What is Shortcode and How to Use Shortcodes in WordPress?

Key highlights

• Understand what WordPress shortcodes are and how they simplify adding features without coding.
• Learn how shortcodes can speed up your design workflow and make content creation more efficient.
• Explore practical examples of using shortcodes to embed forms, galleries, buttons and dynamic content.
• Uncover how to customize or create your own shortcodes to unlock more advanced functionality.
• Know how shortcodes can become an essential tool for managing and enhancing your WordPress website with ease.

Have you ever wondered how to craft a sleek, feature-packed website that strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and functionality? 

You might have come across the term ‘WordPress Shortcodes’ and wondered how it can enhance your WordPress website. Whether you’re an entrepreneur managing a small business, an eCommerce platform or just starting in the digital world, it’s crucial to make the most of available tools.

If you are curious about optimizing your WordPress site with sleek design and functionality, explore the power of WordPress Shortcodes for a comprehensive, user-friendly experience.

In this guide, you will understand WordPress Shortcodes and show you how they can become your go-to companion for website design and administration, helping you elevate your WordPress prowess.

What is a WordPress shortcode?

Let’s plunge straight in. What is WordPress Shortcodes, exactly? Think of shortcodes as unique markers you can embed into your WordPress articles or pages, enabling you to perform tasks that would typically demand complex coding, all in a few clicks. It’s like a computer shortcut – swift, straightforward and incredibly efficient.

But why should you, a dedicated small business proprietor, eCommerce giant or aspiring entrepreneur, take notice? Here’s the deal: Shortcodes can transform website creation into a cakewalk. They enable you to insert customizable elements, like forms, buttons or slideshows, without having to be a coding guru. Think of the hours you could save! Doesn’t it feel like you’ve just gained superpowers to manage your website more adeptly?

Before we get to the process of creating a shortcode in WordPress, let’s look at why you should consider them.

Why should you consider using WordPress shortcodes?

Having explored the basics of WordPress Shortcodes, let’s now enhance your website creation journey! Shortcodes can serve a multitude of functions that would typically necessitate a developer. For instance, you can rapidly embed a YouTube video into wordpress post or integrate a photo gallery into a blog post with a simple copy-paste action!

The advantages of utilizing shortcodes are plentiful. To start with, they’re incredibly user-friendly. You need no coding experience to implement shortcodes. Moreover, they’re massive time-savers, enabling you to accomplish in seconds what could take minutes or hours otherwise. Finally, the customization prospects that shortcodes provide are extraordinary. From altering your eCommerce store layout to crafting personalized contact forms, the power to mold your website is literally at your fingertips! Intrigued yet?

How do WordPress shortcodes work?

Let’s roll up our sleeves and understand how to use shortcode in WordPress. They may seem like clandestine codes, but rest assured, that once you understand the steps, usage becomes a breeze.

Since most shortcodes aren’t inherently part of WordPress themes or plugins, they can be inserted into pages, posts and text widgets anywhere on a website a user wants to add that feature – or deleted when the feature is no longer needed. Whether they’re included within WordPress hosting itself or obtained elsewhere, shortcodes are displayed as text within single brackets, representing a larger piece of code that WordPress executes from within one of its site files. All a user has to do is locate the shortcode, copy it and insert it into the location where the shortcode function is supposed to appear.

Shortcodes can be pasted into a WordPress page or post using either the Visual or the Text editor and the shortcode’s output appears within the editor at the point a user has selected.

The next part of our journey involves the identification, copying, pasting, previewing and publishing the shortcode. WordPress provides some default shortcodes, but you can discover more via plugins.

These shortcodes typically appear in a format like this:

[shortcode]

Once you’ve copied the shortcode (including the square brackets), navigate to the post or page where you want the shortcode’s function to appear. Place your cursor at the desired location and paste the shortcode inside.

Before hitting publish, preview your post or page to ensure the shortcode operates as anticipated. If all looks promising, go ahead and publish!

See? As easy as pie! Now, you possess a swift and effective instrument to craft a website that’s functional, user-friendly and unmistakably yours. Exciting, isn’t it?

1. How does the do_shortcode function work?

The do_shortcode() function acts as WordPress’s behind-the-scenes shortcode processor, taking any string containing shortcode tags and parsing it through the Shortcode API to return clean HTML output. When you call do_shortcode('[contact-form-7 id="123"]') in your theme’s header.php or a custom PHP function, WordPress searches for registered shortcode handlers, processes any attributes and executes the corresponding callback function to generate the final markup.

This function proves invaluable when you need shortcode functionality outside the standard editor, such as displaying a contact form in your site header or adding a CTA button to your footer template. For best results, always sanitize any dynamic attributes using esc_attr(), avoid hardcoding user-generated content directly into do_shortcode() calls and test your output thoroughly. Remember that do_shortcode() only works with properly registered shortcodes, so ensure your desired shortcode plugin is active before implementation.

2. Using WordPress shortcodes in pages and posts

Adding shortcodes to your WordPress posts and pages is straightforward in both editors. In the Block (Gutenberg) editor, simply click the “+” button to add a new block, search for “Shortcode,” and select the Shortcode block. Paste your shortcode directly into the block, such as for image galleries or [contact-form-7] for contact forms. In the Classic editor, you can paste shortcodes anywhere in the text editor and they’ll render automatically. Always preview your content before publishing to ensure shortcodes display correctly.

Shortcodes work in any rich text area throughout WordPress, making them versatile for embedding videos, buttons, forms and interactive elements across your site. Common use cases include creating photo galleries, embedding YouTube videos, adding subscription forms and inserting call-to-action buttons. When providing examples in tutorials or documentation, avoid using real URLs and instead use placeholder formats like [storename].com to prevent creating unintended links. Remember, shortcodes are processed when your page loads, so complex shortcodes may slightly impact loading times.

3. How to add shortcodes in WordPress widgets

Adding shortcodes to WordPress widget areas like sidebars and footers allows you to display dynamic content throughout your site. The method depends on whether your theme uses classic or block-based widgets.

For classic widgets, navigate to Appearance > Widgets in your WordPress dashboard and add a Text or Custom HTML widget to your desired widget area. Simply paste your shortcode (including the square brackets) into the widget content field. For block-based widget areas, add a Shortcode block to your widget area and enter your shortcode directly. Popular examples include displaying contact forms with [contact-form-7], recent posts sliders or call-to-action buttons in sidebars. Keep in mind that some themes may not fully support certain widget areas and shortcode functionality can vary between themes. Always preview your changes before publishing to ensure the shortcode renders correctly and doesn’t conflict with your theme’s design or functionality.

How to create a shortcode in WordPress in 7 steps

Step 1-Create a new theme file:

In WordPress, start by creating a new PHP file within your active theme directory. This file will house the code for your custom shortcode.

Step 2-Create the shortcode function:

Inside the newly created PHP file, define the function for your shortcode. This function will specify what should happen when the shortcode tag is used. You’ll typically use WordPress functions and PHP code to achieve the desired functionality.

Step 3-Add the self-closing shortcode to the website: 

Now that you’ve defined your shortcode function, you can add the shortcode itself to your WordPress posts or pages. This is done by placing the shortcode name inside square brackets like this:

[your_shortcode]

Step 4-Add parameters to the shortcode

To make your shortcode more flexible and customizable, you can add parameters or attributes to it. Parameters allow you to pass information to the shortcode function, enabling shortcode attributes or different behavior based on user input.

Step 5-Test the parameters:

After adding parameters, it’s important to test your shortcode to ensure it works as expected. This involves using the shortcode with different parameter values to verify that it performs the desired actions.

Step 6-Create an enclosing shortcode:

If your shortcode requires an opening and closing tag, such as: [shortcode]content[/shortcode], you’ll need to create an enclosing shortcode function to handle the dynamic content in between the opening and closing tags.

Step 7- Add an enclosing shortcode to the website: 

Finally, you can incorporate the enclosing shortcode into your WordPress content by using the opening and closing tags. This allows you to apply the desired functionality to specific content within your posts or pages.

How to get WordPress shortcodes?

Some shortcodes are available right within WordPress itself. Adding any of these to the WordPress text editor or a text widget will display the desired element. This can be modified as needed from settings available on the WP admin dashboard. Shortcodes can also come with some free or premium WordPress themes or plugins for added features and functions. For example, a photo gallery WordPress theme might contain a gallery shortcode for managing the theme’s image content.

But if those aren’t sufficient, it is possible to procure many more specialized shortcodes via numerous free WordPress shortcode plugin options, such as Shortcodes Unlimited, which includes 50 or more shortcodes for adding diverse features, like carousels, headers and sliders. For an even larger collection of shortcodes, users can purchase a range of premium shortcode plugins, such as Vision, which features over 100 customizable shortcodes from various WordPress developers and asset marketplaces globally.

Several third-party websites also provide shortcodes of their own for incorporating things like badges, publications and feeds on a WordPress site. To insert this type of content, copy the shortcode provided on the source site and paste it into the desired location on your WordPress site.

Creating custom WordPress shortcodes

Anyone can use shortcodes without coding skills, but experienced developers have additional options for customization. You can set parameters within shortcodes to control their behavior. For example, you might specify how many recent posts to display or how many slides should appear in a slideshow.

Step 1: Use existing shortcodes with parameters

Start by adding parameters to your shortcode to customize its behavior. These parameters tell the shortcode what to display and how to display it.

Step 2: Access WordPress shortcode tools

If you want to build your own shortcodes, you can use tools like the Generate WP developer toolkit. This tool provides the basic framework for creating shortcodes for different purposes.

Step 3: Follow WordPress codex specifications

Use the official WordPress codex as your guide when creating custom shortcodes. This documentation provides the technical specifications you need to follow.

Step 4: Build your custom shortcode

Create your shortcode from scratch using the framework provided by WordPress tools. You can make it specific to your website or share it with the WordPress community.

Step 5: Test and share your shortcode

Once you create your shortcode, test it on your site to make sure it works as expected. Because WordPress is free and open-source software, you have the option to share your custom shortcode with other WordPress users or keep it exclusive to your site.

Maximizing the use of WordPress shortcodes

So, you’re equipped with the basics of WordPress Shortcodes. The next step? Making the most out of these fantastic little tools to create a website that wows!

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you along the way:

1. Experiment: Don’t shy away from trying different shortcodes. The more you play around with them, the better you’ll understand their functionality and potential. Plus, who knows? You might stumble upon a feature you never knew you needed!
2. Combine shortcodes: Yes, you can use more than one shortcode on a page or post. So why not mix and match to achieve the exact look and functionality you want?
3. Keep it neat: While it’s great to experiment, remember to keep your pages tidy. Overdoing it with shortcodes can make your pages look cluttered.
4. Stay updated: WordPress and plugins often update their shortcodes. Keep an eye on these updates to take advantage of new features.

Embrace the magic of WordPress Shortcodes! They can simplify your website management process, freeing you up to focus on growing your business. Ready to create a website like never before?

WordPress shortcodes: pros and cons

WordPress shortcodes: pros and cons

1. Advantages of WordPress shortcodes:

• Ease of use for non-technical users: Add complex functionality without coding knowledge.
• Time-saving: Accomplish in seconds what could take minutes or hours otherwise.
• Reusability across themes: Maintain consistent functionality when switching WordPress themes.
• Flexibility: Valuable for long-term website management and portability.

2. Disadvantages of WordPress shortcodes:

• Visual clutter in editor: Makes content harder to read and edit.
• Confusing for non-technical users: Bracketed codes can be difficult for team members to understand.
• Vendor lock-in: Shortcodes may break or display as plain text when you deactivate plugins or change themes, potentially disrupting your site’s functionality.
• Performance issues: Poorly written shortcodes can slow down your website.
• Security vulnerabilities: Low-quality shortcodes may compromise your website’s safety.

3. Best practices for using shortcodes:

Reserve shortcodes for specific cases: Use them only when no block equivalent exists or when working with legacy content that already relies heavily on them.

Consider modern Gutenberg blocks: They provide better visual editing and future-proof your content with improved user experience.

Avoid broken code: Blocks won’t leave broken code if you switch plugins.

Shortcodes and Gutenberg blocks

The relationship between shortcodes and WordPress’s modern block editor (Gutenberg) represents an evolution in how you add functionality to your website. While many features previously handled by shortcodes are now available as native blocks with drag-and-drop simplicity, your existing shortcodes continue to work seamlessly through the dedicated Shortcode block.

Feature	Gutenberg Blocks	Shortcodes
Usability	Visual, intuitive interface with drag-and-drop functionality eliminates the need to memorize syntax	Requires memorizing specific shortcode syntax and parameters
Performance	Typically load faster since they’re integrated directly into WordPress core	May load slower depending on implementation and plugin optimization
Future-proofing	Represents WordPress’s current development direction and receives ongoing updates	Legacy approach, though still fully supported for backward compatibility
Best use cases	New content creation, standard functionality and visual editing needs	Complex custom functionality that doesn’t exist as native blocks, legacy content
Backward compatibility	Can display shortcodes through dedicated Shortcode block	Works seamlessly with Gutenberg and continues functioning in existing content
Migration priority	Focus on high-traffic pages first; migrate when making updates	No immediate action required; update gradually over time

For legacy content migration, start by identifying your most frequently used shortcodes and prioritizing converting high-traffic pages to blocks first. Don’t worry about updating everything immediately, WordPress maintains excellent backward compatibility, so your existing shortcode-based content will continue functioning normally. Focus on migrating content when you’re already making updates and consider blocks for all new content creation to ensure optimal performance and easier long-term maintenance.

How to use the WordPress do_shortcode function

The do_shortcode() function is WordPress’s core PHP function that allows you to execute shortcodes directly within your theme files, custom plugins or any PHP code—rather than just in the post editor. This powerful tool becomes essential when you want to display shortcode-generated content in areas where the standard WordPress editor isn’t available, such as your site’s header, footer, sidebar widgets or custom page templates.

You might need do_shortcode() when building custom themes that require dynamic content in specific locations, integrating third-party plugins into template files or creating advanced layouts that combine static HTML with shortcode functionality. For example, you could use it to display a contact form in your footer or embed a gallery in a custom landing page template. The function works by taking a string containing shortcode tags and processing them through WordPress’s Shortcode API to return the generated HTML.

However, using do_shortcode() requires basic PHP knowledge and comfortable file editing skills, as you’ll be working directly with your theme’s code. Always implement these changes in a child theme or custom plugin to ensure your modifications remain intact during theme updates. Remember to test thoroughly, as improper implementation can affect your site’s functionality and performance.

Final thoughts

WordPress shortcodes are powerful tools that transform complex functionality into simple, manageable snippets. Whether you’re embedding forms, galleries or custom content, shortcodes streamline your website management without requiring advanced technical skills. They empower you to build a professional, feature-rich website that aligns with your goals.

Ready to unlock the full potential of WordPress? Get started with Bluehost’s WordPress hosting – optimized for performance, backed by 24/7 expert support and trusted by millions worldwide. Build your dream website today.

FAQs