My Journey

Wordpress Settings API

Sections & Fields

Introduction

• Wordpress 2.7, Dec 10 2008

Why Settings API?

• Communicates with Wordpress Core• Right way• Consistent with other Wordpress Settings

“Not right” approach(es)

• Using MySQL query that talks to wp_options table

• Using add_option(), update_option()• Modifying Wordpress Core• Result:– Only 22% of Wordpress sites are up to date

Settings Structure

• Page– Section• Field

– Setting

Pages

• Add settings to existing pages– General, Writing, Reading, Discussion, Media,

Permalinks• Add settings to new pages

Sections

• Fields under a shared heading

Settings

• Fields• Callback functions• Register Settings

Wow. No coding involved?

• Semi-automatic!• You still need to:– Write HTML for your fields– Fetch existing values– Write validations

• Saving to wp_options is done automatically

API Functions

• Add Field/Section• Options Form Rendering• Setting Register/Unregister• Validate & Sanitize• Errors

Add Section• add_settings_section()

Add Field• add_settings_field()

Options Form Rendering

• settings_fields()• do_settings_sections()

Setting Register/Unregister

• register_setting()• unregister_setting()

Data Validation & Sanitization

• register_setting()

Errors

• add_settings_error()– $setting_id, $error_div_id_suffix, $message, $type

• get_settings_error()• settings_errors()

Vishal Kothari

Founder & CEO

http://www.tychesoftwares.com@tychesoftwares