How to create wordpress plugin

Creating a WordPress plugin involves several steps. Below is a basic guide to help you get started:

1. Set Up Your Development Environment

  • Local Server: Use a local server environment like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP to run WordPress locally.
  • WordPress Installation: Download and install WordPress on your local server.

2. Create Plugin Folder and File

  • Folder: In the wp-content/plugins directory, create a new folder for your plugin. Name it something relevant to your plugin’s purpose.
  • Main Plugin File: Inside your plugin folder, create a PHP file with the same name as your folder. For example, if your folder is named my-plugin, create a file named my-plugin.php.

3. Add Plugin Header

At the top of your main plugin file, add a plugin header. This informs WordPress about the details of your plugin.

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: My First Plugin
Plugin URI: http://example.com/my-first-plugin
Description: This is my first WordPress plugin.
Version: 1.0
Author: Your Name
Author URI: http://example.com
License: GPL2
*/

Write Your Plugin Code

Add your custom functionality. For example, here’s how you can add a simple admin notice:

function my_plugin_admin_notice() {
    echo '<div class="notice notice-success is-dismissible">
        <p>My First Plugin is activated!</p>
    </div>';
}
add_action('admin_notices', 'my_plugin_admin_notice');

Activate Your Plugin

  • Go to your WordPress admin dashboard.
  • Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
  • Find your plugin in the list and click Activate.

6. Add More Features

Based on your plugin’s purpose, you might want to add more features. This could involve adding shortcodes, widgets, custom post types, settings pages, etc.