{"id":7115,"date":"2021-05-20T03:06:18","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T03:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/?p=7115"},"modified":"2021-05-20T03:06:20","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T03:06:20","slug":"create-search-filter-wordpress-plugin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readyship.co\/blog\/create-search-filter-wordpress-plugin\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Search Filter in WordPress with a Free Plugin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By default, WordPress comes with search functionality, but it’s basic, nothing fancy. It just provides search results based on the title and content of a post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s fine for a standard blog, but what if you have a WordPress blog or website about movies, for example. You’d want your users to be able to perform searches based on certain filters, such as genre, ratings, actors, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, in this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a search filter in WordPress using a free and simple plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s begin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Create a Search Filter in WordPress with the Free “Search & Filter” Plugin<\/a><\/li>
  2. More Features with the Search & Filter Pro Version<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Create a Search Filter in WordPress with the Free “Search & Filter” Plugin <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Search & Filter<\/a> is a simple plugin that enhances the default WordPress search form, allowing you to add different types of filters to it. You can perform searches by categories, tags, post types, and more! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It currently has over 40,000 active installations and a rating of 4.6 out of 5. In case you care about this stuff. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now, let’s see how to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Looking to Buy or Sell WordPress Sites?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At ReadyShip, we offer an all-in-one WordPress solution for those looking to start a blog or site, as well as the opportunity for WordPress developers or professionals to sell their products!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    Browse Sites<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    Start Selling<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Install and activate the Search & Filter<\/a> plugin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you need help, here’s a detailed tutorial on 4 ways to install a plugin in WordPress<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you’re searching for the plugin in the Plugins<\/strong> > Add New<\/strong> section, note that it might appear further down in the search results, which is unusual. So, don’t think it’s not there because it didn’t appear in the very first search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    From your WordPress dashboard’s menu, access Search & Filter<\/strong>. There, you’ll find information on how to use the plugin, along with the shortcode needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Search<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Step 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s see how to use those shortcodes, which a lot of plugins are based on. Maybe not so much nowadays, but still…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The shortcode always starts with searchandfilter<\/code>, like this [searchandfilter ...]<\/code>. That’s how the plugin knows that you’re calling it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the Arguments<\/strong> table, under the Name<\/strong> column, you have the arguments. Every argument has options, which you can find in the Options<\/strong> column. Options are always between quotes and separated by a comma, without space<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, the fields<\/code> argument adds taxonomies, such as categories, tags, and so on. The types<\/code> argument handles the type of input for the fields, such as select, radio button, checkbox, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The fields<\/code> argument is required. So, it’s mandatory to have searchandfilter<\/code> and fields<\/code> inside the shortcode, like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    [searchandfilter fields=\"search,category,post_tag\"]<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
    That’s the most basic implementation, and it would look something like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \"search<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    The way it looks depends on your WordPress theme. The Search & Filter plugin inherits your theme’s design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Now, in my example, I played a little with the arguments and options to create a more advanced search filter for WordPress. I’ll explain what I did so that you understand how the plugin and its shortcode work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    I added this shortcode<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    [searchandfilter fields=\"search,category,post_tag,post_date\" headings=\",Genre,Tags,Release Date\" types=\",,checkbox,date\"]<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
    in a Custom HTML<\/strong> widget, which you can find in Appearance<\/strong> > Widgets<\/strong>. You can also use a Text<\/strong> widget if you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \"search<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    I recommend adding the shortcode somewhere global, like your sidebar. If you add it inside individual posts, for example, you’ll end up with a lot of plain text shortcodes that you have to clean up when removing the plugin. Imagine doing that for hundreds of posts. Not fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    So, the above shortcode created the following search filter in my WordPress sidebar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \"search<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    Let’s go through the shortcode that I used, so you can understand what I did. I’ll paste the shortcode again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    [searchandfilter fields=\"search,category,post_tag,post_date\" headings=\",Genre,Tags,Release Date\" types=\",,checkbox,date\"]<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
    The arguments and their options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n