This is How to Highlight Taxonomy Menu on Frontend When Custom Post Type is Displayed in WordPress
As a WordPress developer, you know the importance of providing a great user experience for your website's visitors. One common challenge that often arises is the need to highlight the correct taxonomy menu on the frontend when a custom post type is being displayed.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a widely accepted solution for this issue, leaving many WordPress users searching for a reliable way to tackle this problem. In this article, we'll explore a step-by-step approach to implementing this functionality, complete with real-world examples and code snippets to help you get the job done.
Understanding the Problem
When you create a custom post type in WordPress, you often associate it with one or more taxonomies, such as categories or tags. The issue arises when you want to display the custom post type on your website's frontend and ensure that the corresponding taxonomy menu is highlighted, making it clear to the user where they are within your site's navigation.
By default, WordPress doesn't provide a straightforward way to handle this scenario, leaving developers to find their own solutions. This can lead to inconsistent user experiences across different parts of the website, which can be frustrating for your visitors.
The Solution: Highlighting Taxonomy Menu on Frontend
To solve this problem, we'll need to leverage some WordPress-specific functions and custom code to ensure that the correct taxonomy menu is highlighted when a custom post type is displayed. Here's a step-by-step guide to implementing this feature:
Step 1: Determine the Current Post Type
The first step is to identify the current post type being displayed on the frontend. We can do this using the get_post_type()
function:
$current_post_type = get_post_type();
This will give us the post type of the current page, which we can then use to determine the appropriate taxonomy to highlight.
Step 2: Identify the Taxonomy Associated with the Current Post Type
Next, we need to find the taxonomy that is associated with the current post type. This can be done by checking the taxonomies
property of the post type object:
$post_type_object = get_post_type_object($current_post_type);
$associated_taxonomies = $post_type_object->taxonomies;
This will give us an array of taxonomies that are associated with the current post type.
Step 3: Determine the Current Taxonomy Term
Now that we know the associated taxonomies, we need to find the current taxonomy term being displayed. We can use the get_queried_object()
function to do this:
$queried_object = get_queried_object();
if ($queried_object instanceof WP_Term) {
$current_taxonomy = $queried_object->taxonomy;
$current_term = $queried_object;
}
This code will give us the current taxonomy and term being displayed on the page.
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Step 4: Highlight the Correct Taxonomy Menu
With the current post type, associated taxonomies, and the current taxonomy term, we can now implement the logic to highlight the correct taxonomy menu on the frontend. Here's an example:
function highlight_taxonomy_menu($items, $args) {
global $current_post_type, $current_taxonomy, $current_term;
if (!isset($current_post_type) || !isset($current_taxonomy) || !isset($current_term)) {
return $items;
}
$post_type_object = get_post_type_object($current_post_type);
$associated_taxonomies = $post_type_object->taxonomies;
foreach ($items as &$item) {
if (in_array($item->taxonomy, $associated_taxonomies)) {
if ($item->taxonomy == $current_taxonomy && $item->term_id == $current_term->term_id) {
$item->classes[] = 'current-menu-item';
} else {
$item->classes = array_diff($item->classes, ['current-menu-item']);
}
}
}
return $items;
}
add_filter('wp_nav_menu_objects', 'highlight_taxonomy_menu', 10, 2);
This custom function highlight_taxonomy_menu()
is hooked into the wp_nav_menu_objects
filter, which allows us to modify the menu items before they are rendered.
Here's how it works:
- We first check if we have the necessary global variables set (
$current_post_type
, $current_taxonomy
, and $current_term
). If not, we simply return the original menu items.
- We then retrieve the post type object and its associated taxonomies.
- For each menu item, we check if the item's taxonomy is associated with the current post type. If it is, we check if the item's taxonomy and term ID match the current taxonomy and term. If they do, we add the
current-menu-item
class to the item, indicating that it should be highlighted. If they don't, we remove the current-menu-item
class.
- Finally, we return the modified menu items, which will now have the correct taxonomy menu highlighted.
To use this functionality, you'll need to add the following code to your WordPress theme's functions.php
file:
// Set the current post type and taxonomy globally
function set_current_post_type_and_taxonomy() {
global $current_post_type, $current_taxonomy, $current_term;
$current_post_type = get_post_type();
$post_type_object = get_post_type_object($current_post_type);
$associated_taxonomies = $post_type_object->taxonomies;
$queried_object = get_queried_object();
if ($queried_object instanceof WP_Term) {
$current_taxonomy = $queried_object->taxonomy;
$current_term = $queried_object;
}
}
add_action('wp', 'set_current_post_type_and_taxonomy');
// Highlight the correct taxonomy menu
function highlight_taxonomy_menu($items, $args) {
global $current_post_type, $current_taxonomy, $current_term;
if (!isset($current_post_type) || !isset($current_taxonomy) || !isset($current_term)) {
return $items;
}
$post_type_object = get_post_type_object($current_post_type);
$associated_taxonomies = $post_type_object->taxonomies;
foreach ($items as &$item) {
if (in_array($item->taxonomy, $associated_taxonomies)) {
if ($item->taxonomy == $current_taxonomy && $item->term_id == $current_term->term_id) {
$item->classes[] = 'current-menu-item';
} else {
$item->classes = array_diff($item->classes, ['current-menu-item']);
}
}
}
return $items;
}
add_filter('wp_nav_menu_objects', 'highlight_taxonomy_menu', 10, 2);
This code sets the current post type and taxonomy globally, and then uses the highlight_taxonomy_menu()
function to modify the menu items accordingly.
Real-World Example and Benefits
Let's consider a real-world scenario to understand the benefits of this solution.
Imagine you have a WordPress website that features a custom post type called "Events". This custom post type is associated with two taxonomies: "Event Categories" and "Event Tags".
When a user navigates to the "Events" page, they expect to see the "Event Categories" menu highlighted, as this is the taxonomy they are currently viewing. However, without the solution we've provided, the menu might not be correctly highlighted, leading to a suboptimal user experience.
By implementing the highlight_taxonomy_menu()
function, you can ensure that the "Event Categories" menu is correctly highlighted when the user is viewing the "Events" page. This helps users understand their current location within your website's navigation, making it easier for them to find the information they're looking for.
Moreover, this solution is not limited to just one custom post type or taxonomy. It can be applied to any number of custom post types and their associated taxonomies, ensuring a consistent and intuitive user experience across your entire WordPress website.
Conclusion
Highlighting the correct taxonomy menu on the frontend when displaying a custom post type in WordPress is a common challenge that many developers face. However, by following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily implement a solution that ensures a seamless user experience for your website's visitors.
Remember, providing a well-structured and intuitive navigation system is crucial for the success of any website. By addressing this issue, you'll be one step closer to delivering a top-notch user experience that keeps your visitors engaged and coming back.
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