How To Modify The Woocommerce Catalog Page

How to Modify the WooCommerce Catalog Page for a Better User Experience

Introduction:

The WooCommerce catalog page is the heart of your online store. It’s where potential customers browse your products and decide whether or not to make a purchase. A default WooCommerce catalog page can be functional, but it Read more about How To Use Omnisend With Woocommerce often lacks the customization needed to truly reflect your brand and cater to your specific target audience. Learning how to modify the WooCommerce catalog page allows you to optimize user experience, improve conversions, and boost sales. This article will guide you through various methods of customizing this crucial page, from simple visual tweaks to advanced code modifications. Let’s dive in!

Main Part: Customizing Your WooCommerce Catalog Page

Modifying the WooCommerce catalog page can range from simple adjustments in the WordPress Customizer to more complex changes through code. Here are several methods, progressing from beginner-friendly to more advanced:

1. Using the WordPress Customizer

The WordPress Customizer offers a convenient way to make basic changes to your catalog page without touching any code.

Accessing the Customizer: Go to Appearance -> Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
WooCommerce Options: Look for the “WooCommerce” section in the Customizer. You should see options related to Product Catalog, Product Images, and more.
Available Customizations:
Product Catalog: This section often allows you to:
Change the number of products displayed per page.
Modify the number of columns.
Choose what to display on the category archive page (products, categories, or both).
Product Images: Customize the size and aspect ratio of product thumbnails.
Store Notice: Add a store-wide notice, useful for announcements or promotions.

While the Customizer offers limited options, it’s a great starting point for beginners to make quick visual adjustments.

2. Leveraging WooCommerce Settings

WooCommerce itself provides several built-in settings that impact the catalog page display.

Accessing WooCommerce Settings: Go to WooCommerce -> Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
Display Tab: Navigate to the “Products” tab and then the “Display” sub-tab.
Key Settings:
Shop page: Select the page designated as your main shop page.
Default product sorting: Choose the default sorting option for your products (e.g., price low to high, popularity).
Category display: Decide whether to display products, subcategories, or both on category archive pages.
Default Category View: Determines whether the category page defaults to displaying products in a list or grid.

These settings are easily accessible and configure how products are presented to your customers.

3. Utilizing WooCommerce Hooks

WooCommerce uses hooks (actions and filters) that allow you to add or modify existing functionality without directly altering the core WooCommerce files. This is a more advanced method but crucial for significant customization.

Understanding Actions and Filters:
Actions: Allow you to execute a function at a specific point in the code. Example: `woocommerce_before_shop_loop` to add content before the product loop.
Filters: Allow you to modify data before it is displayed. Example: `woocommerce_product_get_price` to change how product prices are displayed.
Finding Hooks: The WooCommerce documentation ([https://woocommerce.com/document/](https://woocommerce.com/document/)) provides a comprehensive list of available hooks.
Adding Hooks in `functions.php` or a Plugin:

Important: Always use a child theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin to add code modifications. Never directly edit the core WooCommerce plugin files, as your changes will be overwritten during updates.

Here’s an example of adding text before the product loop:

 add_action( 'woocommerce_before_shop_loop', 'add_custom_text_before_shop_loop' );

function add_custom_text_before_shop_loop() {

echo ‘

Welcome to our amazing collection of products!

‘;

}

And here’s an example of filtering product prices to add a currency symbol:

 add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_get_price', 'change_product_price', 10, 2 );

function change_product_price( $price, $product ) {

return ‘$’ . $price;

}

Advantages:
Non-destructive: Your changes won’t be overwritten during WooCommerce updates.
Flexible: Hooks offer a vast array of customization possibilities.

4. Overriding WooCommerce Templates

Another advanced technique is overriding WooCommerce templates. This involves copying the template file from the WooCommerce plugin into your theme and modifying it there.

Finding Template Files: Template files are located in the `woocommerce/templates/` directory within the WooCommerce plugin folder.
Creating the Correct Directory Structure in Your Theme: Create a `woocommerce` folder in your theme’s directory. Then, replicate the directory structure of the template you want to override. For example, to override `templates/archive-product.php`, you’d create `your-theme/woocommerce/archive-product.php`.
Modifying the Template: Copy the original template file into your theme’s directory and make your desired changes.
Example: To customize the product loop on the catalog page (often controlled by `archive-product.php`), you would copy `wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/templates/archive-product.php` to `wp-content/themes/your-theme/woocommerce/archive-product.php` and then modify the latter.

Caution: When overriding templates, be aware that WooCommerce updates may change the original template files. You’ll need to periodically check your overridden templates against the originals to ensure compatibility and incorporate any new features or security updates. Use a diff tool to compare the original file and the customized version.

5. Using Page Builders with WooCommerce Integration

Many popular page builders, such as Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi, offer WooCommerce integration that provides a visual interface for customizing the catalog page.

Benefits:
Visual Drag-and-Drop Interface: Easier for non-developers to design the catalog page.
Pre-built WooCommerce Widgets: Drag and drop product grids, categories, and other WooCommerce elements.
Greater Control over Layout and Design: Fine-tune the appearance of the catalog page without code.
Popular Options:
Elementor Pro: Offers a dedicated WooCommerce builder for creating custom product archive pages.
Divi Builder: Provides modules specifically for WooCommerce product displays.
Beaver Builder: Compatible with WooCommerce themes and plugins for enhanced customization.

Conclusion:

Modifying the WooCommerce catalog page is essential for creating a unique and effective online store. Start with the simpler methods like the Customizer and WooCommerce settings before venturing into code-based customization using hooks or template overrides. If you are not comfortable with coding, using a page builder with WooCommerce integration is a great alternative. Always remember to test your changes thoroughly and keep your theme and plugins updated. By taking the time to optimize your catalog page, you can significantly improve the shopping experience for your customers and ultimately drive more sales.