Displaying the Subcategories of a Parent Category with Images and in a Grid
As an experienced WordPress developer, you're likely familiar with the challenge of effectively displaying subcategories of a parent category on your website. Whether you're building an e-commerce store, a directory, or a content-heavy platform, this functionality is crucial for providing users with a seamless navigation experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore how to leverage WordPress' built-in get_categories()
function to display subcategories with images and in a grid layout. By the end of this article, you'll have a robust solution that can be easily integrated into your website, enhancing the overall user experience.
Understanding the get_categories()
Function
The get_categories()
function in WordPress is a powerful tool for retrieving a list of categories. It allows you to filter and sort the categories based on various parameters, such as the parent category, category name, or category ID.
To retrieve the subcategories of a parent category, you can use the 'parent'
parameter and pass the ID of the parent category. Here's an example:
$categories = get_categories(
array(
'parent' => $parent_cat_id,
'hide_empty' => false,
'orderby' => 'name',
'order' => 'ASC'
)
);
In this example, we're passing the $parent_cat_id
variable, which represents the ID of the parent category. We're also setting the 'hide_empty'
parameter to false
to ensure that even empty subcategories are displayed, and sorting the subcategories by name in ascending order.
Displaying Subcategories with Images and in a Grid
Now that we understand the get_categories()
function, let's dive into the implementation of displaying subcategories with images and in a grid layout.
-
Retrieve Subcategories:
$parent_cat_id = 123; // Replace with the ID of your parent category
$categories = get_categories(
array(
'parent' => $parent_cat_id,
'hide_empty' => false,
'orderby' => 'name',
'order' => 'ASC'
)
);
-
Create the Grid Layout:
<div class="category-grid">
<?php foreach ($categories as $cat) { ?>
<div class="category-tile">
<a href="<?php echo get_category_link($cat->term_id); ?>">
<?php if (has_category_thumbnail($cat->term_id)) { ?>
<img src="<?php echo get_category_thumbnail($cat->term_id); ?>" alt="<?php echo $cat->name; ?>">
<?php } else { ?>
<img src="<?php echo get_template_directory_uri(); ?>/assets/images/default-category-image.jpg" alt="<?php echo $cat->name; ?>">
<?php } ?>
<h3><?php echo $cat->name; ?></h3>
</a>
</div>
<?php } ?>
</div>
In this example, we're creating a grid layout using a CSS class called category-grid
. Inside the grid, we're looping through the subcategories and creating a category-tile
div for each one.
Within each tile, we're displaying the category's name and an image. If the category has a custom thumbnail image set, we use that; otherwise, we fallback to a default category image.
The get_category_link()
function is used to generate the URL for the category page, allowing users to navigate to the corresponding subcategory.
-
Style the Grid Layout:
.category-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(200px, 1fr));
grid-gap: 20px;
}
.category-tile {
background-color: #f5f5f5;
border-radius: 4px;
overflow: hidden;
box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}
.category-tile img {
width: 100%;
height: 150px;
object-fit: cover;
}
.category-tile h3 {
margin: 10px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
}
In this CSS snippet, we're using the CSS Grid layout to create a responsive grid of subcategory tiles. The grid-template-columns
property ensures that the tiles adjust their size based on the available space, with a minimum width of 200px and a maximum of 1 fraction unit (1fr).
The category-tile
class styles the individual tiles, adding a background color, rounded corners, and a subtle box shadow for a polished look. The image within the tile is set to cover the entire available space, and the category name is displayed with appropriate padding and font styles.
Optimizing the User Experience
To further enhance the user experience, you can consider the following additional features:
-
Pagination: If you have a large number of subcategories, you can implement pagination to improve the page load time and provide a better browsing experience for your users.
-
Filtering and Sorting: Allow users to filter and sort the subcategories based on various criteria, such as name, product count, or custom attributes.
-
Subcategory Descriptions: Display a brief description for each subcategory, providing users with more context and information about the content within.
-
Clickable Category Icons: In addition to the category name, you can include a clickable category icon or image to make the tiles more visually appealing and interactive.
-
Lazy Loading: Implement lazy loading for the subcategory images to optimize the initial page load and improve performance, especially on mobile devices.
-
Responsive Design: Ensure that the grid layout and its elements are responsive and adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes, providing an optimal viewing experience on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
By incorporating these features, you can create a highly engaging and user-friendly subcategory display that enhances the overall navigation and browsing experience on your WordPress-powered website.
If you're using Flowpoint.ai, a powerful web analytics platform, you can leverage its features to further optimize the performance and conversion rates of your subcategory display.
Flowpoint's AI-powered recommendations can help you identify any technical, user experience, or content-related issues that may be impacting the effectiveness of your subcategory grid. By implementing Flowpoint's suggestions, you can ensure that your subcategory display is optimized for maximum engagement and conversion.
Moreover, Flowpoint's comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities can provide valuable insights into user behavior, allowing you to make data-driven decisions and continuously improve the subcategory display based on user feedback and performance metrics.
By integrating Flowpoint.ai with your WordPress website, you can unlock a powerful combination of technical expertise and user-centric optimization, ultimately delivering an exceptional experience for your visitors.
Get a Free AI Website Audit
Automatically identify UX and content issues affecting your conversion rates with Flowpoint's comprehensive AI-driven website audit.