This is how to Create Dynamic Price Filters with Special Characters in the URL
As an ecommerce store owner, providing your customers with a seamless shopping experience is crucial for boosting conversion rates and driving sales. One key aspect of this is allowing customers to easily filter products by price range. However, implementing price filters with special characters in the URL can be a challenge.
In this article, we'll explore two effective methods for creating dynamic price filters with special characters in the URL, specifically designed for WordPress websites. Whether you choose to use two separate select elements or a single select with a hidden input, we'll guide you through the process step-by-step, complete with code examples. By the end, you'll have a robust price filtering system that delivers an exceptional user experience for your customers.
Method 1: Two Select Elements
The first approach involves creating two separate select elements – one for the minimum price and one for the maximum price. Here's how you can implement it:
<select name="min_price" class="orderby">
<option value="1">1</option>
<option value="101">101</option>
<option value="201">201</option>
</select>
<select name="max_price" class="orderby">
<option value="100">100</option>
<option value="200">200</option>
<option value="300">300</option>
</select>
To enable the maximum price options to be higher than the minimum price, you'll need to add some JavaScript to your website. Here's an example:
// Get the min and max price select elements
const minPriceSelect = document.querySelector('select[name="min_price"]');
const maxPriceSelect = document.querySelector('select[name="max_price"]');
// Add an event listener to the min price select
minPriceSelect.addEventListener('change', () => {
// Get the selected min price value
const selectedMinPrice = parseInt(minPriceSelect.value);
// Update the max price select options
maxPriceSelect.querySelectorAll('option').forEach(option => {
const optionValue = parseInt(option.value);
if (optionValue >= selectedMinPrice) {
option.disabled = false;
} else {
option.disabled = true;
}
});
});
This JavaScript code listens for changes in the minimum price select element, and then updates the options in the maximum price select element to ensure that the maximum price is always higher than the minimum price.
When the user selects a minimum price, the corresponding maximum price options are enabled, and the disabled options are hidden from the user. This provides a seamless and intuitive experience, while also maintaining the desired URL structure:
www.mydomain.com/shop/?min_price=101&max_price=200
Method 2: Single Select with Hidden Input
Alternatively, you can create a single select element for the minimum price and use a hidden input field for the maximum price. This method is slightly more concise and may be preferred in some cases. Here's how it works:
<select name="min_price" class="orderby">
<option value="1">1 - 100</option>
<option value="101">101 - 200</option>
<option value="201">201 - 300</option>
</select>
<input type="hidden" name="max_price" value="" />
In this approach, the minimum price select element contains options that represent a range of prices, rather than individual values. When the user selects a minimum price, you'll need to update the hidden maximum price input field accordingly. Here's the JavaScript code to accomplish this:
// Get the min price select element and the max price input
const minPriceSelect = document.querySelector('select[name="min_price"]');
const maxPriceInput = document.querySelector('input[name="max_price"]');
// Add an event listener to the min price select
minPriceSelect.addEventListener('change', () => {
// Get the selected min price value
const selectedMinPrice = parseInt(minPriceSelect.value);
// Set the max price input value based on the selected min price
switch (selectedMinPrice) {
case 1:
maxPriceInput.value = 100;
break;
case 101:
maxPriceInput.value = 200;
break;
case 201:
maxPriceInput.value = 300;
break;
}
});
In this JavaScript code, we're listening for changes in the minimum price select element. When the user selects a minimum price, we update the value of the hidden maximum price input field based on the selected minimum price.
This method results in the same URL structure as the previous approach:
www.mydomain.com/shop/?min_price=101&max_price=200
Both of these methods provide a smooth and intuitive user experience, while also ensuring that the URL structure includes the desired special characters (in this case, the question mark and ampersand).
Regardless of which approach you choose, it's important to note that the URL structure should be consistent across your website for the best SEO (Search Engine Optimization) practices. By implementing dynamic price filters with special characters in the URL, you're not only enhancing the user experience but also improving the discoverability and ranking of your ecommerce store in search engine results.
If you're looking for a powerful analytics tool to help you understand your website's user behavior and optimize your price filtering system, be sure to check out Flowpoint.ai. Flowpoint's advanced analytics and AI-generated recommendations can provide valuable insights to help you further improve your ecommerce store's conversion rates