How To Remove Product Category Counts From Woocommerce

How to Remove Product Category Counts from WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide

Product category pages in WooCommerce are essential for helping customers navigate your online store. By default, these pages display the number of products within each category. While this can be helpful, it’s not always desirable. Sometimes, a large count can deter customers, or maybe you simply prefer a cleaner, more minimalist aesthetic. This article will guide you through different methods to remove product category counts from WooCommerce, allowing you to tailor your store’s appearance to your specific needs. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a WooCommerce beginner, you’ll find a solution that works for you.

Why Remove Product Category Counts?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s quickly explore why you might want to remove these counts:

• Aesthetics: A cleaner design can improve the overall visual appeal of your store, making it more professional and user-friendly. Sometimes, a string of numbers can detract from the visual presentation.
• Psychological Impact: If a category has a very low product count, it might discourage customers from exploring it further. Removing the count avoids this potential negative perception.
• Focus on Product Quality over Quantity: Removing counts can shift the focus from the sheer volume of products to the quality and value offered within each category.
• Brand Consistency: Your brand might have a minimalist aesthetic where unnecessary details are omitted. Removing counts aligns with this branding strategy.

Methods for Removing Product Category Counts

There are several ways to remove the product category counts, catering to different levels of technical expertise. We’ll cover three primary methods: using a plugin, using custom code in your theme’s `functions.php` file, and using CSS. Let’s examine each in detail.

1. Using a Plugin

This is the easiest and most beginner-friendly method. Several plugins allow you to customize various aspects of your WooCommerce store, including removing category counts.

• Search for a suitable plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard and search for terms like “WooCommerce category customization,” “WooCommerce category count remover,” or similar keywords.
• Install and activate the plugin: Choose a plugin with good reviews and recent updates. Click Install Now and then Activate.
• Configure the plugin: Most plugins will have a settings page where you can specify which elements to remove. Look for an option to disable or hide the product count in category archives. Save the changes.

Example Plugin: “Custom Category Page Styling” (This is a hypothetical name, but it represents the type of functionality you should be looking for).

Pros:

• Simplest method, no coding required.
• Usually includes other useful customization options for product categories.

Cons:

• Adds an extra plugin to your WordPress installation, which could potentially impact performance.
• Plugin functionality might be more extensive than needed.

2. Using Custom Code (functions.php)

This method involves adding a small snippet of PHP code to your theme’s `functions.php` file. Always back up your `functions.php` file before making any changes! Alternatively, and more safely, use a code snippets plugin.

Here’s the code snippet:

add_filter( 'woocommerce_subcategory_count_html', '__return_empty_string' );

Explanation:

• `add_filter()` is a WordPress function that allows you to modify existing WordPress functionality.
• `’woocommerce_subcategory_count_html’` is the filter hook that controls the HTML output of the category count.
• `’__return_empty_string’` is a built-in WordPress function that simply returns an empty string, effectively removing the count.

How to Implement:

1. Access your `functions.php` file: You can access it via Appearance > Theme File Editor in your WordPress dashboard (ensure you’re editing the child theme’s `functions.php` if you’re using a child theme – strongly recommended).

2. Add the code: Paste the code snippet at the end of the file, before the closing `?>` tag (if present).

3. Save changes: Click Update File.

Alternative using a Code Snippets Plugin (Recommended):

1. Install and activate a code snippets plugin (e.g., “Code Snippets”).

2. Create a new snippet.

3. Paste the code snippet into the snippet content.

4. Set the snippet to run on “Frontend” and “Run snippet everywhere”.

5. Save and activate the snippet.

Pros:

• Simple and efficient solution.
• Avoids adding another plugin.

Cons:

• Requires some basic understanding of PHP.
• Directly modifying the `functions.php` file can be risky if not done carefully. Always back up first.
• The code will be lost if you switch themes unless using a code snippets plugin.

3. Using CSS

This method uses CSS to hide the category count. It’s less effective than the other methods because the count is still generated on the server-side, but it can be useful for simple visual changes.

1. Identify the CSS class: Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the category count and select “Inspect”) to find the CSS class associated with the count element. It’s usually something like `.count`, ` .woocommerce-loop-category__count`, or similar.

2. Add CSS code to your theme: You can add CSS code to your theme in several ways:

• Theme Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS and add the code.
• Child Theme Stylesheet: Add the code to your child theme’s `style.css` file (recommended if you’re using a child theme).

Here’s an example CSS snippet (replace `.count` with the actual class you identified):

.woocommerce-loop-category__count {

display: none !important;

}

Explanation:

• `display: none;` hides the element completely.
• `!important` ensures that this rule overrides any other CSS rules that might be applied to the same element.

Pros:

• Relatively simple to implement.
• Doesn’t require any PHP knowledge.

Cons:

• The count is still generated, which can slightly impact performance (though usually negligibly).
• Might not work perfectly with all themes.

Conclusion

Removing product category counts from your WooCommerce store is a simple but effective way to refine its appearance and user experience. The best method depends on your comfort level with code and your specific needs. Using a plugin is the easiest option, while adding custom code to your `functions.php` file offers a more direct and efficient solution (but remember to back up). CSS provides a quick visual fix, but it’s less robust. By carefully considering the pros and cons of each method, you can choose the approach that best suits your store’s requirements and create a more polished and professional online presence. Always test your changes on a staging site before applying them to your live site.