How to Set the Default Sorting Option in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, offers a flexible and customizable online store experience. One key aspect of user experience is how products are sorted on your shop page. By default, WooCommerce often sorts products by popularity, but you might want to prioritize recent arrivals, price, or another factor. Setting the default sorting option appropriately can significantly impact how customers discover and interact with your products, leading to better conversion rates. This article will guide you through the different methods you can use to configure this crucial setting, ensuring your customers see what you want them to see first.
Main Part: Configuring the Default Sorting Option
WooCommerce provides several ways to adjust the default sorting option. We will cover the easiest method through the WooCommerce admin interface and then explore more advanced techniques using code.
#### 1. Using the WooCommerce Admin Panel (The Easiest Method)
This is the simplest and recommended method for most users. It involves modifying the WooCommerce settings directly from your Read more about How To Yith Woocommerce Subscription WordPress dashboard.
1. Access WooCommerce Settings: Log in to your WordPress admin panel. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings.
2. Go to the Products Tab: Click on the Products tab.
3. Find the “Default product sorting” Option: Scroll down to find the “Default product sorting” dropdown menu.
4. Choose Your Preferred Option: Select your desired default sorting option from the dropdown. The available options typically include:
- Default sorting (custom ordering + name)
- Popularity (sales)
- Average rating
- Most recent
- Price (asc)
- Price (desc)
5. Save Changes: Click the Save changes button at the bottom of the page.
That’s it! WooCommerce will now sort products on your shop page using the option you selected by default.
#### 2. Customizing Default Sorting Using Code (Advanced)
For more granular control and to implement custom sorting criteria, you can use code snippets within your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. Be cautious when editing these files, as incorrect code can break your website. It’s highly recommended to use a child theme or a code snippets plugin.
##### a. Using the `woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby` Filter
This filter allows you to change the key that defines which sorting option is used by default.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby', 'custom_default_catalog_orderby' );
function custom_default_catalog_orderby( $sortby ) {
return ‘date’; // Set to ‘date’ for most recent. Other options: ‘popularity’, ‘rating’, ‘price’, ‘price-desc’.
}
This code snippet sets the default sorting option to “Most Recent” (sorted by date).
##### b. Using the `woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args` Filter for Custom Sorting Logic
For even greater control, you can use the `woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args` filter. This allows you to manipulate the actual query arguments used to sort products.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args', 'custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args' );
function custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args( $args ) {
$orderby_value = isset( $_GET[‘orderby’] ) ? wc_clean( $_GET[‘orderby’] ) : apply_filters( ‘woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby’, get_option( ‘woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby’ ) );
switch ( $orderby_value ) {
case ‘my_custom_sort’:
$args[‘orderby’] = ‘meta_value_num’;
$args[‘order’] = ‘DESC’;
$args[‘meta_key’] = ‘_my_custom_field’; // Replace with your custom field name
break;
}
return $args;
}
In this example:
- We’re checking for a `my_custom_sort` option in the URL’s `orderby` parameter.
- If it’s present, we modify the query arguments to sort by a custom meta field `_my_custom_field` in descending order. You’d need to implement the logic for `my_custom_sort` to define your desired behaviour.
##### c. Adding a Custom Sorting Option to the Dropdown
To make your custom sorting option selectable by users, you need to add it to the sorting dropdown on the shop page.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_catalog_orderby', 'custom_woocommerce_catalog_orderby' );
function custom_woocommerce_catalog_orderby( $sortby ) {
$sortby[‘my_custom_sort’] = ‘My Custom Sorting Option’; // Replace with your desired label
return $sortby;
}
This will add “My Custom Sorting Option” to the sorting dropdown, which, when selected, will trigger the code in section *b* through the `woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args` filter.
#### 3. Important Considerations
- Child Theme: Always use a child theme when modifying theme files. This prevents your changes from being overwritten when the parent theme is updated.
- Testing: Thoroughly test your changes to ensure they function as expected and don’t introduce any conflicts or errors.
- Caching: Clear your website’s cache (and any WooCommerce product attribute lookup table caches) after making changes to ensure the updated sorting is reflected.
- Performance: Be mindful of the performance impact of complex sorting logic, especially on large product catalogs. Efficient database queries are crucial.
Conclusion
Setting the default sorting option in WooCommerce is a simple yet powerful way to improve the user experience on your online store. Whether you choose the straightforward approach via the admin panel or delve into the code for custom sorting, understanding the available options allows you to present your products in the most effective manner. By optimizing the sorting, you can help customers find what they’re looking for more easily, ultimately boosting sales and customer satisfaction. Remember to choose the method that best suits your needs and always test your changes thoroughly.
