Displaying star ratings in WordPress using wp_star_rating

The WordPress wp_star_rating function is a function that generates a star rating display. This function is a part of the WordPress core and is typically used for displaying the average rating of a post, comment, or any other type of content on a WordPress website.

By using this function, developers can display a star rating that corresponds to a specific value. The function generates an HTML snippet that includes span elements for each star, with classes that indicate whether the star is filled, half-filled, or empty. This makes it possible to visually represent a rating value in a standard, recognizable way.

The wp_star_rating function is flexible and can be used in many different contexts. For instance, it can be used in a theme template to display the average rating of posts, or in a plugin to add a star rating feature to comments or user profiles. It can also be used in custom code to generate a star rating display based on any arbitrary value.

The wp_star_rating function provides a standardized way to generate a star rating display in WordPress, making it easier for developers to implement this feature in their themes, plugins, or custom code.

Parameters of the wp_star_rating Function

The wp_star_rating function in WordPress accepts one optional parameter:

  • $args (array): This is an optional parameter. Its default value is an empty array (array()). This array holds the arguments for the star ratings.

Return Value of the wp_star_rating Function

The wp_star_rating function returns a string that represents the HTML of the star rating.

If the function is called without any parameters, it will still execute without any issues, as the $args parameter is optional.

Examples

How to Display a Star Rating for a Post

The following code snippet displays a star rating for a particular post in WordPress. 

<?php
$args = array(
 'rating' => get_post_meta($post->ID, 'rating', true),
 'type' => 'rating',
 'number' => 1,
);
wp_star_rating( $args );
?>

In this example, the wp_star_rating function is used to display a star rating for a post. The rating value is retrieved from the post’s meta data using the get_post_meta function. The type parameter is set to ‘rating’ and the number parameter is set to 1, meaning only one rating will be displayed.

How to Display an Average Star Rating for Multiple Ratings

The following code snippet calculates and displays an average star rating for multiple ratings.

<?php
$ratings = array(4, 5, 3, 4, 5); // An array of ratings
$average = array_sum($ratings) / count($ratings);
$args = array(
 'rating' => $average,
 'type' => 'rating',
 'number' => 1,
);
wp_star_rating( $args );
?>

In this example, an array of ratings is created. The array_sum function is used to calculate the total of all ratings and then divided by the count of ratings to get the average. The wp_star_rating function is then used to display the average rating.

How to Display a Half Star Rating

The following code snippet displays a half star rating using the wp_star_rating function.

<?php
$args = array(
 'rating' => 3.5,
 'type' => 'rating',
 'number' => 1,
);
wp_star_rating( $args );
?>

In this example, the rating parameter is set to 3.5 which will display 3 full stars and one half star. The type parameter is set to ‘rating’ and the number parameter is set to 1, meaning only one rating will be displayed.

Conclusion

The wp_star_rating function in WordPress is a tool that allows developers to generate star ratings for their content. It provides an interactive way to display user ratings or evaluations, offering a visual representation of the average score given by users. This function can be implemented in various contexts such as product reviews, blog post ratings, or any other user-rated content, thereby enhancing the overall user experience and interaction on a WordPress site.

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