Using WordPress’s shortcodes, you can include many functionalities into posts, pages, and widgets without writing code. This is where we get the term “Shortcode.” Many WordPress plugins and a few themes use shortcodes to include various features, for example, price grids, event calendars, etc. This post will discuss 7 vital strategies for utilizing shortcodes in WordPress. 

In WordPress, what are shortcodes? 

When new material is posted to a WordPress website, that content is subjected to several security checks and filters. Thanks to these security checks and filters, no harmful code enters articles, websites, comments, etc. This implies you can’t directly write code in these regions. 

On the other side, sometimes, you merely need to put code in these spots. This may be accomplished via the use of shortcodes. 

Utilizing shortcodes makes it much simpler to include additional components in WordPress articles. For example, you may build a gorgeous, responsive slider using a simple shortcode. Using WordPress, you don’t need to write a single code to design a sophisticated polling questionnaire. 

In light of those mentioned above, let’s examine some useful hints for working with shortcodes in WordPress. 

Understand When to Avoid Using Shortcodes 

Although shortcodes have a lot of benefits, it’s not a good idea to use them in every post. Several WordPress themes claim to contain over 200 shortcodes, and many of them do. 

On the other hand, if you utilize a shortcode in every post, you will be permanently bound to the particular theme that supplies you with the shortcode. 

Suppose you are creating call-to-action buttons inside your posts or pages by utilizing a shortcode that is particular to your theme. In that case, you might consider following our tutorial that explains how to add CSS buttons in WordPress without using shortcodes. 

Adding the same shortcode to each theme every time you want to add the same element, such as a banner or signature text at the end of a post, you should consider using a plugin or hiring a developer to code that directly into your theme. If you need to add the shortcode in each theme, you should consider using a plugin. 

As a result, styling that element will be simpler, and should you wish to delete it, it will be simple. 

Keep in mind that if you use a shortcode in each post and then decide later that you want to delete it, you will need to edit all of the posts manually, even though there is a simpler approach, which we will explain later in this piece of writing. 

Ensure the Long-Term Viability of Your Shortcodes 

Shortcodes are wonderful, but if your theme already has them, you may want to carefully consider them before making heavy use. Why? 

Because switching themes will very certainly result in your new theme not having the same shortcode you are now using. 

• Including your code in a plugin designed for your site is the most effective approach to stop it from happening. 
• It takes a few minutes to copy and paste the shortcode snippet from your theme’s functions.php file into your plugin’s functions.php file. You can find the snippet in the file. 

How to Search Your WordPress Theme for Shortcode 

To safeguard your shortcode for the foreseeable future, you need to be familiar with the appearance of the shortcode function and how to locate it inside your theme. 

To begin, you will need to access the folder associated with your theme, which can often be located in /wp-content/themes/your-theme-name/. 

You should investigate the contents of the functions.php file or the contents of that folder if the theme comes with an included folder. 

Utilize Shortcodes in Widgets 

Users often misunderstand that shortcodes may only be used inside articles and pages, although this is not true. It is available for usage inside the text widgets of your WordPress site. 

Create a text widget to your sidebar using drag-and-drop, then paste your shortcode inside the widget. 

The default setting for this option in WordPress is not activated. If you cannot see your shortcode inside a widget, you will need to either include this code within the functions.php file of your theme or within a site-specific plugin. 

Include a shortcode in your theme files. 

If for any reason, you discover that you need to output the shortcode inside a region of your theme that is not intended for widgets, then you are free to utilize your shortcodes in that location as well. 

Let’s say you’ve developed a unique page design for your website, and now you want to add a shortcode that displays a contact form on your site. 

Hiding a Defective Shortcode 

Users often alter their themes without understanding that their previously used shortcodes would no longer function properly after the update. Sometimes they find out after months have passed when a user checks an old post of theirs and discovers strange content there. 

The solution to this problem lies in two directions. You can go through each article and manually remove the faulty shortcode, or you can hide the problematic shortcode. 

Locating Shortcodes Employed in Posts 

If you do not utilize the hack described in Tip 6 but would rather delete all shortcodes manually, the first thing you will need to do is locate all of the articles that are making use of the shortcode. 

A new shortcode with the name shortcode finder will be generated due to this code. It will execute a WordPress query and show all posts with the specified shortcode tag. 

If you’re looking for more comprehensive instructions on locating and concealing useless shortcodes in WordPress, check out our tutorial. 

Extra Bonus: Which Shortcodes May I Employ at this Very Moment? 

Users often are unaware of the many shortcodes that are at their disposal. The shortcode reference plugin gives you a list and additional information on the shortcodes accessible on your WordPress website. 

We hope that you learned how to utilize WordPress shortcodes and get the most out of them with these recommendations.