How To Remove Categories On Shop Page In Woocommerce

How to Remove Categories on Shop Page in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction:

WooCommerce is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform, but sometimes its default settings don’t perfectly align with your desired storefront design. One common customization request is removing category displays from your shop page. By default, WooCommerce often shows product categories at the top of the shop page. While this can be helpful for navigation on larger stores, it might Check out this post: How To Import Woocommerce Orders To Quickbooks be redundant or undesirable for shops with fewer categories or a specific design vision. This article will guide you through various methods to remove categories from the WooCommerce shop page, allowing you to create a cleaner and more streamlined shopping experience for your customers. We’ll cover code-based solutions, plugin options, and considerations for choosing the best approach for your needs. Let’s dive in!

Main Part: Removing Categories from the Shop Page

Several methods exist to remove categories from your WooCommerce shop page. The most common are:

1. Using Custom Code (functions.php)

This method involves adding a code snippet to your theme’s `functions.php` file (or a custom plugin). This is generally considered the most efficient and recommended method for those comfortable with code, as it avoids relying on external plugins and keeps your site lightweight.

Warning: Before modifying your theme files, always back up your website or use a child theme. Incorrect code can break your site.

Here’s the code you can use:

 <?php /** 
Remove product categories from the shop page
 */ function remove_shop_categories() { if ( is_shop() ) { remove_action( 'woocommerce_before_shop_loop', 'woocommerce_output_all_notices', 10 ); remove_action( 'woocommerce_before_shop_loop', 'woocommerce_result_count', 20 ); remove_action( 'woocommerce_before_shop_loop', 'woocommerce_catalog_ordering', 30 ); 

remove_action( ‘woocommerce_before_shop_loop’, ‘woocommerce_output_product_categories’, 20 );

}

}

add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘remove_shop_categories’ );

?>

Explanation:

• `remove_shop_categories()`: This is the function we’re creating to remove the category display.
• `is_shop()`: This conditional check ensures the code only runs on the shop page.
• `remove_action()`: This function removes a specific action that WooCommerce adds to the shop page. The `woocommerce_output_product_categories` function is the one responsible for displaying the categories. The `20` is the priority of the function.
• `add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘remove_shop_categories’ )`: This hook ensures our function runs at the appropriate time during page loading. Using `template_redirect` is generally the safest hook for this purpose.

How to implement it:

1. Access your theme’s `functions.php` file: You can find this file in your WordPress dashboard under Appearance > Theme Editor (or Appearance > Theme File Editor in newer WordPress versions). Again, ensure you have a backup or are using a child theme!

2. Paste the code: Scroll to the bottom of the `functions.php` file and paste the code snippet above.

3. Update the file: Click the “Update File” button.

4. Clear your cache: Clear any website caching you have enabled (e.g., through plugins or server-side caching).

5. Visit your shop page: The categories should now be removed.

Pros of using code:

• Lightweight: No extra plugins needed.
• Direct control: You have full control over the process.
• Performance: Can be more efficient than using a plugin.

Cons of using code:

• Requires technical knowledge: Can be intimidating for beginners.
• Potential for errors: Incorrect code can break your site.
• Theme updates: Your customizations might be overwritten during theme updates if you haven’t used a child theme.

2. Using a WooCommerce Customization Plugin

Several plugins can help you customize WooCommerce without writing code. These plugins often provide user-friendly interfaces to disable or modify various WooCommerce elements, including categories on the shop page. Some popular options include:

• WooCommerce Product Table: While primarily for creating product tables, some offer options to control the display of categories.
• Custom CSS and JS: Allows you to add custom CSS to hide the category elements.

How to use a plugin (general steps):

1. Install and activate the plugin: Find a suitable plugin in the WordPress plugin repository (Plugins > Add New) and install and activate it.

2. Navigate to the plugin settings: The plugin settings are usually found under the WooCommerce or Settings menu.

3. Locate the relevant setting: Look for options related to shop page customization or category display.

4. Disable category display: Enable the setting to remove categories from the shop page.

5. Save your changes: Save the plugin settings.

6. Clear your cache: Clear any website caching.

7. Visit your shop page: The categories should now be removed.

Pros of using a plugin:

• Easy to use: No coding required.
• User-friendly interface: Provides a visual way to customize WooCommerce.
• Often offers other customization options: Can be used for various other WooCommerce tweaks.

Cons of using a plugin:

• Potential for plugin conflicts: Plugins can sometimes conflict with each other or your theme.
• Adds overhead: Plugins can add extra code and slow down your site, particularly if not well-coded.
• May require a paid version: Some plugins offer the category removal feature only in their paid versions.

3. Using Custom CSS (Less Recommended)

You can use custom CSS to hide the category elements on the shop page. While this is the easiest method, it’s generally not recommended as it only hides the elements visually, but the code is still loaded, potentially affecting performance. Also, it might not be the best solution for SEO.

How to use custom CSS:

1. Identify the category element’s CSS class: Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the category display and select “Inspect”) to find the CSS class or ID of the element displaying the categories. It’s likely something like `.product-category` or similar.

2. Add custom CSS: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS (or similar, depending on your theme).

3. Add the CSS code: Add the following code, replacing `.product-category` with the actual class you identified:

.product-category {

display: none !important;

}

4. Publish your changes: Click the “Publish” button.

5. Clear your cache: Clear your site’s cache, if any.

Pros of using CSS:

• Simple and quick: Easy to implement.
• No code changes required: Doesn’t involve editing theme files.

Cons of using CSS:

• Only hides the element: The code is still loaded, potentially impacting performance.
• Less SEO-friendly: The content is still present in the HTML source, even if hidden visually.
• Can be overridden: Other CSS rules might override your custom CSS.

Conclusion:

Removing categories from your WooCommerce shop page can significantly improve the user experience and aesthetic appeal of your online store. We’ve covered three different methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. For the best balance of control, performance, and long-term maintainability, using custom code in your `functions.php` file (or a child theme’s `functions.php` file) is generally the preferred approach. Plugin solutions provide a more user-friendly option for those less comfortable with code, but remember to choose plugins carefully to avoid potential conflicts and performance issues. Using custom CSS to simply hide the elements should be considered the last resort, only if you are short on time and need to make the change quickly. Before implementing any of these methods, always remember to back up your website to prevent any data loss. By carefully selecting the right approach, you can effectively remove categories from your shop page and create a more engaging and user-friendly shopping experience for your customers. Remember to choose the method that best fits your technical skills and the overall needs of your website.