Do you want to know how to insert online snippets into WordPress?
We regularly provide WordPress tutorials in which users are asked to upload code snippets to WordPress.
For expert users, copying and pasting code into WordPress theme files may appear simple, but it might be scary for newbies.
In this tutorial, we’ll teach you how to copy and paste online code snippets into WordPress without destroying your site.
Why Should You Include Code Snippets on Your WordPress Site?
Due to its versatility, WordPress is the greatest website builder available. Adding additional features and functionality to your website is quite simple, and it can be used to create almost any kind of website.
We offer a number of recommendations that you can make use of to enhance your website. Some of these suggestions will require you to edit the WordPress code.
Although it is no longer required, and you may often locate plugins that carry out the same function, there are times when a truthful snippet is extra effective.
Adding code snippets is often an easy technique to deal with a number of common WordPress mistakes, beautify WordPress security, and upload new capabilities for your website.
In light of that, let’s examine the safe addition of code snippets to your WordPress website.
What Are the Best Methods for Adding Code Snippets in WordPress?
Before you begin adding code snippets to your WordPress website, you should install and activate a WordPress backup plugin.
This protects your WordPress site, and if something goes wrong, you can easily restore it from a backup.
When adding snippets to WordPress, you may see instructions to include them in WordPress theme template files such as index.php, single.php, and others.\
Because these snippets are only applicable to those specific theme files, you must either add them directly or build a WordPress child theme.
Most code snippets, however, will be placed in your WordPress theme’s functions.php file. Some instructions may advise you to add it straight to the file, but there are many superior methods that allow you to future-proof your modifications.
In this manner, if you change themes in the future, your custom functionality will not be lost.
Depending on how you add unique code snippets to your WordPress blog or website, there are many ways to change WordPress files.
After saying that, let’s look at some of the easiest ways for beginners to add custom code snippets to WordPress.
Technique 1: Using the WPCode plugin, add custom code (Easy)
The safest and most beginner-friendly approach to add code to WordPress is to use a code snippets plugin.
The WPCode plugin allows you to effortlessly add and maintain custom code snippets on your website without editing your theme files.
It includes sophisticated code snippet checking to help you avoid typical coding mistakes. When adding code snippets, this prevents you from damaging your website.
WPCode also includes a code library that makes it simple to locate all of the most common WordPress code snippets. These expert-written code snippets may be added with only a few clicks.
The nicest thing is that you can handle all code snippets from a single screen and even categorize them using tags.
Note: The WPCode technique is excellent for adding snippets to the functions.php file. This method will now no longer paintings in case you are requested to consist of a code snippet in different topic files.
How to Edit and Add Code to WordPress Using WPCode
If you use the WPCode plugin to add code to WordPress, you will do it directly in your WordPress admin dashboard.
You must first install and activate the plugin. For additional information, visit our beginner’s guide to installing a WordPress plugin.
Simply go to Code Snippets » + Add Snippet in your WordPress admin panel after activation. Then, click the Add New button.
This takes you to a screen where you may select a snippet from the pre-made library or enter your own code.
To add new code, select ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ and then click the Use Snippet button.
Begin by giving your snippet a name to help you remember it on the following screen. Then, copy your code and paste it into the box. Make sure you select the relevant code type from the right-hand drop-down option.
Scroll all the way down to the ‘Insertion’ section. You may use the code snippet as a shortcode here, which you can manually copy and paste anywhere on your site. Alternatively, pick the ‘Auto Insert’ technique to specify a place (WordPress function) where the code snippet should be added automatically.
WPCode’s biggest feature is that, in addition to the many Auto-Insert choices, it also includes a beginner-friendly conditional logic option. This allows you to specify when your code should be loaded.
Once you’ve finished entering the code, flip the switch in the upper right corner from ‘Inactive’ to ‘Active’.
Then choose Save Snippet.
Once activated, the snippet may be inserted mechanically or displayed as a shortcode, relying at the insertion technique you choose.
See our article on how to simply create custom code snippets in WordPress for more information.
How to Insert HTML Code into the WordPress Header and Footer
You may just need to add code to your theme’s header.php or footer.php files at times. You may also achieve this easily with the WPCode plugin.
This is useful when you need to add tracking codes to your website for Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Google AdSense, and other services.
It also allows you to handle all of your header and footer scripts in one place, eliminates manual mistakes, and allows you to update or alter your theme without worry.
Note: This approach is best suited for tracking scripts, custom CSS, and Javascript code.
Go to Code Snippets » Header and Footer and then paste your code snippet into your website’s header, body, or footer.
If you don’t click the ‘Save Changes’ button, your code snippets will be removed from your website.
See our article on how to add header and footer code in WordPress for more information.
Technique 1: Using a Site-Specific WordPress Plugin to Insert Custom Code
A site-precise WordPress plugin is another bendy alternative. This is a custom plugin you may make for your own website to save all of your custom code.
The benefit of this technique is that your code is not theme-dependent, and it will remain active even if you change themes. It is also unaffected by any WordPress changes that have been applied to your website.
Note: Please keep in mind that this approach is only appropriate for code snippets that must be included to the functions.php file.
If you’re using a site-specific plugin, you may add your custom code using the WordPress plugin editor.
To begin, navigate to Plugins » Plugin Editor and then choose your plugin from the ‘Select plugin to edit:’ drop-down option.
Your site-specific plugin will be loaded by the editor. You may then easily add code to the page.
When you are finished, click on the ‘Update File’ button to shop your changes.
If something is missing from your code or if it has the potential to destroy your website, the plugin editor will instantly reverse your modifications.
FTP is any other technique for including custom code to a site-precise plugin. For additional information, visit our beginner’s guide to using FTP to upload files to WordPress.
Simply access your website in your favourite FTP client, then right-click on the plugin file and select ‘View/Edit’.
This will open the record on the way to input your code snippets. When you save and submit the file again, the modifications will be visible.
See our article on how to develop a site-specific plugin for your website for more information.