# How to Check Page Category in WooCommerce with JavaScript
Want to add some dynamic functionality to your WooCommerce store based on the product category? Knowing how to identify the current page’s category using JavaScript is key. This guide will walk you through the process, even if you’re new to JavaScript and WooCommerce.
Why Check the WooCommerce Page Category?
Knowing the current product category allows you to personalize your website experience. Imagine:
- Dynamically changing banners: Show a banner specific to “Electronics” when browsing that category.
- Targeted promotions: Display a discount code only relevant to “Clothing” products.
- Personalized recommendations: Suggest products within the same Discover insights on How To Add Cart Icon In WordPress Woocommerce category the user is currently viewing.
- Category-specific scripts: Load different JavaScript Explore this article on How To Remove Woocommerce Product Additional Information Tab functionalities based on the active category.
- Using a child theme’s `functions.php` file: This is generally preferred for managing code within your theme. You’d enqueue the script using WordPress functions.
- Using a plugin: A dedicated plugin can help manage your JavaScript files efficiently.
- Adding directly to your theme’s `header.php` or `footer.php`: This is less organized but suitable for small, simple scripts. Ensure you wrap your JavaScript in “ tags.
Let’s see how to achieve this using JavaScript.
Method 1: Using WooCommerce’s Data Attributes (Recommended)
WooCommerce conveniently adds data attributes to your product category pages. We can leverage this information directly in our JavaScript code. This is the most efficient and recommended method.
Let’s say your WooCommerce shop URL looks something like this: `yourwebsite.com/product-category/electronics/`.
WooCommerce likely adds a data attribute to the “ tag containing the category slug:
We can access this information in our JavaScript:
const body = document.querySelector(‘body’);
const category = body.dataset.category;
if (category === ‘electronics’) {
// Show electronics banner
document.getElementById(‘electronicsBanner’).style.display = ‘block’;
} else if (category === ‘clothing’) {
// Show clothing promotion
document.getElementById(‘clothingPromotion’).style.display = ‘block’;
}
This code snippet first selects the “ element, then retrieves the `data-category` attribute using `body.dataset.category`. The `if` statements check the category and display elements accordingly. Remember to replace `’electronicsBanner’` and `’clothingPromotion’` with the actual IDs of your elements.
Important Note: The exact data attribute and its location may slightly differ based on your WooCommerce theme and plugins. Inspect your page’s source code (right-click, “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”) to confirm the correct attribute and its value.
Method 2: Parsing the URL (Less Reliable)
While possible, directly parsing the URL to extract the category is less reliable because the URL structure can change depending on your WooCommerce setup (e.g., using custom slugs or permalinks).
const url = window.location.href;
const parts = url.split(‘/’);
//This Discover insights on How To Change The Color Woocommerce Coupon Filed method is unreliable because Learn more about How To Connect Woocommerce To Ebay it relies on the URL structure, which is not always consistent.
//Attempt to extract category from URL (unreliable)
let category = null;
if(parts.indexOf(‘product-category’) !== -1){
const categoryIndex = parts.indexOf(‘product-category’) + 1;
category = parts[categoryIndex];
}
if (category) {
//Use category value.
console.log(“Category from URL:”, category);
} else {
console.log(“Category not found in URL.”);
}
This code splits the URL into parts and tries to find the category. However, this approach is fragile and might break if your URL structure changes. Therefore, using the data attribute (Method 1) is strongly recommended.
Adding JavaScript to your WooCommerce Site
You can add your JavaScript code in a few ways:
Remember to always test thoroughly after implementing your JavaScript code.
By following these methods, you can efficiently check the current page’s product category in your WooCommerce store using JavaScript, opening doors to more dynamic and engaging website experiences. Choose the data attribute method for reliability and efficiency.
