# How to Change Your WooCommerce Shop Page with Code: A Developer’s Guide
Changing the WooCommerce shop page involves more than just tweaking themes. This guide provides a developer-friendly approach to modifying your shop page using code, allowing for granular control and advanced customization beyond the limitations of the theme customizer. We’ll cover several techniques, from simple template overrides to more complex custom template creation.
Understanding the WooCommerce Shop Page Template Hierarchy
Before diving into code, it’s crucial to understand how WooCommerce handles its shop page template. WooCommerce uses a template hierarchy, meaning it looks for specific files in a specific order. If a file isn’t found, it falls back to the next one in the hierarchy. This allows for theme-specific overrides without modifying core WooCommerce files. Understanding this hierarchy is key to successful customization.
Methods for Changing the WooCommerce Shop Page with Code
Here are some effective methods for modifying your shop page:
1. Using a Child Theme and Template Overrides
This is the recommended approach, as it prevents your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.
- Create a child theme: This is a crucial first step. A child theme inherits the styles and functionality of your parent theme while allowing you to make custom modifications.
- Copy the relevant template files: Copy the `archive-product.php` file (and any related files like `content-product.php` or `loop-start.php` which control product display) from your parent theme’s directory to your child theme’s directory.
- Modify the copied files: Now you can make changes directly to the copied files. For example, you can alter the product loop, add custom content before or after the products, or change the product display layout.
Example: Adding a custom message above the products:
<?php /**
Welcome to Our Shop!
Discover our amazing collection of products.
<?php
/
* Hook: woocommerce_before_shop_loop.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_output_all_notices – 10
Check out this post: How To Email A WordPress Woocommerce Order
* @hooked woocommerce_result_count – 20
* @hooked woocommerce_catalog_ordering – 30
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_shop_loop’ );
woocommerce_product_loop_start();
if ( wc_get_loop_prop( ‘total’ ) ) {
while ( have_posts() ) {
the_post();
/
* Hook: woocommerce_before_shop_loop_item.
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_shop_loop_item’ );
wc_get_template_part( ‘content’, ‘product’ );
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item.
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’ );
}
}
woocommerce_product_loop_end();
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_shop_loop.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_pagination – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop’ );
?>
<?php
get_footer();
?>
2. Creating a Custom Template
For more extensive changes, create a completely custom template. This provides the highest level of control.
- Create a new template file: Create a file named `archive-product.php` (or a custom name if you prefer) inside your child theme’s directory.
- Code your custom template: Write your own HTML, PHP, and WooCommerce functions to build your shop page exactly as you need it. This method requires more coding expertise but offers maximum flexibility.
Conclusion
Modifying your WooCommerce shop page with code offers unparalleled control over its appearance and functionality. While using a child theme and template overrides is the safest and recommended method, creating a custom template allows for the most extensive customization. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes. Choosing the right approach depends on your technical skills and the level of customization required. By carefully following these steps and understanding the WooCommerce template hierarchy, you can easily tailor your shop page to perfectly reflect your brand and meet your specific needs.
