Creating category dropdown menus with wp_dropdown_categories in WordPress
The WordPress wp_dropdown_categories function is used to create a dropdown menu of categories in a WordPress website. It can be useful for allowing users to easily select a category when submitting a post or for creating a navigation menu that allows users to filter content by category.
By using the wp_dropdown_categories function, developers can quickly and easily generate a dropdown menu of categories without having to manually write the HTML and PHP code to achieve the same result.
Parameters Accepted by wp_dropdown_categories Function
$args(array/string, optional, default value: ”): This parameter accepts an array or string of arguments to generate a categories drop-down element.
The wp_dropdown_categories function accepts the $args parameter, which is optional and has a default value of an empty string. This parameter can be used to pass an array or string of arguments to generate a categories drop-down element.
Return Value of wp_dropdown_categories Function
The function returns a string HTML dropdown list of categories.
Examples
How to create a dropdown of categories in WordPress
Use the wp_dropdown_categories function to create a dropdown of categories in WordPress.
<?php
$args = array(
'show_option_all' => 'All Categories',
'orderby' => 'name',
'order' => 'ASC',
'show_count' => 1,
'hide_empty' => 1,
'child_of' => 0,
'echo' => 1,
'selected' => 0,
'hierarchical' => 1,
'name' => 'category',
'id' => '',
'class' => 'postform',
'depth' => 0,
'tab_index' => 0,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'hide_if_empty' => false,
);
wp_dropdown_categories( $args );
?>
How to create a dropdown of custom taxonomy in WordPress
Use the wp_dropdown_categories function with a custom taxonomy to create a dropdown of categories in WordPress.
<?php
$args = array(
'show_option_all' => 'All Categories',
'orderby' => 'name',
'order' => 'ASC',
'show_count' => 1,
'hide_empty' => 1,
'child_of' => 0,
'echo' => 1,
'selected' => 0,
'hierarchical' => 1,
'name' => 'custom_taxonomy',
'id' => '',
'class' => 'postform',
'depth' => 0,
'tab_index' => 0,
'taxonomy' => 'custom_taxonomy',
'hide_if_empty' => false,
);
wp_dropdown_categories( $args );
?>
How to display a dropdown of categories without counting posts
Use the wp_dropdown_categories function with the show_count parameter set to 0 to display a dropdown of categories without counting posts.
<?php
$args = array(
'show_option_all' => 'All Categories',
'orderby' => 'name',
'order' => 'ASC',
'show_count' => 0,
'hide_empty' => 1,
'child_of' => 0,
'echo' => 1,
'selected' => 0,
'hierarchical' => 1,
'name' => 'category',
'id' => '',
'class' => 'postform',
'depth' => 0,
'tab_index' => 0,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'hide_if_empty' => false,
);
wp_dropdown_categories( $args );
?>
Conclusion
In conclusion, the wp_dropdown_categories function is a powerful tool for creating dropdown menus of categories in WordPress. It offers a wide range of customization options, allowing developers to tailor the output to suit their specific needs. Whether you’re looking to create a simple category dropdown or a more complex hierarchical menu, wp_dropdown_categories provides the flexibility and functionality to make it happen. By understanding the parameters and options available, developers can harness the full potential of this function to enhance the user experience and improve the navigation of their WordPress websites.