How to make a WordPress Plugin 2025 (Step by Step for Beginners)

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Introduction to WordPress Plugins


What Is a WordPress Plugin?


A WordPress plugin is like a little tool you can add to your website. It helps your site do something new. Think of it like adding an app on your phone. Some plugins let you build contact forms. Others help you with SEO. Some make photo galleries. You can find free plugins in the WordPress Plugin Directory. There are also paid ones that offer more features. You don’t need to know coding to use most plugins. You just install and turn them on. You can check article "make a WordPress Plugin 2025"

How Plugins Work Inside WordPress


Plugins use special hooks in WordPress. These hooks tell WordPress when to run your plugin’s code. Your plugin can add, change, or remove things on your site. For example, it can add a button, change the footer, or block spam. Plugins are stored in a folder on your site called “wp-content/plugins.” When you activate a plugin from your admin panel, WordPress runs the plugin’s main code file.

Why Build Your Own Plugin?


Sometimes, you can’t find the right plugin for your needs. Or maybe you want something very simple. Building your own plugin lets you control what it does. You can make your site faster by skipping extra features. You also learn more about how WordPress works. And if your plugin is helpful, you can share it with others. You can even sell it.

Real-World Examples of Custom Plugins



  • A plugin that shows a custom message after a user logs in

  • A plugin that hides certain posts from public view

  • A plugin that sends emails when a new post is published

  • A plugin that tracks how many times a button was clicked



Prerequisites: Skills and Tools You Need


Basic Requirements (HTML, CSS, PHP, WordPress)


To make a plugin, you should know a little HTML and CSS. You should also know basic PHP. PHP is the coding language WordPress uses. You don’t have to be an expert. Just know how to write simple code and read WordPress documentation.

What You Don’t Need (No Expert Coding Required!)


You don’t need to be a professional developer. You don’t need to learn JavaScript (unless you want to). You don’t need to know object-oriented programming. Simple plugins often use just basic PHP and WordPress functions.

Recommended Code Editors (VS Code, Sublime, etc.)


Use a good code editor. It makes writing code easier. Popular ones are VS Code, Sublime Text, and Atom. They show colors for code, help you spot errors, and save time with shortcuts.

Setting Up a Local Development Environment (LocalWP, XAMPP, DevKinsta)


Before you build a plugin, set up WordPress on your computer. This is called a local environment. You can use tools like LocalWP, XAMPP, or DevKinsta. These tools let you test plugins safely before uploading them to a real website.

Version Control with Git (Optional but Recommended)


Git helps you track changes to your plugin code. It lets you go back if you break something. You can also use GitHub to store your plugin online. This is helpful if you work with others or plan to share your plugin.

Planning Your Plugin Before Writing Code


Understanding the Plugin’s Purpose


Ask yourself: What does my plugin do? What problem will it fix? Keep your goal clear. This helps you stay focused.

What Problem Does It Solve?


A good plugin solves one simple problem. Maybe you want to change how titles look. Or maybe you want to auto-send a thank-you email. Make sure it helps users in a real way.

Should It Be for Personal Use or Shared Publicly?


Will you use it only on your site? Or will you share it with others? If it’s public, follow best practices and test it well.

Choosing a Unique Plugin Name


Pick a name no one else is using. It should be easy to remember. If you plan to publish your plugin, check the WordPress Plugin Directory to make sure the name is free.

Planning Features and Functions


Write down the features you want. Keep it short at first. You can always add more later. Focus on the main goal.

Avoiding Feature Bloat: Keep It Simple at First


Don’t add too much. A plugin that tries to do everything becomes slow and hard to use. Build the basic version first. Then improve it over time.

Creating the Plugin Folder and Base Files


Navigating to wp-content/plugins/


Go to your WordPress folder. Find “wp-content/plugins.” This is where all plugins live.

Creating Your Plugin’s Folder


Make a new folder. Name it after your plugin. Use dashes for spaces. For example: “my-first-plugin.”

Creating the Main PHP File (plugin-name.php)


Inside your folder, make a PHP file. Name it the same as your plugin. For example: “my-first-plugin.php.” This is where your plugin code starts.

Writing the Plugin Header Comment


At the top of your PHP file, add a special comment. This tells WordPress about your plugin.
<?php

/*

Plugin Name: My First Plugin

Plugin URI: https://yourwebsite.com

Description: A simple plugin to learn how plugins work.

Version: one point zero

Author: Your Name

Author URI: https://yourwebsite.com

License: GPLv2 or later

*/

Plugin Description, Versioning, and Licensing


Write a short description. Use version numbers like one point zero or one point one. Always add a license. GPLv2 is a common choice and is required for WordPress.org plugins.

Activating and Testing the Basic Plugin


Logging into WordPress Admin


Go to your local site. Log into the WordPress admin area.

Navigating to the Plugins Panel


Click “Plugins” in the menu. You’ll see a list of all plugins.

Activating Your Plugin


Find your plugin name. Click “Activate.” If there’s no error, it’s working!

What to Do If Activation Fails


Check your PHP file for errors. Make sure the plugin header is correct. Use a code editor to fix any mistakes

Adding a Simple Function (e.g., Custom Message)


Try adding a small code block to see your plugin in action:
add_action('wp_footer', function() {

  echo '<p style="text-align:center;">Thanks for visiting!</p>';

});

This shows a thank-you message at the bottom of every page.

Understanding Hooks: Actions and Filters


What Are Hooks?


Hooks let you add your code into WordPress without changing the core. There are two types: actions and filters.

Difference Between Actions and Filters


Actions let you run code at certain times. For example, when a post is published. Filters let you change data. For example, changing the post title.

Adding Actions to Trigger Custom Code


Use add_action() to run your function:
add_action('init', 'my_custom_function');

function my_custom_function() {

  // Your code here

}

Using Filters to Modify WordPress Behavior


Use add_filter() to change content:
add_filter('the_title', 'change_title');

function change_title($title) {

  return 'Awesome: ' . $title;

}

This adds “Awesome:” before every post title.

Common Use Cases: Add Custom Content, Change Titles, etc.



  • Add banners to pages

  • Change author names

  • Block certain words

  • Add styles to login pages



Creating Custom Admin Pages


Adding a Menu or Submenu to the WP Dashboard


Use add_menu_page() or add_submenu_page() to add pages to the admin area. You can control who sees them using roles.

Creating a Settings Page


A settings page lets users change plugin options. You can add forms and buttons.

Displaying HTML Forms in the Admin Area


Use simple HTML. Wrap your form inside a WordPress admin wrapper to match the style.
function my_admin_page() {

  echo '<div class="wrap"><h1>My Plugin Settings</h1><form method="post">';

  // Add form fields here

  echo '</form></div>';

}

Saving User Input Securely


Use sanitize_text_field() and update_option() to clean and save data.
if (isset($_POST['my_option'])) {

  update_option('my_option', sanitize_text_field($_POST['my_option']));

}

Making Pages Look Native to WordPress UI


Use WordPress classes like wrap, button-primary, and form-table. This makes your plugin look like part of WordPress.

Using WordPress APIs


Overview of Common APIs


APIs are tools WordPress gives you. They help you do things without writing everything from scratch.

Settings API (Save Plugin Settings Easily)


This API helps you save and load settings. It also adds forms and validation. It’s perfect for admin pages.

Shortcode API (Create Reusable Shortcodes)


Shortcodes are like magic words. You type [myplugin] in a post, and it shows something cool. Use add_shortcode() to make them.
add_shortcode('thanks', function() {

  return 'Thanks for reading!';

});

Widgets API (Optional for Sidebar Widgets)


Want to show a plugin feature in the sidebar? Use the Widgets API to make it drag-and-drop ready.

Options API (Store Values in the Database)


Use get_option() and update_option() to save values to the database. This is the easiest way to store plugin settings.

Enqueueing Scripts and Styles Correctly


How to Add CSS and JS to Your Plugin


Use wp_enqueue_script() and wp_enqueue_style() to load your plugin’s CSS and JavaScript.

Using wp_enqueue_script and wp_enqueue_style


These functions make sure your files load the right way. WordPress loads them only once and in the right order.

Making Sure Files Load Only When Needed


Only load files when needed. For admin pages, use is_admin() and hook into admin_enqueue_scripts. For the front-end, use wp_enqueue_scripts.

Dependencies and File Locations


List needed files as dependencies. For example, load jQuery first if your script needs it.
wp_enqueue_script('my-script', plugin_dir_url(__FILE__) . 'js/myscript.js', array('jquery'), null, true);

Example: Adding a Custom Admin Stylesheet


function my_admin_style() {

  wp_enqueue_style('my-admin-css', plugin_dir_url(__FILE__) . 'admin-style.css');

}

add_action('admin_enqueue_scripts', 'my_admin_style');

This loads admin-style.css only in the WordPress dashboard.

Let me know when you're ready for section ten and beyond!

Securing Your Plugin


What is Escaping Output? (Stop Bad Code From Running)


Sometimes, bad people can put dangerous code into your plugin. This is called an XSS attack. To stop this, you must escape output. It means cleaning the data before showing it on the website.



How to Escape Output in WordPress




  • Use esc_html() when showing text on the page.




  • Use esc_attr() when showing text inside HTML tags like input boxes.




  • Use esc_url() when showing links.




  • Use wp_kses_post() to allow only safe HTML.




Example:


If someone types bad code, this stops it:






echo esc_html( $user_input );


This way, your website is safe.



What is Validating and Sanitizing Input? (Check and Clean What Users Send)


When users send information (like in a form), always check it is okay. This is called validating. Then, clean it to remove bad parts. This is sanitizing.



How to Sanitize in WordPress




  • Use sanitize_text_field() to clean plain text.




  • Use sanitize_email() to clean emails.




  • Use intval() to make sure numbers are real numbers.




  • Use sanitize_url() to clean website links.







$email = sanitize_email( $_POST['email'] ); if ( ! is_email( $email ) ) { echo 'Please enter a valid email'; } $age = intval( $_POST['age'] );


What are Nonces? (Protect Your Forms)


A nonce is a secret code for your forms. It stops hackers from sending fake forms to your website.



How to Add a Nonce to a Form


Put this inside your form:






wp_nonce_field( 'my_action', 'my_nonce_field' );


How to Check the Nonce


Before saving the form data, check if the nonce is correct:






if ( ! isset( $_POST['my_nonce_field'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( $_POST['my_nonce_field'], 'my_action' ) ) { die( 'Security check failed.' ); }


This keeps your plugin safe.



Limit Access to Users (Only Let Right People Do Certain Things)


Not every user should do everything. Some actions are only for admins or editors.



How to Check User Permission


Before doing something important, check:






if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) { die( 'You are not allowed to do this.' ); }


Stop Direct File Access (Don’t Let People Open Plugin Files Directly)


People should not open your plugin files directly. To stop this, add this at the top of each PHP file:






if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) { exit; // Stop if accessed directly }


Making Your Plugin Ready for Translation (So Anyone Can Use It in Their Language)


What is Internationalization? (Making Your Plugin Ready for Different Languages)


Internationalization means preparing your plugin so it can be translated into any language easily.



Use Special Functions to Mark Text for Translation




  • __() – This gets the translated text but does not print it.




  • _e() – This prints the translated text directly.




Example:




echo __( 'Hello', 'my-plugin-textdomain' ); _e( 'Save', 'my-plugin-textdomain' );


Create a .pot File (A Template for Translators)


A .pot file holds all the words and sentences that need translation.


You can create it with a tool like WP-CLI or Poedit.



Load Your Plugin’s Translations


Add this code to your plugin to load the language files:






function my_plugin_load_textdomain() { load_plugin_textdomain( 'my-plugin-textdomain', false, dirname( plugin_basename( __FILE__ ) ) . '/languages/' ); } add_action( 'plugins_loaded', 'my_plugin_load_textdomain' );


Put your language files inside a languages folder in your plugin.



Why Make Your Plugin Translation Ready?




  • Your plugin can be used worldwide.




  • Users can read your plugin in their language.




  • It looks professional.




  • Other people can help translate.




  • You can add languages later easily.



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