using the “Product Category” Shortcode
This is the simplest method for displaying products from a single category on a page. You don’t need to edit your theme’s files directly.
* How it Works: The `[product_category]` shortcode allows you to embed products from a specific category into any page. You can then designate this page as your “Shop” page in WooCommerce settings.
* Steps:
1. Create a new page: In your WordPress admin, go to Pages > Add New.
2. Add the shortcode: In the page content, insert the following shortcode, replacing `YOUR_CATEGORY_SLUG` with the actual slug of your desired product category. You can find the category slug by navigating to Products > Categories, hovering over your category, and looking at the link in your browser’s status bar. The slug is usually the last part of the URL after `tag=`.
[product_category category=”YOUR_CATEGORY_SLUG”]
3. Publish the page: Publish the page you just created.
4. Set the page as your shop page: Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products. In the “Shop page” dropdown, select the page you just created.
5. Save changes: Save the WooCommerce settings.
* Advantages: Easy to implement, no coding required.
* Disadvantages: Limited customization options, might not perfectly mimic the default shop page layout.
2. Modifying Your Theme’s `functions.php` File (Code-Based)
This method involves adding a code snippet to your theme’s `functions.php` file. It is recommended to use a child theme to avoid losing your changes when updating your main theme.
* How it Works: This code snippet modifies the main WooCommerce query to only retrieve products belonging to a specific category.
* Steps:
1. Create a child theme (highly recommended): If you haven’t already, create a child theme.
2. Edit `functions.php`: Open your child theme’s `functions.php` file.
3. Add the following code:
function custom_pre_get_posts_query( $query ) { if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_shop() ) { $query->set( 'tax_query', array( array( 'taxonomy' => 'product_cat', 'field' => 'slug', 'terms' => array( 'YOUR_CATEGORY_SLUG' ), // Replace with your category slug 'operator' => 'IN', ) ) ); } } add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'custom_pre_get_posts_query' );
4. Replace `YOUR_CATEGORY_SLUG`: Remember to replace `”YOUR_CATEGORY_SLUG”` with the actual slug of the product category you want to display.
5. Save the file: Save the `functions.php` file.
* Advantages: More control over the shop page layout, closely mimics the default WooCommerce shop page.
* Disadvantages: Requires coding knowledge, potential for errors if not done correctly, requires using a child theme.
3. Using a Plugin
Several plugins can help you filter your WooCommerce shop page to display only products from a specific category.
* How it Works: These plugins usually provide a user-friendly interface to select the category you want to display on your shop page without writing any code.
* Examples: While I Discover insights on How To Export Csv File Of Woocommerce Products cannot recommend specific premium plugins, searching Discover insights on How To Backup Database Wp Woocommerce the WordPress plugin repository for terms like “WooCommerce category shop page” or “WooCommerce shop page filter” will reveal several options. Be sure to choose a plugin that is well-rated, actively maintained, and compatible with your version of WooCommerce and WordPress.
* Steps:
1. Install and activate the plugin: Install and activate your chosen plugin.
2. Configure the plugin: Follow the plugin’s instructions to select the category you want to display on your shop page. This typically involves selecting the category from a dropdown menu within the plugin’s settings.
3. Save the plugin’s settings.
* Advantages: Easy to use, no coding required, often provides additional filtering and customization options.
* Disadvantages: Relies on a third-party plugin, potential for plugin conflicts, may come with a cost.
Conclusion:
Choosing the best method for displaying only one category on your WooCommerce shop page depends on your technical skills and the level of customization you require. The shortcode method is the simplest and quickest option for basic filtering. The code-based method offers greater control and a more seamless integration with your theme, but requires coding knowledge and is best implemented in a child theme. Plugins provide a user-friendly alternative without requiring any coding, but it is important to choose a reputable plugin to avoid compatibility issues. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes or installing new plugins. By carefully considering your needs and following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively customize your WooCommerce shop page to showcase the products you want to highlight and create a more focused shopping experience for your customers.
