In this post, you will discover how to add JavaScript to your WordPress pages or posts to enable dynamic features on the site.
What is Javascript?
JS, short for JavaScript, is among the most widely used programming languages for client-side development. Developers utilize it to add interactive elements to websites.
As a client-side language, JavaScript allows for the implementation of dynamic and interactive features on your site, even after the page has fully loaded.
Conversely, WordPress is developed in PHP, which is a server-side language. This means that the server executes your website code prior to rendering it for users.
Thus, incorporating JavaScript provides fresh possibilities for your website.
Can you use Javascript on WordPress sites?
To summarize, absolutely! Merging JavaScript with WordPress allows you to enjoy the advantages of both platforms.
As you become comfortable with integrating custom JavaScript into your WordPress site, you can explore ways to optimize your code and attain the desired customizations.
In reality, numerous WordPress plugins and themes rely on JavaScript to drive their features.
What can JavaScript do for WordPress sites?
Generally, the WordPress editor formats your text automatically and limits the types of tags you can add to your content. While this can be frustrating for users trying to incorporate custom scripts, it is not a flaw in design; rather, it serves as a security measure.
The goal of a content management system (CMS) like WordPress is to distinguish content from design. By allowing only the administrator to determine formatting and layout settings at the theme level, it prevents authors of the WordPress site from altering the design.
With JavaScript, you have the ability to implement styling, layout, and content modifications beyond the confines of the page or post you’re creating. In fact, there would be no limits on the ability to upload potentially harmful scripts by your authors.
Although this is a reasonable limitation for most writers, there are legitimate justifications for including JavaScript on particular pages or posts:
- Analytics: most analytics and tracking services would need you to add a Javascript code snippet onto your website. Some examples include Google Analytics, Facebook Pixels, and so on.
- Players: Some audio and video players require a script to display the player within the page.
- Interactive pages: Interactive pages and calculators require the embedding of third-party scripts within a site. You can also add live chat widgets.
- Third-party forms: Subscription and lead generation forms often have remotely loaded scripts that need to be included in the header, body or footer of the page. This allows you to include email marketing opt-in forms or contact forms on your website.
Method 1: Disable WordPress filtering of script tags
If you have confidence that your authors won’t create any issues, you can allow script tags by modifying JavaScript settings. In the wp-config.php file located in your main web directory, you should enable custom tags by inserting the following line of code:
define( 'CUSTOM_TAGS', true );
Within your functions.php page, you can add the following code:
function add_scriptfilter( $string ) {
global $allowedtags;
$allowedtags['script'] = array( 'src' => array () );
return $string;
}
add_filter( 'pre_kses', 'add_scriptfilter' );
Note: We must reiterate our caution about employing the aforementioned approach. Activating the script tag through this method compromises the security feature across the entire site, affecting all user permission levels.
Method 2: Use a WordPress plugin to enable script includes
There are plenty of plugins out there for managing JavaScript within your pages or posts. At times, you will need to load your JavaScript within the tags of the page or after your content adjacent to your tag.
Sometimes you may wish to load JavaScript sitewide; other times specific to a single page or post. After testing many of the plugins, the most comprehensive plugin we found was Scripts n Styles.
This plugin enables you to add scripts at a universal level, covering the entire site.
Here are some of the best WordPress free plugins for JavaScript management:
- WPCode – previously known as Insert Headers and Footers
- Simple Custom CSS and JS
- Header Footer Code Management
Method 3: Use Advanced Custom Fields
Advanced Custom Fields is a popular plugin that enables you to create custom fields without extensive custom coding.
With over 1 million installations, Advanced Custom Fields has established itself as a reliable, well-developed, and well-supported solution.
Once the plugin is installed and activated, a new option labeled “Custom Fields” will appear in your Administrative menu.
The Advanced Custom Fields option provides a wide range of capabilities. You might want to set your rules for specific users, published content, or page templates instead of just Administrators and all posts and pages. It is highly advisable to limit access to adding scripts exclusively to the necessary pages, posts, and users.
By incorporating JavaScript into WordPress, you gain significant flexibility for your website. You can effortlessly integrate everything from analytics and tracking codes to engaging interactive elements on your WordPress site.
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