How to create a WordPress Plugin for beginners

WordPress is an incredibly versatile platform that allows users to extend its functionality through plugins. In this article, we will learn how to create a basic plugin from scratch, step by step, with code examples in both Spanish and English.

1: Setting up the Development Environment.

Before we begin, we need to have a development environment set up. Make sure you have a web server with WordPress installed and ready to use.

2: Basic Plugin Structure.

Let’s start by creating the basic structure of our plugin. Create a folder in the WordPress plugins directory, and inside it, create a main file with the plugin information.

// my-plugin/my-plugin.php

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: My Plugin
Description: A brief plugin description.
Version: 1.0
Author: Your Name
Author URI:   https://blog.letsgodev.com
License:      GPL2
License URI:  https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Text Domain:  wp-tutorial
Domain Path:  /languages
*/

// Plugin code goes here

?>

3: Adding Functionality.

Let’s add basic functionality to the plugin, for example, displaying a custom message in the admin bar.

// my-plugin/my-plugin.php

<?php
// ... (previous code)

// Function to display the message in the admin bar
function show_admin_message() {
    echo '<div class="notice notice-success is-dismissible">
        <p>Hello, this is your custom message.</p>
    </div>';
}

// Hook to call the function
add_action('admin_notices', 'show_admin_message');

// ... (subsequent code)
?>

4: Plugin Activation and Deactivation.

Let’s add hooks to execute functions when the plugin is activated or deactivated.

// my-plugin/my-plugin.php

<?php
// ... (previous code)

// Function to perform actions when the plugin is activated
function activate_my_plugin() {
    // Activation actions here
}

// Function to perform actions when the plugin is deactivated
function deactivate_my_plugin() {
    // Deactivation actions here
}

// Activation and deactivation hooks
register_activation_hook(__FILE__, 'activate_my_plugin');
register_deactivation_hook(__FILE__, 'deactivate_my_plugin');

// ... (subsequent code)
?>

5: Hooks.

<?php
function replace_wordpress_word( $content = '' ) {
    return str_replace( 'wordpress', 'WordPress', $content );
}

add_filter( 'the_content', 'replace_wordpress_word' );

Conclusion.

This article provides a basic introduction on how to create a plugin for WordPress. You can expand and customize this foundation according to your specific needs. I hope you find this tutorial helpful!

Remember to adjust and customize the code according to the specific requirements of your plugin. Good luck with your development!