Removing WooCommerce Review DatePublished: A PHP Guide
Introduction:
WooCommerce reviews are a crucial element in building trust and driving sales. They provide valuable social proof, allowing potential customers to see what others think of your products. However, you might want to customize the appearance of these reviews. One common customization is removing the `datePublished` attribute from the review metadata. This article will guide you through the process of removing the `datePublished` schema property using PHP. This can be done for design reasons or SEO considerations, although removing schema markup should be done carefully and with an understanding of potential SEO implications.
Why Remove `datePublished`?
While `datePublished` is generally helpful for search engines to understand the context of your reviews, there are reasons why you might consider removing it:
- Aesthetic reasons: You might prefer a cleaner look without the date being displayed.
- Focus on timeliness: If your reviews are consistently refreshed, emphasizing the date might not be as relevant.
- Schema Consistency: In specific situations, the date might cause a conflict with Discover insights on How To Add Carrousel In Ethos X Themeco Examples Woocommerce other schema properties or structured data implementation.
- The easiest way to access this file is through your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
- Locate the `functions.php` file in the list of theme files (usually on the right side of the screen). Important: It’s highly recommended to use a child theme to avoid losing your changes when your theme updates.
Important Note: Before removing any schema properties, ensure you understand the potential impact on your site’s SEO. Google generally prefers complete and accurate schema markup.
Main Part: Removing `datePublished` with PHP
The method we’ll use involves using a WordPress/WooCommerce filter hook. Filter hooks allow you to modify data before it’s displayed or processed. In this case, we’ll use the `woocommerce_structured_data_product_review` filter to modify the review’s structured data.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Access your `functions.php` file:
2. Add the following PHP code to your `functions.php` file (or your child theme’s `functions.php`):
/**
return $markup;
}
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_structured_data_product_review’, ‘remove_woocommerce_review_datepublished’ );
3. Save the `functions.php` file.
Explanation of the code:
- `remove_woocommerce_review_datepublished( $markup )`: This defines a new function that will modify the review markup.
- `$markup`: This is an array containing all the structured data for the product review.
- `if ( isset( $markup[‘datePublished’] ) )`: This checks if the `datePublished` key exists in the `$markup` array. This ensures that the code doesn’t throw an error if the key is missing.
- `unset( $markup[‘datePublished’] )`: If the `datePublished` key exists, this line removes it from the `$markup` array.
- `return $markup`: This returns the modified `$markup` array.
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_structured_data_product_review’, ‘remove_woocommerce_review_datepublished’ )`: This line hooks your custom function into the `woocommerce_structured_data_product_review` filter. This tells WordPress to run your function whenever this filter is called, which is when WooCommerce generates the review structured data.
Testing the Implementation
After adding the code, you need to verify that the `datePublished` attribute is actually removed. Here’s how:
1. View a product page with reviews: Go to a product page on your WooCommerce store that has reviews.
2. Inspect the page source: Right-click on the page and select “View Page Source” (or a similar option depending on your browser).
3. Search for `datePublished`: Use the search function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to look for `datePublished` in the HTML code.
4. Confirm its absence: If the code is working correctly, you should *not* find `datePublished` within the review’s schema markup. You may have to look within the “ block.
You can also use Google’s Rich Results Test to validate the structured data on your page and confirm the absence of the `datePublished` property.
Conclusion:
Removing the `datePublished` attribute from your WooCommerce reviews can be achieved relatively easily using a simple PHP snippet added to your `functions.php` file. Remember to use a child theme to avoid losing these changes during theme updates. Always test your code thoroughly and consider the potential SEO implications before making changes to your site’s structured data. While this guide provides a straightforward method, always prioritize best practices for schema markup to maximize your site’s visibility and performance in search results.