Using wp_script_is to determine if a script is enqueued in WordPress

The wp_script_is function is a WordPress function that checks the status of a specific script. It can verify whether a script is registered, enqueued, done, or to do. This function can be useful in situations where a developer needs to know the current status of a script in the WordPress core or a script that has been registered via the wp_register_script function.

The function’s ability to check the status of a script can help prevent potential errors or conflicts that might arise from scripts being loaded more than once or not at all. It can also assist in managing dependencies, ensuring that scripts are loaded in the correct order. This function can be used to ascertain whether a script has been enqueued, meaning it is scheduled to be printed to the HTML document, or if it has already been printed (‘done’). The ‘to do’ status indicates that a script is registered but not yet enqueued or printed.

By providing a status check mechanism for scripts, the wp_script_is function aids in maintaining the overall integrity of the scripting ecosystem within a WordPress site.

Parameters Accepted by the wp_script_is Function

The WordPress function wp_script_is accepts two parameters:

  • $handle (string): This is a mandatory parameter, which is essentially the name of the script.
  • $status (string): This is an optional parameter with a default value of ‘enqueued’. It is used to check the status of the script. The possible values for this parameter are ‘enqueued’, ‘registered’, ‘queue’, ‘to_do’, and ‘done’.

Return Value of the wp_script_is Function

The wp_script_is function returns a boolean value indicating whether the script is queued or not.

If the function does not accept any parameters, it will be explicitly stated.

Examples

How to check if a script is enqueued

In this example, we will use the wp_script_is function to check if a specific script is enqueued. 

if (wp_script_is('jquery', 'enqueued')) {
 echo 'The jQuery script is enqueued.';
} else {
 echo 'The jQuery script is not enqueued.';
}

How to check if a script is registered

In this example, we will use the wp_script_is function to check if a specific script is registered. 

if (wp_script_is('custom-script', 'registered')) {
 echo 'The custom-script is registered.';
} else {
 echo 'The custom-script is not registered.';
}

How to check if a script is done

In this example, we will use the wp_script_is function to check if a specific script is done. 

if (wp_script_is('custom-script', 'done')) {
 echo 'The custom-script is done.';
} else {
 echo 'The custom-script is not done.';
}

In all these examples, the wp_script_is function is used to check the status of a script. The function returns a boolean value. If the script is in the status checked (enqueued, registered, or done), it returns true. Otherwise, it returns false.

Conclusion

The WordPress function wp_script_is serves as a conditional check to determine the status of a script in a WordPress site. This function can be used to verify if a particular script has been registered, enqueued, printed, or is waiting to be printed in the queue. By leveraging this function, developers can effectively manage and control the behavior of scripts in their WordPress development projects, ensuring that scripts are loaded and executed when and where they are needed.

Related WordPress Functions

in WordPress Functions