How to Return the Translated String in a Custom Translation Shortcode in WordPress
As a WordPress developer, you may often need to create custom translation shortcodes to allow your users to easily translate content on their websites. However, it's important to ensure that the translated string is properly returned to avoid issues with the browser displaying the PHP code.
In this article, we'll explore the problem with the common approach of returning <?php echo __('" . $a['name'] . "', 'pulsdesign'); ?>
and provide a solution to correctly return the translated string.
The Problem with Returning PHP Code
When you create a custom translation shortcode in WordPress, you might be tempted to use the following approach:
return "<?php echo __('" . $a['name'] . "', 'pulsdesign'); ?>";
This code will attempt to return the PHP code that would normally execute the translation function, __()
, and display the translated string. However, this approach has a significant problem.
Browsers do not know how to execute PHP code. When the browser receives the returned string, it will simply display the entire PHP code snippet, including the <?php
and ?>
tags. This can lead to a messy and confusing user experience, as the user will see the raw PHP code instead of the translated string.
The Correct Solution: Returning the Translated String
To correctly return the translated string, you should use the __()
function directly within the shortcode, without any additional PHP tags. This will ensure that the browser receives the translated string, which it can then display properly.
Here's the correct way to return the translated string:
return __($a['name'], 'pulsdesign');
In this approach, the __()
function is called directly, passing the $a['name']
variable and the translation domain 'pulsdesign'
as arguments. The function will then return the translated string, which can be properly displayed by the browser.
Understanding the __()
Function
The __()
function is a WordPress translation function that allows you to translate strings within your WordPress code. It takes two arguments:
- The string to be translated: This is the string that you want to have translated. In our example, it's
$a['name']
.
- The translation domain: This is the domain or context in which the string should be translated. In our example, it's
'pulsdesign'
.
The __()
function will then look up the translated string in the appropriate translation file (usually a .po
or .mo
file) and return the translated version of the string.
By using the __()
function directly within your shortcode, you ensure that the browser receives the translated string, which it can then display correctly.
Real-World Example: Translating a Plugin's Settings Page
Let's consider a real-world example where you might use a custom translation shortcode in WordPress. Imagine you're building a plugin that has a settings page, and you want to allow users to translate the settings page content.
Here's an example of how you might use a custom translation shortcode to achieve this:
// In your plugin's settings page template
<h2><?php echo do_shortcode('[translate]Settings[/translate]'); ?></h2>
<p><?php echo do_shortcode('[translate]Configure the plugin settings here.[/translate]'); ?></p>
// In your plugin's translation shortcode
function my_translation_shortcode($atts, $content = null) {
return __($content, 'my-plugin');
}
add_shortcode('translate', 'my_translation_shortcode');
In this example, we've created a custom [translate]
shortcode that uses the __()
function to return the translated string. When the user visits the settings page, the shortcode will be replaced with the translated content.
By using this approach, you can ensure that the browser receives the translated strings, which will be properly displayed to the user. This makes for a better user experience and helps to maintain the integrity of your WordPress site's content.
Improving SEO with Translated Content
Properly translating your WordPress content can also have a positive impact on your site's search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines like Google can better understand and index your translated content, making it more likely that your pages will appear in search results for users searching in different languages.
To further optimize your translated content for SEO, you can also consider using the hreflang
attribute in your HTML to indicate the language of the content. This helps search engines understand the relationship between your translated pages and can improve their visibility in search results.
Here's an example of how you might use the hreflang
attribute in your WordPress theme's <head>
section:
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/page" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://example.com/fr/page" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/page" />
By properly translating your content and using the hreflang
attribute, you can ensure that your WordPress site's translated pages are easily discoverable by search engines and users around the world.
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Conclusion
In this article, we've explored the problem with the common approach of returning PHP code in a custom translation shortcode and provided a solution to correctly return the translated string. By using the __()
function directly within your shortcode, you can ensure that the browser receives the translated string, which it can then display properly.
This approach not only improves the user experience but also has SEO benefits, as search engines can better understand and index your translated content. Remember to also consider using the hreflang
attribute to further optimize your translated pages for search engine visibility.
By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can create robust and user-friendly translation functionality in your WordPress site or plugin. If you're interested in learning more about how Flowpoint.ai can help you identify and fix technical issues that impact your website's conversion rates, be sure to check out Flowpoint.ai