Sidebar Shortcode
Add sidebars to WordPress posts and pages using shortcodes with a sidebar Name or ID.
The facts
- Rating
- 5★ from 3
- Active installs
- 1k+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 8 Dec 2021
- Added
- Mar 2018
- Requires WP
- 3.4
- Tested up to
- WP 5.8.15
- Downloads
- 9,011
Our analysis
AI-assistedSidebar Shortcode is a WordPress plugin that allows you to add sidebars to posts and pages using shortcodes. You can specify a sidebar by its name or ID and also add custom classes for styling. This plugin is suitable for users who want to enhance their site layout with additional sidebars without extensive coding knowledge.
You can use the plugin by inserting shortcodes in your content, either referencing a sidebar name found in the Appearance > Widgets section or an ID from your theme's functions.php file. The plugin supports multiple shortcodes on the same page or post, offering flexibility in sidebar usage.
Best for: This plugin suits WordPress users looking to integrate additional sidebars into their content easily.
What it does well
- ✓Free to use from the WordPress.org directory
- ✓Allows adding sidebars using shortcodes
- ✓Supports custom classes for styling
- ✓No limit on the number of shortcodes per page or post
- ✓Compatible with WordPress version 5.8.15
Where it falls short
- •Limited information on advanced features or support
- •Requires knowledge of sidebar names or IDs
Verdict
Sidebar Shortcode provides a straightforward way to enhance your WordPress site with sidebars, though it may require some familiarity with shortcodes and theme structures.
From the developer
thinkerwebdesign's own description of Sidebar Shortcode, lightly tidied.
Features:
- Add sidebars to WP Posts and Pages with shortcodes using a sidebar Name or sidebar ID.
- Add one or more optional custom classes to match your theme styles or custom CSS styles.
How to Use:
Method 1 – (Recommended Use: Add a sidebar using a sidebar Name.)
A sidebar Name can be found in the Appearance > Widgets section of your WordPress Admin Area.
Example uses:
[sidebar name="your-sidebar-name"][sidebar name="your-sidebar-name" class="custom-class"][sidebar name="your-sidebar-name" class="custom-class-1 custom-class-2 custom-class-3"]
Method 2 – (Advanced WP Users: Add a sidebar using a sidebar ID.)
A sidebar ID can be found in your theme’s register_sidebar functions, usually in the theme’s functions.php file.
Example uses:
[sidebar id="your-sidebar-id"][sidebar id="your-sidebar-id" class="custom-class"][sidebar id="your-sidebar-id" class="custom-class-1 custom-class-2 custom-class-3"]
General Notes
- The spelling and capitalization of a shortcode Name or ID must exactly match that of the desired sidebar.
- Definition of an active sidebar: An active sidebar is a sidebar that contains widgets.
- A
[sidebar]shortcode without an active sidebar Name or active sidebar ID displays nothing. - An active sidebar ID overrides a sidebar Name if both are present in the same shortcode.
- There is no limit to the number of shortcodes that can be used on the same page or post.
- The same sidebar shortcode can be used multiple times on the same page or post.
HTML Class Notes
- Separate multiple custom classes using a space character. Examples shown in
Methodsections above. - There is no limit to the number of custom classes that can be used.
- Each custom class must only contain (letter,number,-,_) characters, otherwise all custom classes are omitted.
- The sidebar ID is always added to the HTML class attribute if it contains only (letter,number,-,_) characters.