How to Fix Breadcrumb NavXT Creating Wrong href Links
Breadcrumb NavXT: A Powerful WordPress Plugin with a Common Pitfall
Breadcrumb NavXT is a popular WordPress plugin that provides a robust and customizable breadcrumb navigation system for your website. It's a staple tool in the arsenal of many WordPress developers and site owners, as it helps improve the user experience by offering clear navigation paths.
However, like many powerful plugins, Breadcrumb NavXT is not without its quirks. One common issue that users often encounter is the plugin adding an unnecessary post_type
parameter to the URLs in the breadcrumb trail. This can lead to broken links and a poor user experience.
The Problem: Breadcrumb NavXT Adding post_type
to URLs
The post_type
parameter in the URL is used by WordPress to identify the type of content being displayed, such as a post, page, or custom post type. While this parameter is necessary in certain situations, it can cause problems when it's added to URLs where it's not needed.
For example, let's say you have a website with a blog section and a portfolio section. The blog posts are created using the default "Post" post type, while the portfolio items are a custom post type called "Portfolio".
When a user navigates the breadcrumb trail on a portfolio item, Breadcrumb NavXT might generate a URL like this:
https://example.com/portfolio/portfolio-item?post_type=portfolio
This URL includes the unnecessary post_type=portfolio
parameter, which can lead to issues such as:
-
Broken Links: If you ever decide to change the slug or URL structure of your portfolio section, the old URLs with the post_type
parameter will become broken, causing a poor user experience for your visitors.
-
SEO Implications: Search engines may consider the URLs with the post_type
parameter as duplicate content, which can negatively impact your website's search engine optimization (SEO).
-
Aesthetic Concerns: The inclusion of the post_type
parameter in the URL can make the breadcrumb trail look cluttered and unprofessional, detracting from the overall user experience.
The Solution: Removing the post_type
Parameter from Breadcrumb NavXT URLs
Fortunately, Breadcrumb NavXT provides a convenient way to remove the post_type
parameter from the URLs in the breadcrumb trail. All you need to do is add a simple code snippet to a site-specific plugin.
Here's the code you can use:
add_filter('bcn_add_post_type_arg', 'my_add_post_type_arg_filt', 10, 3);
function my_add_post_type_arg_filt($add_query_arg, $type, $taxonomy)
{
return false;
}
This code adds a custom filter to the Breadcrumb NavXT plugin, which tells it to not add the post_type
parameter to the URLs.
Here's a breakdown of what this code does:
-
add_filter('bcn_add_post_type_arg', 'my_add_post_type_arg_filt', 10, 3)
: This line adds a custom filter to the Breadcrumb NavXT plugin, specifically targeting the bcn_add_post_type_arg
filter. The 'my_add_post_type_arg_filt'
function will be called whenever this filter is applied.
-
function my_add_post_type_arg_filt($add_query_arg, $type, $taxonomy)
: This is the function that will be called by the filter. It receives three parameters:
$add_query_arg
: A boolean value that determines whether the post_type
parameter should be added to the URL.
$type
: The current post type.
$taxonomy
: The current taxonomy.
-
return false;
: This line tells the Breadcrumb NavXT plugin to not add the post_type
parameter to the URL. By returning false
, the plugin will omit the unnecessary parameter from the breadcrumb trail URLs.
To implement this solution, follow these steps:
- Create a new file in your WordPress site's
wp-content/plugins/
directory, and name it something like my-breadcrumb-navxt-fix.php
.
- Copy and paste the code snippet above into the file.
- Activate the plugin in your WordPress admin dashboard.
After implementing this fix, you should see that the post_type
parameter is no longer present in the breadcrumb trail URLs on your website. This will improve the overall user experience and help with SEO.
Additional Customization Options
While the solution provided above is a great starting point, Breadcrumb NavXT offers many other customization options that you may want to explore. Some additional features you can configure include:
- Changing the Breadcrumb Separator: You can customize the character or icon used to separate breadcrumb items.
- Hiding Certain Breadcrumb Items: You can choose to hide specific post types or taxonomies from the breadcrumb trail.
- Adding Custom Breadcrumb Items: You can add your own custom breadcrumb items to the trail, such as a "Home" link or a link to a specific page.
- Styling the Breadcrumb Trail: You can apply your own CSS styles to the breadcrumb trail to match the design of your website.
By taking the time to fully understand and configure Breadcrumb NavXT, you can create a polished and user-friendly breadcrumb navigation system that enhances the overall experience for your website visitors.
In conclusion, the issue of Breadcrumb NavXT adding unnecessary post_type
parameters to URLs is a common problem, but it's easily fixable with the solution provided in this article. By implementing this fix, you can improve the quality of your website's navigation and ensure better SEO performance. Remember, a well-designed breadcrumb trail can make a significant difference in the usability and discoverability of your website.
Flowpoint.ai can help you identify all the technical errors that are impacting conversion rates on your website and directly generate recommendations to fix them, including issues with breadcrumb navigation.
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