How To Sort Alphabetically Products On Woocommerce

How to Alphabetically Sort Products on WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve got a WooCommerce store brimming with fantastic products. That’s awesome! But have you ever stopped to think about how your customers are browsing them? Let’s say you sell a wide range of tools, from “Adjustable Wrenches” to “Zebra-Striped Drill Bits.” Having them scattered randomly on your shop page isn’t ideal. Customers often expect a structured experience, and alphabetical order is a simple and intuitive way to help them find what they need quickly.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to alphabetically sort your products on WooCommerce, even if you’re a complete beginner. We’ll cover the easiest methods and explain the reasoning behind them.

Why Alphabetical Sorting Matters

Think about your own online shopping experiences. When you’re looking for a specific book on Amazon, wouldn’t you be frustrated if they weren’t organized in some logical way? Alphabetical sorting offers several key benefits:

• Improved User Experience: Customers can quickly locate products they know the name of. Imagine someone looking for “Ergonomic Screwdrivers” – alphabetical order brings them closer to it faster.
• Enhanced Discoverability: Even if a customer doesn’t know the exact product name, alphabetical order can help them browse and discover similar items more easily.
• Professional Presentation: A well-organized store appears more professional and trustworthy, boosting customer confidence.
• Reduced Bounce Rate: When customers can find what they’re looking for effortlessly, they’re less likely to leave your site in frustration.

Method 1: Using the WooCommerce Product Sorting Options (Easiest)

The simplest way to sort your products alphabetically is using WooCommerce’s built-in sorting options. This is ideal for beginners because it requires no coding whatsoever.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Navigate to your WooCommerce Shop Page: This is typically the page you’ve designated as your “Shop” in your WordPress settings. If you’re not sure, check under WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display to find your “Shop page.”

2. Locate the Sorting Dropdown: Most WooCommerce themes include a sorting dropdown on the shop page. This is usually located near the top of the page. The label might say something like “Default sorting,” “Sort by,” or “Order by.”

3. Select “Sort by A to Z” or “Sort by Name: A to Z”: The exact wording may vary depending on your theme, but look for an option that explicitly mentions alphabetical order from A to Z. There might also be a “Z to A” option if you want reverse alphabetical order.

That’s it! Your products should now be sorted alphabetically.

Important Considerations:

• Theme Compatibility: Some themes might have custom sorting options that override the default WooCommerce settings. If you don’t see a sorting dropdown, or if the “A to Z” option doesn’t work as expected, consult your theme documentation or contact the theme developer.
• Permanent Sorting: This method typically only changes the sorting for that specific browsing session. If you want to *permanently* sort your products alphabetically by default, you’ll need a different approach (see Method 2).

Method 2: Setting Alphabetical Order as the Default Sorting (Requires Code Snippet)

This method allows you to set alphabetical order as the default sorting for your WooCommerce shop page. This means that every time someone visits your shop, the products will automatically be displayed in alphabetical order. While this involves adding a small code snippet, don’t be intimidated! We’ll break it down step-by-step.

1. Access Your `functions.php` File (Carefully!)

The `functions.php` file is located in your theme directory. There are two ways to access it:

• (Recommended) Using a Child Theme: Creating a child theme is the *safest* way to modify your theme’s files. If you directly edit the parent theme’s `functions.php` file, your changes will be lost when you update the theme. Research “how to create a wordpress child theme” if you’re unfamiliar with this.
• Via WordPress Theme Editor (Less Safe): Navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor in your WordPress dashboard. In the file list on the right side, locate `functions.php`. Be extremely careful when editing this file, as a mistake can break your website. It’s highly recommended to back up your website before making any changes.

2. Add the Code Snippet:

Paste the following code snippet at the *very end* of your `functions.php` file, before the closing `?>` tag (if it exists):

 add_filter( 'woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby', 'custom_default_catalog_orderby' ); function custom_default_catalog_orderby( $sort_by ) { return 'title'; // Sort by product title (alphabetical) } 

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args’, ‘custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args’ );

function custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args( $args ) {

$args[‘orderby’] = ‘title’;

$args[‘order’] = ‘ASC’; // Ascending order (A-Z)

return $args;

}

3. Save the File: Click the “Update File” button.

Explanation of the Code:

• `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby’, ‘custom_default_catalog_orderby’ );` This line adds a filter to WooCommerce that allows us to change the default sorting option.
• `function custom_default_catalog_orderby( $sort_by ) { return ‘title’; }` This function tells WooCommerce to use the ‘title’ as the default sorting option. The Read more about How To Change Size Of Woocommerce Email Header Image ‘title’ refers to the product title, which is what we want to sort alphabetically.
• `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args’, ‘custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args’ );` This filter allows us to modify the arguments Read more about How To Set Shipping Class In Woocommerce used for ordering products.
• `function custom_woocommerce_get_catalog_ordering_args( $args ) { … }` This function sets the ‘orderby’ argument to ‘title’ (alphabetical) and the ‘order’ argument to ‘ASC’ (ascending, i.e., A-Z).

Important Considerations:

• Caching: If you’re using a caching plugin, you may need to clear your cache after adding the code to see the changes take effect.
• Error Handling: If your website breaks after adding the code, immediately remove it and try again, ensuring you copied it correctly. Consider hiring a developer if you’re not comfortable troubleshooting PHP code.
• Child Themes: *Always* use a child theme when modifying your theme’s files.

Method 3: Using a Plugin

If you prefer to avoid code altogether, there are several WooCommerce plugins that can help you sort your products alphabetically. Search the WordPress plugin repository for terms like “woocommerce product sorting” or “woocommerce product order.” Some popular options include:

• Custom Product Ordering for WooCommerce: (This is just an example – research and choose the plugin that best suits your needs)

These plugins typically offer a user-friendly interface where you can easily drag and drop products to arrange them in any order you like, including alphabetical. They often come with extra features, such as the ability to create custom sorting rules based on different criteria.

Important Considerations:

• Plugin Quality: Before installing any plugin, check its ratings, reviews, and last updated date to ensure it’s well-maintained and compatible with your version of WooCommerce.
• Plugin Conflicts: Some plugins can conflict with each other, causing unexpected errors. It’s always a good idea to test new plugins on a staging site before deploying them to your live website.
• Bloat: Excessive plugins can slow down your site. Choose wisely and only install the ones you truly need.

Conclusion

Alphabetically sorting your products on WooCommerce is a simple yet effective way to improve the user experience and boost sales. Whether you choose the built-in sorting options, a code snippet, or a plugin, the key is to choose the method that best suits your technical skills and website requirements. A little effort in organizing your product listings can go a long way in creating a more professional and user-friendly online store! Good luck!