If you want to customize how products are sorted in different categories on your WooCommerce store, I have a neat solution. Adding a custom code snippet to your WordPress site allows you to set default sorting options for each product category. I’ll guide you through the process using the Code Snippets plugin (my preferred method) or by adding the code directly to your functions.php file. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Install and activate Code Snippets Plugin
You might wonder why I recommend the Code Snippets plugin over directly editing the functions.php file. Well, the plugin provides a user-friendly interface to manage all your custom code snippets in one place. It helps prevent potential errors that could break your site and makes it easy to activate, deactivate, or modify snippets without touching your theme files. Plus, your snippets remain safe even if you switch themes.
1. Log into your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. In the search bar, type “Code Snippets”.
4. Find the Code Snippets plugin by Code Snippets Pro and click Install Now.
5. Once installed, click Activate.
Step 2: Add the Custom WooCommerce Category Sorting Code
1. Go to Snippets > Add New in your dashboard menu.
2. Enter a title for your snippet, like “WooCommerce Category Sorting”.
3. Copy and paste the following code into the code editor:
// Namespace to avoid function name collisions
namespace MyTheme\WooCommerce\CategorySorting;
if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
exit; // Exit if accessed directly
}
class CategorySortingOrder {
public function __construct() {
// Add sorting dropdown on the add and edit category pages
add_action( 'product_cat_add_form_fields', [ $this, 'add_sorting_order_field' ], 10 );
add_action( 'product_cat_edit_form_fields', [ $this, 'edit_sorting_order_field' ], 10 );
// Save sorting order when the category is created or updated
add_action( 'created_product_cat', [ $this, 'save_category_sorting_order' ], 10 );
add_action( 'edited_product_cat', [ $this, 'save_category_sorting_order' ], 10 );
// Apply category-specific sorting on the frontend
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', [ $this, 'apply_category_sorting_order' ] );
// Set the default catalog ordering per category
add_filter( 'woocommerce_default_catalog_orderby', [ $this, 'set_default_catalog_orderby_per_category' ] );
}
// Add sorting dropdown on the add category page
public function add_sorting_order_field() {
?>
<div class="form-field">
<label for="category_sort_order"><?php esc_html_e( 'Default Sorting Order', 'woocommerce' ); ?></label>
<select name="category_sort_order" id="category_sort_order">
<option value="menu_order"><?php esc_html_e( 'Default sorting', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="popularity"><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by popularity', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="rating"><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by average rating', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="date"><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by latest', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="price"><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by price: low to high', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="price-desc"><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by price: high to low', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
</select>
<p class="description"><?php esc_html_e( 'Choose how products should be sorted for this category. Note: Customers can still change the sorting on the frontend.', 'woocommerce' ); ?></p>
</div>
<?php
}
// Add sorting dropdown on the edit category page
public function edit_sorting_order_field( $term ) {
$category_sort_order = get_term_meta( $term->term_id, 'category_sort_order', true );
if ( ! $category_sort_order ) {
$category_sort_order = 'menu_order';
}
?>
<tr class="form-field">
<th scope="row" valign="top"><label for="category_sort_order"><?php esc_html_e( 'Default Sorting Order', 'woocommerce' ); ?></label></th>
<td>
<select name="category_sort_order" id="category_sort_order">
<option value="menu_order" <?php selected( $category_sort_order, 'menu_order' ); ?>><?php esc_html_e( 'Default sorting', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="popularity" <?php selected( $category_sort_order, 'popularity' ); ?>><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by popularity', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="rating" <?php selected( $category_sort_order, 'rating' ); ?>><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by average rating', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="date" <?php selected( $category_sort_order, 'date' ); ?>><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by latest', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="price" <?php selected( $category_sort_order, 'price' ); ?>><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by price: low to high', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
<option value="price-desc" <?php selected( $category_sort_order, 'price-desc' ); ?>><?php esc_html_e( 'Sort by price: high to low', 'woocommerce' ); ?></option>
</select>
<p class="description"><?php esc_html_e( 'Choose how products should be sorted for this category. Note: Customers can still change the sorting on the frontend.', 'woocommerce' ); ?></p>
</td>
</tr>
<?php
}
// Save sorting order when the category is created or updated
public function save_category_sorting_order( $term_id ) {
if ( isset( $_POST['category_sort_order'] ) ) {
update_term_meta( $term_id, 'category_sort_order', sanitize_text_field( $_POST['category_sort_order'] ) );
}
}
// Apply category-specific sorting on the frontend
public function apply_category_sorting_order( $query ) {
if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_product_category() ) {
// Get the current category object
$category = get_queried_object();
if ( ! $category || ! isset( $category->term_id ) ) {
return;
}
$category_sort_order = get_term_meta( $category->term_id, 'category_sort_order', true );
if ( ! $category_sort_order ) {
$category_sort_order = 'menu_order';
}
// Apply sorting options
switch ( $category_sort_order ) {
case 'price':
$query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value_num' );
$query->set( 'order', 'ASC' );
$query->set( 'meta_key', '_price' );
break;
case 'price-desc':
$query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value_num' );
$query->set( 'order', 'DESC' );
$query->set( 'meta_key', '_price' );
break;
case 'popularity':
$query->set( 'meta_key', 'total_sales' );
$query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value_num' );
$query->set( 'order', 'DESC' );
break;
case 'rating':
$query->set( 'meta_key', '_wc_average_rating' );
$query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value_num' );
$query->set( 'order', 'DESC' );
break;
case 'date':
$query->set( 'orderby', 'date' );
$query->set( 'order', 'DESC' );
break;
default:
// Default WooCommerce sorting
$query->set( 'orderby', array( 'menu_order' => 'ASC', 'title' => 'ASC' ) );
break;
}
}
}
// Set the default catalog ordering per category
public function set_default_catalog_orderby_per_category( $default_orderby ) {
if ( is_product_category() ) {
$category = get_queried_object();
if ( ! $category || ! isset( $category->term_id ) ) {
return $default_orderby;
}
$category_sort_order = get_term_meta( $category->term_id, 'category_sort_order', true );
if ( $category_sort_order ) {
return $category_sort_order;
}
}
return $default_orderby;
}
}
// Initialize the class
new CategorySortingOrder();4. Make sure the “PHP” option is selected as the code type.
5. Choose “Run snippet everywhere” from the dropdown below the code editor.
6. Click Save Changes and Activate.
Here’s the end result:
Step 3: Configure the Category Sorting Options
1. Navigate to Products > Categories.
2. Click Add New Category or edit an existing one.
3. You’ll notice a new option labeled “Default Sorting Order”.
4. Select your preferred sorting method from the dropdown menu.
5. Click Add New Category or Update to save your changes.
Now, your products within that category will display according to the sorting option you selected. Customers can still change the sorting on the frontend if they wish.
Alternative Method: Adding Code to functions.php
If you prefer adding the code directly to your theme’s functions.php file, here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Access Your Theme’s functions.php File
1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
2. On the right-hand side, find and click on Theme Functions (functions.php).
Note: If you don’t see the Theme Editor, your hosting provider might have it disabled for security reasons. In that case, you’ll need to use FTP or a file manager to edit the file.
Step 2: Add the Custom Code
1. Scroll to the bottom of the functions.php file.
2. Copy and paste the same code provided earlier (excluding the <?php tag at the beginning if it’s already present).
3. Click Update File to save your changes.
Step 3: Configure the Category Sorting Options
Follow the same steps as before to set the default sorting for your categories under Products > Categories.
Caution: Editing the functions.php file can be risky. A small mistake can cause your site to crash. Always back up your site before making changes, and consider using a child theme to prevent your changes from being overwritten during updates.
Summary
Customizing the default sorting order for your WooCommerce product categories can enhance the shopping experience by displaying products in a way that best suits each category. Using the Code Snippets plugin is a safe and convenient method to add custom code without directly editing theme files. However, if you’re comfortable with code, adding it to your functions.php file works just as well. I hope this guide helps you tailor your store to better meet your customers’ needs!
If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy customizing!
