Running a WooCommerce store gives you the ability to create a unique shopping experience for your customers. However, you may want to make some changes to your store’s layout or add new features. You might also want to improve the overall shopping process—without the need to write complex code.
That’s where WooCommerce shortcodes come in. These simple snippets allow you to modify and personalize your store’s functionality with ease. Whether you’re an experienced developer or a beginner, using shortcodes lets you make changes to your online store without the hassle of custom coding.
In this guide, we’ll explore how shortcodes work, their real-time applications, and how you can use them to create a more engaging and user-friendly store.
Understanding WooCommerce Shortcodes
WooCommerce shortcodes are small, pre-written snippets of code that allow you to easily add dynamic content and custom features to your WordPress pages. These shortcodes act as placeholders for more complex functionality, enabling you to integrate features like product displays, shopping carts, and checkout forms without needing advanced coding skills.
Additionally, WooCommerce shortcodes allow you to enhance the customer experience by adding features like order tracking and customer accounts to your online store.
How Do Shortcodes Work?
WordPress security filters restrict the use of dynamic code on posts and pages, but WooCommerce shortcodes provide a simple solution. These shortcodes are pre-written code snippets that allow you to display specific content on your website wherever you want.
Shortcodes consist of two main parts: the core body and its parameters, both enclosed in square brackets. For example, a basic shortcode like [categories] is an instruction to display product categories on your website. However, without any parameters, this shortcode offers a generic result.
To customize the output, you can add attributes or parameters to a shortcode. These are written in the format [key=”value”] inside the square brackets. Adding parameters allows you to fine-tune the results according to your needs.
For example, if you want to write a shortcode to display your bestselling products in different columns, the basic syntax and shortcode would be as follows:
Syntax: [shortcode_name attribute1=”value” attribute2=”value2″]
Example: [products limit=”16″ columns=”4″ orderby=”popularity”]
In this example, “products” is the main body of the shortcode, and the attributes “limit”, “columns,” and “orderby” specify the customization. Here’s how each parameter works:
- limit: Defines how many products will be displayed (in this case, 16).
- columns: Determines the number of columns for the display, in this case, 4 columns per row.
- orderby: Sorts the products by popularity, which could be based on sales volume or customer reviews.
It’s important to note that the parameters are optional, and you can include only those you need for your customization. Additionally, parameters should be separated by spaces within the shortcode.
How To Add Shortcodes in WooCommerce?
If you haven’t already installed WooCommerce, that is the first step you need to take. Visit your WordPress dashboard and follow these steps:
- Login to your dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugin and then click on “Add New.”
- Search for WooCommerce in the plugin directory.
- Install the plugin and then activate it for further use.
Once WooCommerce is activated, you can start using the default shortcodes that come with the plugin. These shortcodes are ready-to-use and can be applied to your site as needed.
If the default shortcodes don’t meet your needs or you’re looking for additional functionality, you can create your own shortcodes. Alternatively, if you prefer not to write them yourself, you can install a shortcode plugin. Simply follow the same steps as above to install the shortcode plugin alongside the WooCommerce plugin.
Once the plugin is installed and activated, follow these steps to add shortcodes to your pages:
- Open the page or post where you want to add the shortcode.
- Position your cursor at the location where you want the shortcode to appear.
- Paste the shortcode where you have placed the cursor.
- If needed, add specific attributes to the shortcode to customize it.
- After entering the shortcode, click Update to save the changes or Publish if it’s a new post.
Common WooCommerce Shortcodes To Know About
While there are a variety of WooCommerce plugin shortcodes you can use to customize your online store, here are some common shortcodes for you:
1. Cart Page
[woocommerce_cart]
This shortcode displays the contents of the customer’s shopping cart on a page. It allows customers to view items in their cart, update quantities, apply coupon codes, and proceed to checkout for payment.
Typically, this shortcode is already included in the shopping cart page of most WooCommerce themes. Since it’s a default shortcode, customization options are limited, but it can be easily added to any page to display the shopping cart.
2. Checkout Page
[woocommerce_checkout]
Place this shortcode on your website to create the checkout page. Customers can use the page to fill in their billing and shipping information, choose a preferred payment option, and review their order summary. You can also customize the shortcode with parameters like order_review, terms, privacy_policy, and login_form.
3. Order Review
[woocommerce_checkout_order_review]
The shortcode adds an order review section before checkout where customers can get a summary of their order. You can further customize it with attributes such as show_shipping, show_coupon, and show_cart to display the item list, shipping information, and coupon details.
4. User Account Page
[woocommerce_my_account]
Use this shortcode for users who have signed up on your website, allowing them to update personal details, track orders, and manage account information. If a guest isn’t logged in, the shortcode will display a login or registration form, providing a seamless user experience.
5. Cart Total
[woocommerce_cart_total]
This shortcode displays the total price of the items in the shopping cart. It is typically used on the shopping cart or checkout pages to show the overall value of the cart. However, it can also be used on custom pages. The shortcode will show a breakdown of taxes and discounts applied, but it does not provide a breakdown of individual items in the cart.
6. Cart Coupon
[woocommerce_cart_coupon]
This shortcode adds a coupon code input field to the cart page. Customers can enter their discount codes here to receive special offers or discounts. When a valid code is entered, the cart total automatically updates to reflect the discount.
Here is an example of the shortcode with the two attributes: [woocommerce_cart_coupon class=”my-cart-coupon” placeholder=”Enter coupon code”]
The shortcode will display a coupon code field on the shopping cart page. It will have a custom “my cart coupon” class and a placeholder that says “Enter coupon code.” The placeholder will hint the customers to enter their codes in the given space.
7. Products
[products]
This is, undoubtedly, one of the most versatile WooCommerce plugin shortcodes. It is primarily used to create a grid display of products in a more compact form with pagination and sorting options.
However, with its extensive selection of parameters, it is also highly customizable. Here are some prominent attributes that you can use with this shortcode:
- [product id=“value”]: Allows you to display specific items using their unique product ID. For example, If you feed the value as “789,” it will display the product with ID 789.
- [product sku=”value”]: Displays products based on their stock-keeping unit (SKU). It works similarly to the product ID shortcode, but avoid using both together to prevent duplication.
- [products limit=”value”]: Limits the number of products displayed. For instance, setting the value to “5” will show only five products.
- [products order=“value”]: Determines if the order of the products should be ascending (ASC) or descending (DESC). If nothing is specified, the default setting is always ascending.
- [product category=”value”]: Displays products from specific categories using their slugs. For example, to display summer clothing, use [products category=”clothing,summer”]. Every slug has to be separated by a comma without space.
- [products tag=”value”]: Works just like the category shortcode to display products with specific tags like recently added, new, etc. An example of the shortcode is [products tag=“new”].
- [products on_sale=”value”]: Allows you to display the products that are on sale. You can set the value to “true” to enable the shortcode or “false” to disable it. It is best not to use it with shortcodes best_selling and top_rated to avoid confusion.
Use these attributes to fine-tune how products are displayed on your site.
8. Featured Products
[featured_products]
If you want to highlight featured products or promote specific products on your website, this WooCommerce plugin shortcode can help you do that. Insert it on your website where you want to display the products.
You can also customize the display using parameters such as limit, columns, and orderby to control the number, layout, and sorting of featured items.
9. Best-selling Products
[best_selling_products]
Showcase your top-selling products to influence buying decisions and boost sales. This WooCommerce shortcode allows you to highlight popular items on your site. You can customize the display using attributes like limit, columns, and orderby.
Additionally, it can be adapted to highlight discounted products, recently added items, or even related products to enhance your visitors’ shopping experience.
10. Order Tracking
[woocommerce_order-tracking]
The shortcode creates a user-friendly interface for your customers to seamlessly track their orders. It will also provide them with real-time updates on the location and status of their products.
11. Product Search Field Shortcode
[woocommerce_product_search]
This shortcode integrates a search bar on your website to allow visitors to conduct live searches and filter their choices. Here are some attributes you can add to your shortcodes for customized filtration:
- [woocommerce_product_filter]: Adds a live product filter, enabling users to search by product name or description.
- [woocommerce_product_filter_attribute]: Allows product searches based on specific attributes such as size, color, or brand.
- [woocommerce_product_filter_category]: Filters products by category, like clothing, bags, or shoes. Ideal for stores with diverse product offerings.
- [woocommerce_product_filter_price]: Enables search within a specified price range, allowing users to filter products by price.
Difference Between Shortcodes and Plugins
New WordPress users may confuse plugins and shortcodes, as both help customize and enhance your website. Here’s a quick guide to highlight the differences between them:
- Plugins are software that add new features to your website, while shortcodes are special tags that enable specific functionalities. For example, WooCommerce is a plugin that turns your site into an online store, whereas shortcodes are used to add features like a shopping cart or product display.
- Plugins allow you to add new features to your website. On the other hand, shortcodes enable you to use those features within the plugin.
- Plugins are independent tools with features that can be activated using a shortcode. Shortcodes are always dependent on a plugin or theme to work.
Use Cases of WooCommerce Shortcodes
WooCommerce shortcodes provide a simple way to add essential e-commerce features to your WordPress site without the need for complex coding. Here are some common use cases:
- You don’t have to stick with the default product page layout when using shortcodes. WooCommerce shortcodes give you the flexibility to customize your product pages according to your needs.
- Shortcodes allow you to create your own custom homepages with featured products [featured_products], best-sellers [best_selling_products], on sale [sale_products], etc.
- A smooth checkout process is crucial for customer retention. Shortcodes like [woocommerce_checkout] and [woocommerce_cart] allow you to control the user experience on the checkout page. Streamlined checkout and cart pages can help reduce cart abandonment rates.
- If you have a blog alongside your store, you can easily integrate relevant products using the [product] shortcode. This is particularly useful for product reviews, tutorials, or showcasing bestsellers.
- You can create an exclusive members-only experience by combining shortcode [woocommerce_my_account] with membership plugins. This will allow you to offer your members exclusive access to some of your products, services, or content.
With WooCommerce shortcodes, the possibilities for customization and improved user experience are endless.
Advantages of WooCommerce Plugin Shortcodes
Here are some of the advantages of WooCommerce plugin shortcodes:
- Easy Customization: Shortcodes allow you to customize your product and page layouts without needing to code. You can tailor the look and feel of your store with simple commands.
- Time-Saving: Instead of manually inserting complex HTML or CSS for each page, shortcodes automate the process, saving time and effort.
- Flexible Display Options: WooCommerce shortcodes offer a variety of attributes that allow you to control the display of products, categories, and other content based on your requirements.
- Enhanced User Experience: Shortcodes like [woocommerce_checkout] and [woocommerce_cart] help create a seamless and streamlined shopping experience, improving overall customer satisfaction.
- Increased Sales: By using shortcodes to highlight key products (e.g., featured or best-selling items), you can drive more traffic to those products, potentially boosting sales.
- Seamless Integration: Shortcodes can be easily integrated with other plugins and themes, allowing you to extend the functionality of your store without complications.
- No Need for Developer Assistance: Even non-technical store owners can create advanced page layouts or displays using WooCommerce shortcodes, eliminating the need to hire a developer.
- Mobile-Friendly: Shortcodes automatically adjust content for mobile devices. This ensures that your website is responsive and easy to navigate on smartphones and tablets.
- Easy Maintenance: With shortcodes, updating and maintaining the functionality of your website becomes easier. You can add, remove, or update features with minimal effort.
Troubleshooting Common Shortcode Issues
Despite their ability to offer streamlined customization facilities for your e-commerce website, these shortcodes are not entirely error-free. Here are some tips to troubleshoot common shortcode errors.
1. Check Brackets
Your shortcodes are to be installed in square brackets [shortcode]. If you have copied them from somewhere else or put them in angled brackets <> or parentheses {}, make sure to change them to square brackets.
2. Correct Attribute Value Format
The values of all attributes must be written within quotation marks “ .”. For example, write your shortcode as [products limit=”4″ columns=”4″ orderby=”featured_products”]. Separate every attribute with a space, but leave no space between an attribute and its value.
3. Update Your Plugins
Make sure you are using the latest version of your WooCommerce plugin for seamless compatibility. If your version is outdated or WooCommerce isn’t activated or installed properly, you can reinstall it.
4. Resolve Theme Conflict
To identify if your shortcode issue is theme-related, switch to a default WordPress theme, like twenty-twenty-five. This will help you understand if a specific issue is related to a particular theme or if it persists across all themes.
5. Identify Plugin Compatibility
Sometimes, a clash with a plugin can lead shortcodes to appear as text on your page instead of enabling the respective feature. If other troubleshooting tips don’t work, turn off all your plugins except WooCommerce to see if the shortcode works.
If it does, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the conflicting plugins. Contact the customer support team of the conflicting plugin to troubleshoot any existing issue.
6. Verify Shortcodes Placement
WooCommerce creates default pages like Cart and Checkout during installation. Adding extra shortcodes to these pages can cause layout issues or conflicts (e.g., adding [woocommerce_checkout] to the Checkout page).
To avoid this, use custom pages for new shortcodes and refer to the WooCommerce shortcode documentation to ensure proper placement and usage.
7. Check Product Visibility
If you are facing issues with product visibility, make sure to check that the specific products have been published and are set to “Public.” You can check it by visiting the “Publish” section of the WooCommerce editor.
8. Verify Categories and Tags
If you have added the category or tag attribute in your product shortcode, ensure your products have been assigned the relevant tags and categories. You can also double-check to ensure that you have assigned the right attributes in your shortcodes that match the products you want to display.
9. Refresh Permalink Settings
If your shortcodes aren’t rendering correctly, the issue might lie with your permalinks. Navigate to Settings > Permalinks in your admin dashboard, and click Save Changes without making any edits. This action resets the permalink structure, clears cached URLs, and may resolve the rendering problem.
By identifying and addressing these common issues, you can ensure shortcodes work effectively to enhance your website’s functionality.
Limitations of WooCommerce Plugin Shortcodes
While WooCommerce plugin shortcodes offer powerful functionality and flexibility, they come with certain limitations that users should be aware of:
- Limited Customization Without Coding: Although shortcodes allow some level of customization through attributes, deeper customizations often require knowledge of CSS, HTML, or PHP. For example, changing the layout or styling of product displays might involve writing custom code.
- Dependency on Plugins or Themes: Shortcodes are not standalone; they depend on the WooCommerce plugin and compatible themes. If the plugin is deactivated or the theme doesn’t support the shortcode, it won’t function.
- Performance Impact: Using too many shortcodes on a single page can slow down your website. Each shortcode requires processing, which may affect page load times, especially on pages with multiple dynamic elements.
- Limited Dynamic Content: Shortcodes are static in their functionality and may not adapt to certain advanced use cases. For example, creating personalized recommendations or complex filtering systems often requires additional plugins or custom development.
- Compatibility Issues: Some shortcodes may conflict with certain themes or other plugins. This can result in broken layouts, incorrect outputs, or even site crashes in extreme cases.
- Limited Visual Control: Shortcodes often generate predefined layouts or outputs, leaving limited room for visual customization without additional tools like page builders.
Understanding these limitations helps you decide between using shortcodes and opting for custom development or alternative tools.
Alternatives to WooCommerce Shortcodes
While WooCommerce shortcodes are useful for customizing your store, several alternatives may offer better visual customization and ease of use. Here’s a quick look at them:
1. WordPress Blocks
The Gutenberg block editor in WordPress provides an intuitive way to add and customize WooCommerce features. Blocks are user-friendly, allow real-time previews, and minimize errors compared to shortcodes.
To add blocks, click the Toggle Block Inserter (+), choose your desired block, and drag it into the editor. Customize each block using the settings in the right sidebar.
2. WooCommerce Widgets
WooCommerce offers widgets that integrate seamlessly with the block editor for added flexibility. To use them, go to your dashboard, click Appearance > Widgets, and then select the desired widget by clicking the (+) icon. Drag and drop it into your preferred widget area to customize your store easily.
3. Page Builder Plugins
There are several page builder plugins that can be integrated with WooCommerce to enable advanced customization. These plugins can be used on custom pages with just a simple drag-and-drop interface without any coding requirements.
Here are some options you can explore:
4. WordPress Site Editor
If you do not want to use page builder plugins, you can simply use the built-in WordPress site editor. Simply go to your dashboard and click “Appearance” and then “Editor” to access it.
You can explore its extensive collection of templates and patterns to build your pages without the need for coding. The built-in editor also maintains your website speed as it doesn’t require any additional plugins.
Conclusion
WooCommerce plugin shortcodes are a practical solution for customizing your online store without needing technical expertise. They help you enhance your store’s functionality, from displaying products to creating personalized user experiences.
While they come with a learning curve, especially for beginners, their simplicity and flexibility make them an invaluable tool for store owners. With shortcodes, you can efficiently manage and enrich your store, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for your customers.To better understand other WordPress features, plugins, and techniques, watch out for new WPlift blogs where we cover everything related to WordPress.
