WordPress Plugin Development Tutorials: Step By Step Guide

Have you ever created a website at WordPress? 

If yes, probably, then you must be well-versed with the attractiveness of the themes and wide range of plugins. 

Well, WordPress has 57,000+ plugins serving the requirements of multiple businesses. It has really a unique set of power- right from optimizing the website to enabling the two factor authentication. 

And, with that, you can still, create your own plugins with the utmost ease. 

Sounds a bit challenging? But, it isn’t!

You just have to follow these WordPress Plugin Development Tutorials to build a plugin with a solid understanding. In fact, here, you will learn how to create a custom plugin in WordPress.

So, first of all, let’s know about what a plugin actually is and how it can optimize the performance of your website.

What is a Plugin?

Plugins are software additions, used for extending or adding advanced functionalities to your website development. It helps you in customizing with the content structure, computer programs, web browsers, and applications. 

These are the little add-ons that not only optimize your website but also improve its performance across multiple platforms. 

So, in short, plugins are the package of files that enables us to edit and reframe the functions and features without involving much in the coding process. 

Now, can you name a few of the best custom WordPress plugins?

Okay, wait, do you know, WordPress.org plugins received one billion total downloads? Among that, WooCommerce has 5+ million active installations. 

Few of the additional WordPress Plugins are- 

• Gutenberg – Editing, customizing, and Site building features
• Jetpack – WP Security, Backup, Speed, and Growth 
• Yoast SEO – Optimize Content for SEO 
• Event Calendar WD – Responsive Event Calendar Plugin

All these plugins and more will ease you while building the website and successfully running it. Yes, definitely, lots of time and energy will get saved with its advanced features.

How does WordPress Plugins Actually Work?

WordPress Plugins are the best applications for creating galleries to your website, adding the contact forms, inserting the social media toggles as well as giving animation to the sidebar. 

Moreover, these plugins come with a set of filters and hooks to improve and customize the functions of your site. But, wait what are hooks? 

Hooks are a piece of code that gives power to WordPress for a seamless page loading. Once, you learn about this, you can deliver an incredible value out of the project. Now, Hooks are of two types-

1. Action Hooks:

Action Hooks stay within the WordPress that works when you change or modify the theme, or publish the content. 

So, when you take any action here, the page automatically gets loaded, coming back to hook to let it process the coding.

2. Filter Hooks:

Filter Hooks possess the same characteristics as Action Hooks. The finest difference is that it processes or becomes activated only when the previously loaded content comes into an account. 

You get complete freedom to update the data or remove the unwanted information in an isolated manner.

# Action Hooks V/S Filter Hooks

Action Hooks collects the information, interrupts the code work, and resorts back to the original flow without any variation. 

While Filter Hooks allow modification within the information where you update the content for user’s information. 

Also, You can activate or deactivate the plugin at any point in time. These are stored mainly in the WordPress – an open-source platform. 

So, when you visit the site, WordPress connects it with the database and start loading the activated plugins for stimulating the speed of your Website. 

This is HOW the WordPress PLUGIN exactly WORKS. 

Do you want to create a custom plugin in WordPress?

Are you looking to hire a WordPress plugin developer for wp plugin development? Well, this is the right time to work over plugins. 

So, here, we have explained how to create a plugin in WordPress step by step with an example. You can have a look to proceed ahead! 

6 STEPS FOR WORDPRESS PLUGIN DEVELOPMENT

WP plugin development is never a challenging task. It’s really simpler than you think. All you need to follow this easy guide to make up a plugin for your WordPress Website. 

So, after learning in detail about plugins and its specific elements, focus on creating a testing environment. Due to this-

• Your live WordPress site won’t break easily 
• It enables you to securely test the site 

TIP: Don’t forget to test the new plugin first before applying to your website! 

Let’s take it forward to know how to use WordPress plugins!

These Six-Easy Guiding WordPress plugins tutorials are listed below- 

STEP 1: Select the name of your plugin 

The first step for WordPress plugin development is selecting the name of your plugin. Make sure it is relevant and accessible. 

Yes, you can go for Google searches and learn about the ‘WordPress get plugin directory’ so that you can set a unique name that doesn’t clash with the existing one. 

Don’t hop, instead look after the wp plugins directory for a unique naming to your plugin. 

Step 2: Prepare a specific folder for plugin and PHP file

Now, once you have selected the name of the plugin, create your plugin folder. 

For example: myplugin/wp-content/plugins/directory for WordPress Installation.

If you have created this folder, Go to ‘MY PLUGIN DIRECTORY’, create a PHP File. Here, you just have to insert .PHP

For example: your-plugin-name.php

Step 3: Create a header comment for the plugin file

You have achieved the basic stage easily. Now, you should create and add a header comment to the plugin file. 

/**
* Plugin Name: Your Plugin Name
* Plugin URI: http://yourdomain.com
* Description: Insert a brief description of what your plugin does here.
* Version: 1.0.0
* Author: Your Name
* Author URI: http://yourdomain.com
* License: GPL2
*/


Note that every plugin requires to follow the standard protocol of Meta information. This data will educate the users and WordPress about what this plugin is for.  

Now, add this following code when creating the file-

These details can be modified as per the requirement of your plugin. In the case of multiple files in PHP, you must add this header clearly. Also, take a note of-

Plugin Name: Insert the name of the plugin selected 

Plugin URL: Retrieve from the home page of the plugin website 

Author: Insert the name of the developer 

Author URL: This the profile or website of the author 

License: This is the short name of the plugin’s license 

License URL: URL of the license 

Description: Here, you can write about the plugin in the backend

Well, have you inserted all this information to create WordPress plugin? Note that, few are required while others are optional! 

Save these changes. 

Now, you will find your plugin at your WordPress site. To preview this, you can log in and visit the Dashboard. You will get the name of your plugin in the left corner.

Step 4: Add your specific functions to program the plugins 

Hey, you have achieved halfway to WordPress plugin builder!

Now, let’s focus on setting up a seamless framework that can easily integrate with your plugin. And to make this happen, you will have to program the plugin by considering the essential elements to develop a WordPress plugin. These elements are–

WordPress Action:

As discussed, WordPress action lets you modify or upload the functions of the plugin. Use the right code to create your own.

WordPress Widgets:

It is considered as one of the ideal ways to give a functional touch to your WordPress website.

WordPress Filters:

You can filter and update the content as per the requirement. Select apply_filter to create your own filter with the utmost ease. In a nutshell, it lets you manipulate the information for boosting the user engagement.

Shortcodes

Shortcodes in WordPress are indicated as [ ].  You can add them to the post, web page or within the content structure without writing any code for it. 

Step 5: The process of compressing multiple files

Do you think it is good to create multiple files for your plugin?

Creating an individual file for images, CSS or JavaScript, will benefit the organization when you have a diverse plugin. So, it is an option and not an urgent requirement. 

In other cases, if you have already created multiple or a bunch of files, there’s a need to compress your folder. 

Now that you have created your plugin file, you need to comprise it as discussed above. 

So, while writing the plugin code, YOU must use a code editor or text editor. 

Well, do you know how code editors are linked with the WordPress plugin generator?

Code Editor is specialized writing software that makes it convenient to filter out the essential elements so developers do not have to spend more time. This will benefit you significantly to add plugins to WordPress.

So, are you ready to successfully upload this to your original website? 

WAIT…..

Have you converted your plugin into the .zip format? If not, then you must do it. 

This is an ideal practice.  Now that, you have completed all the above-discussed processes, upload it and then Right Click -> Compress.

Step 6: Uploading the Plugin to your WordPress Website

Congratulations! 

You have completed WordPress plugins tutorials and with a blink of an eye, you learned how to make a WordPress plugin.

The final step of creating a plug-in is activating the plugin to your dashboard for seamlessly using it at your website.  

Wondering how?

Click on the Plugins -> Add New -> Upload your Plugin -> Select from your saved location. 

In case, if it is present already, click on the activation to use the plugin.

Have you created your own WordPress plugins – The Final Words 

Now, you must have become a pro WordPress plugin developer? Isn’t it?

Well, WordPress plugin development is no more challenging. All you need is create the file name, and rightly upload it and the rest is clearly presented in the above-mentioned WordPress plugins tutorials.

Simultaneously, pay attention to the WordPress plugin template that ensures readiness to create the best one for your website development. 

If you still find it difficult to integrate with WordPress plugin development, contact Info Stans, WordPress Plugin Development company. We will understand your business requirement and suggest the best one so you can easily improve your conversion! 

Invest in WordPress plugin development today. Reap the heap tomorrow!