How to List WooCommerce Product Categories on a Static Page
Introduction:
WooCommerce offers a fantastic way to sell products online. However, sometimes you need more control over your store’s layout than the standard shop page provides. A common requirement is displaying your product categories on a custom static page – perhaps to create a more visually appealing landing page or tailor the category presentation to your brand. This article will guide you through the process of listing WooCommerce product categories on a static page, offering practical solutions for both beginners and those more comfortable with code. We’ll cover different methods, from simple plugins to custom code snippets, ensuring you can achieve the desired look and functionality for your WooCommerce store. Listing product categories strategically can significantly improve your store’s navigation and user experience.
Methods for Displaying WooCommerce Categories on a Static Page
There are several ways to accomplish this task, catering to different skill levels and design preferences. We’ll explore three popular options: using a plugin, employing a shortcode, and implementing a custom code snippet.
1. Using a WooCommerce Category Display Plugin
This Read more about How To Sync Square Up With Woocommerce is the easiest and most beginner-friendly method. Numerous plugins are available in the WordPress repository that allow you to display your product categories with various customization options.
- Pros:
- Easy to install and use.
- Often offer visual editors for customization.
- No coding required.
- Cons:
- Can add bloat to your site if you only need this one feature.
- Limited control compared to custom coding.
- Plugin updates might introduce compatibility issues.
- Pros:
- Simple to use.
- No additional plugin needed.
- Lightweight and efficient.
- Cons:
- Limited customization options.
- May not offer the desired visual appeal without CSS styling.
- `number`: The number of categories to display (default: all).
- `parent`: Display only child categories of a specific parent category ID. Set to “0” to display only top-level categories.
- `columns`: The number of columns to display the categories in.
- `orderby`: How to order the categories (name, slug, term_group, term_id, id, description, rand).
- `order`: Sort order (asc or desc).
- `hide_empty`: Hide categories with no products (1 for yes, 0 for no).
- `ids`: Comma-separated list of category IDs to display.
- Pros:
- Full control over the display and styling.
- Highly customizable.
- Avoids relying on third-party plugins.
- Cons:
- Requires coding knowledge (PHP, HTML, CSS).
- Potential for errors if the code is not implemented correctly.
- Needs maintenance and updates if WooCommerce changes.
Example Plugin: *Product Category Grid for WooCommerce* (or similar)
Steps:
1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Go to the plugin’s settings page (usually under WooCommerce or Settings).
3. Configure the desired layout, category display options (images, descriptions, number of columns, etc.).
4. The plugin will typically provide a shortcode that you can then insert into your static page.
2. Utilizing the WooCommerce Product Category Shortcode
WooCommerce provides a built-in shortcode for displaying product categories, offering a quick and simple solution for basic category listings.
Shortcode: `[product_categories]`
Parameters:
Example Usage:
To display the first 4 categories in two columns, ordered alphabetically, and hiding empty categories, you would use the following shortcode:
`[product_categories number=”4″ columns=”2″ orderby=”name” order=”asc” hide_empty=”1″]`
Simply insert this shortcode into the content area of your static page using the WordPress editor.
3. Custom Code Snippet (Advanced)
For those comfortable with PHP, custom coding provides the most flexibility and control over the appearance and functionality of your category listing. This method involves adding a code snippet to your theme’s `functions.php` file (or preferably a child theme’s `functions.php` to prevent your changes from being overwritten during theme updates) or using a code snippets plugin.
Code Example:
'product_cat', 'orderby' => 'name', 'show_count' => 0, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'pad_counts' => 0, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'hierarchical' => 1, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'title_li' => '', 'hide_empty' => 1 // 1 for yes, 0 for no );
$all_categories = get_categories( $args );
echo ‘
- ‘;
- slug, ‘product_cat’) .'”>’. $cat->name .’‘;
$args2 = array(
‘taxonomy’ => ‘product_cat’,
‘child_of’ => $category_id,
‘hide_empty’ => 1
);
$sub_categories = get_categories( $args2 );
if($sub_categories) {
echo ‘
- ‘;
- slug, ‘product_cat’) .'”>’. $sub_category->name .’
foreach($sub_categories as $sub_category) {
echo ‘
‘;
}
echo ‘
‘;
}
echo ‘
foreach ( $all_categories as $cat ) {
if( $cat->category_parent == 0 ) {
$category_id = $cat->term_id;
echo ‘
‘;
}
}
echo ‘
‘;
}
// Create a shortcode to call the function
add_shortcode(‘custom_product_categories’, ‘woocommerce_custom_category_list’);
?>
Explanation:
1. `woocommerce_custom_category_list()` function: This function retrieves and displays the product categories.
2. `get_categories()`: This function retrieves the categories based on the specified arguments. The `$args` array controls the sorting, display options, and hierarchical structure.
3. Looping through categories: The code iterates through the retrieved categories and displays them as a list (`
- `).
4. Subcategories: The code also checks for and displays subcategories within each parent category.
5. `add_shortcode()`: This function creates a shortcode called `[custom_product_categories]` that you can then insert into your static page to display the category list.
Important: Remember to style the output using CSS to match your website’s design. You can target the `woocommerce-category-list` class for styling.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Method
Displaying WooCommerce product categories on a static page is a valuable way to improve your store’s navigation and customize its appearance. The best method depends on your technical skills and desired level of customization. Plugins offer the simplest solution for beginners, while shortcodes provide a quick and easy way to display basic category listings. Custom coding offers the ultimate flexibility but requires more advanced knowledge. No matter which method you choose, make sure to test your implementation thoroughly and optimize it for both desktop and mobile devices to ensure a seamless user experience.
