There’s no reason to stick to a single WordPress navigation framework, particularly when you can mix things up by making your own custom WordPress sidebar.
What is a widget area in WordPress?
In WordPress, a widget area is a dedicated place in your website’s structure where you can add widgets. Widgets are tiny pieces of content that can be used to show recent articles, archives, social media icons, and other content.
In this blog, we’ll go over why you should use a unique WordPress sidebar.
Adding WordPress Sidebars and Widget Ready Areas
Adding Sidebars or Widget Ready Areas in WordPressThe first step is to add a sidebar or widget ready area to your theme. It is possible to create multiple sidebars and widget suitable areas. Copy and put this code into your theme’s functions.php file.
<?php
add_action( 'widgets_init', 'cxc_widgets_init_call_back' );
function cxc_widgets_init_call_back() {
register_sidebar( array(
'name' => __( 'Main Top Sidebar', 'cxc-codexcoach' ),
'id' => 'main-top-sidebar',
'description' => __( 'The main top sidebar appears on the right on each page except the front page template', 'cxc-codexcoach' ),
'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
'after_widget' => '</aside>',
'before_title' => '<h3 class="cxc-widget-title">',
'after_title' => '</h3>',
) );
register_sidebar( array(
'name' =>__( 'Main Bottom Sidebar', 'cxc-codexcoach'),
'id' => 'main-bottom-sidebar',
'description' => __( 'The main bottom sidebar appears on the right on each page except the front page template', 'cxc-codexcoach' ),
'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
'after_widget' => '</aside>',
'before_title' => '<h3 class="cxc-widget-title">',
'after_title' => '</h3>',
) );
}
?>In WordPress Theme Files, Add Dynamic Widget Ready Sidebars
<?php if ( is_active_sidebar( 'main-top-sidebar' ) ) : ?>
<div id="primary" class="cxc-widget-area" role="complementary">
<?php dynamic_sidebar( 'main-top-sidebar' ); ?>
</div>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php if ( is_active_sidebar( 'main-bottom-sidebar' ) ) : ?>
<div id="secondary" class="cxc-widget-area" role="complementary">
<?php dynamic_sidebar( 'main-bottom-sidebar' ); ?>
</div>
<?php endif; ?>Also Read: How to change title and sub-title related products in WooCommerce
FAQs
How can I create a custom sidebar widget area in WordPress?
You can create a custom sidebar widget area in WordPress by following steps given before on CodexCoach.
Can I add a custom code to my widget area?
es, you can add custom code to your widget area by using a text widget. Simply drag the text widget into your widget area and paste your code into the text box.
Can I add a widget area to a specific theme or template file?
Yes, you can add a widget area to a specific theme or template file by using PHP code. You can find tutorials online that walk you through this process, or you can hire a developer to do it for you.
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CodexCoach is a skilled tech educator known for easy-to-follow tutorials in coding, digital design, and software development. With practical tips and interactive examples, CodexCoach helps people learn new tech skills and advance their careers.
