How To Add Custom Tab In Woocommerce Settings

How to Add a Custom Tab in WooCommerce Settings (Even if You’re a Beginner!)

WooCommerce is a powerhouse for selling online, but sometimes you need to tweak it to perfectly fit your business. One Explore this article on Woocommerce Page How To Customize Button common customization is adding a custom tab to the WooCommerce settings page. This allows you to neatly organize your own settings related to your specific needs, rather than cluttering the existing tabs. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think! This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, even if you’re new to WordPress and WooCommerce development.

Think of it like this: you sell personalized mugs. You might want a dedicated settings tab to manage things like:

• Default font for personalization.
• Maximum character limit for personalized messages.
• Whether to display a live preview of the mug design.

Having these settings in a custom tab keeps things organized and easy to manage!

Why Add a Custom Tab?

Before diving into the code, let’s solidify why you might want a custom tab in the first place:

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• Organization: Keep your custom settings separate from WooCommerce’s core settings.
• Clarity: Make it easier for you (or your clients) to find and manage your specific plugin or theme settings.
• Professionalism: A dedicated tab gives your custom features a more professional and integrated feel within WooCommerce.
• Avoid Conflicts: Keeps your settings separate from future WooCommerce updates, reducing the risk of conflicts.

Prerequisites

• A WordPress installation with WooCommerce installed and activated.
• Basic understanding of PHP. (Don’t panic! We’ll provide clear code snippets you can copy and paste).
• Access to your WordPress theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. We strongly recommend using a child theme or a custom plugin to avoid losing your changes during theme updates.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Your Custom Tab

Now for the exciting part! Let’s get that custom tab up and running.

1. Add the New Tab:

First, we need to hook into the `woocommerce_settings_tabs_array` filter to add our custom tab. Add the following code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or your custom plugin:

 <?php 

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_settings_tabs_array’, ‘my_custom_settings_tab’, 50 );

function my_custom_settings_tab( $settings_tabs ) {

$settings_tabs[‘my_custom_tab’] = __( ‘Personalized Mugs’, ‘woocommerce’ ); // Replace with your tab name

return $settings_tabs;

}

?>

Explanation:

• `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_settings_tabs_array’, ‘my_custom_settings_tab’, 50 );` This line hooks into the WooCommerce filter that controls the settings tabs. The `50` determines the position of your tab; lower numbers appear earlier.
• `my_custom_settings_tab( $settings_tabs )` This is the function that will add our tab.
• `$settings_tabs[‘my_custom_tab’] = __( ‘Personalized Mugs’, ‘woocommerce’ );` This line adds a new key to the `$settings_tabs` array.
• `’my_custom_tab’` is the unique ID for your tab. Make sure it’s unique and lowercase, with underscores instead of spaces. You’ll use this ID later.
• `__( ‘Personalized Mugs’, ‘woocommerce’ )` is the label that will be displayed on the tab. `__()` is a WordPress function for internationalization (making your theme translatable). Replace “Personalized Mugs” with your desired tab name.

2. Create the Tab’s Content:

Now we need to define what content will be displayed when the user clicks on your new tab. We’ll use the `woocommerce_settings_tabs_my_custom_tab` action (replace `my_custom_tab` with your tab ID).

 <?php 

add_action( ‘woocommerce_settings_tabs_my_custom_tab’, ‘my_custom_settings_tab_content’ );

function my_custom_settings_tab_content() {

woocommerce_admin_fields( get_settings_my_custom_tab() );

}

?>

Explanation:

• `add_action( ‘woocommerce_settings_tabs_my_custom_tab’, ‘my_custom_settings_tab_content’ );` This line hooks into the WooCommerce action that displays the content for your tab. Again, replace `my_custom_tab` with the ID of your tab.
• `my_custom_settings_tab_content()` This function is responsible for displaying the content.
• `woocommerce_admin_fields( get_settings_my_custom_tab() );` This is the core of the content display. It uses WooCommerce’s built-in function to display settings fields, based on an array we’ll define in the next step. `get_settings_my_custom_tab()` is a function we’ll create to return that array.

3. Define the Settings Fields:

This is where you define the actual settings that will appear in your tab. We’ll create a function called `get_settings_my_custom_tab()` to return an array of settings.

 <?php 

function get_settings_my_custom_tab() {

$settings = array(

‘section_title’ => array(

‘name’ => __( ‘Personalized Mug Settings’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘type’ => ‘title’,

‘desc’ => __( ‘Configure the settings for personalized mugs.’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_section_title’

),

‘default_font’ => array(

‘name’ => __( ‘Default Font’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘type’ => ‘text’,

‘desc’ => __( ‘Enter the default font for personalized messages.’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_default_font’,

‘default’ => ‘Arial’

),

‘max_characters’ => array(

‘name’ => __( ‘Maximum Characters’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘type’ => ‘number’,

‘desc’ => __( ‘Enter the maximum number of characters allowed for personalized messages.’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_max_characters’,

‘default’ => ’30’

),

‘enable_preview’ => array(

‘name’ => __( ‘Enable Live Preview’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘type’ => ‘checkbox’,

‘desc’ => __( ‘Enable a live preview of the mug design.’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_enable_preview’,

‘default’ => ‘no’

),

‘section_end’ => array(

‘type’ => ‘sectionend’,

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_section_end’

)

);

return Read more about How To Setup A Product For Woocommerce In WordPress apply_filters( ‘wc_my_custom_tab_settings’, $settings );

}

?>

Explanation:

• Each element in the `$settings` array represents a single setting field.
• `type`: Specifies the type of field (e.g., `text`, `number`, `checkbox`). WooCommerce provides several field types you can use. Refer to the WooCommerce documentation for a complete list.
• `name`: The label that will be displayed next to the field.
• `desc`: A description that appears below the field.
• `id`: A unique ID for the field. You’ll use this ID to retrieve the value of the setting later. *Very important for getting the entered value!*
• `default`: The default value for the field.
• `’section_title’` and `’section_end’` are used to group settings into sections.

4. Save the Settings:

Finally, we need to save the settings when the “Save changes” button is clicked. We’ll use the `woocommerce_update_options_my_custom_tab` action.

 <?php 

add_action( ‘woocommerce_update_options_my_custom_tab’, ‘update_settings_my_custom_tab’ );

function update_settings_my_custom_tab() {

woocommerce_update_options( get_settings_my_custom_tab() );

}

?>

Explanation:

• `add_action( ‘woocommerce_update_options_my_custom_tab’, ‘update_settings_my_custom_tab’ );` This line hooks into the WooCommerce action that is triggered when the settings are saved. Replace `my_custom_tab` with your tab ID.
• `update_settings_my_custom_tab()` This function is responsible for saving the settings.
• `woocommerce_update_options( get_settings_my_custom_tab() );` This line uses WooCommerce’s built-in function to update the options in the database, based on the settings we defined in the `get_settings_my_custom_tab()` function.

5. Retrieve the Settings Values:

Now that you’ve saved your settings, you’ll need to retrieve them to use in your code (for example, to display the personalized mug preview). Use the `get_option()` function:

 <?php 

$default_font = get_option( ‘my_custom_tab_default_font’, ‘Arial’ ); // Second argument is the default value if the setting hasn’t been saved yet.

$max_characters = get_option( ‘my_custom_tab_max_characters’, 30 );

$enable_preview = get_option( ‘my_custom_tab_enable_preview’, ‘no’ );

echo “Default Font: ” . $default_font . “
“;

echo “Maximum Characters: ” . $max_characters . “
“;

echo “Enable Preview: ” . $enable_preview . “
“;

?>

Explanation:

• `get_option( ‘my_custom_tab_default_font’, ‘Arial’ );` This retrieves the value of the setting with the ID `my_custom_tab_default_font`. The second argument, `’Arial’`, is the default value that will be returned if the setting hasn’t been saved yet.
• Replace `’my_custom_tab_default_font’` with the ID of the setting you want to retrieve.

Putting It All Together

Here’s a complete example you can copy and paste into your `functions.php` file (or your custom plugin):

 <?php 

/**

• Add a custom tab to WooCommerce settings.

*/

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_settings_tabs_array’, ‘my_custom_settings_tab’, 50 );

function my_custom_settings_tab( $settings_tabs ) {

$settings_tabs[‘my_custom_tab’] = __( ‘Personalized Mugs’, ‘woocommerce’ );

return $settings_tabs;

}

/**

• Add the tab content.

*/

add_action( ‘woocommerce_settings_tabs_my_custom_tab’, ‘my_custom_settings_tab_content’ );

function my_custom_settings_tab_content() {

woocommerce_admin_fields( get_settings_my_custom_tab() );

}

/**

• Define the settings fields.

*/

function get_settings_my_custom_tab() {

$settings = array(

‘section_title’ => array(

‘name’ => __( ‘Personalized Mug Settings’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘type’ => ‘title’,

‘desc’ => __( ‘Configure the settings for personalized mugs.’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_section_title’

),

‘default_font’ => array(

‘name’ => __( ‘Default Font’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘type’ => ‘text’,

‘desc’ => __( ‘Enter the default font for personalized messages.’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_default_font’,

‘default’ => ‘Arial’

),

‘max_characters’ => array(

‘name’ => __( ‘Maximum Characters’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘type’ => ‘number’,

‘desc’ => __( ‘Enter the maximum number of characters allowed for personalized messages.’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_max_characters’,

‘default’ => ’30’

),

‘enable_preview’ => array(

‘name’ => __( ‘Enable Live Preview’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘type’ => ‘checkbox’,

‘desc’ => __( ‘Enable a live preview of the mug design.’, ‘woocommerce’ ),

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_enable_preview’,

‘default’ => ‘no’

),

‘section_end’ => array(

‘type’ => ‘sectionend’,

‘id’ => ‘my_custom_tab_section_end’

)

);

return apply_filters( ‘wc_my_custom_tab_settings’, $settings );

}

/**

• Update the settings.

*/

add_action( ‘woocommerce_update_options_my_custom_tab’, ‘update_settings_my_custom_tab’ );

function update_settings_my_custom_tab() {

woocommerce_update_options( get_settings_my_custom_tab() );

}

/**

• Example of retrieving the settings. You would use this in your plugin or theme code.

*/

function example_usage() {

$default_font = get_option( ‘my_custom_tab_default_font’, ‘Arial’ );

$max_characters = get_option( ‘my_custom_tab_max_characters’, 30 );

$enable_preview = get_option( ‘my_custom_tab_enable_preview’, ‘no’ );

echo “Default Font: ” . $default_font . “
“;

echo “Maximum Characters: ” . $max_characters . “
“;

echo “Enable Preview: ” . $enable_preview . “
“;

}

//Remove the comment if you want to see the example output.

//add_action( ‘wp_footer’, ‘example_usage’ );

?>

Important Considerations:

• Prefix Your IDs: Always prefix your setting IDs with something unique to your plugin or theme (e.g., `myplugin_default_font`). This helps prevent conflicts with other plugins or themes.
• Sanitize Your Input: Before using the retrieved settings values, especially those entered by users, sanitize them to prevent security vulnerabilities (like cross-site scripting). Use functions like `sanitize_text_field()` or `absint()` depending on the field type.