Would you like to create metas boxes (meta section) custom for your WordPress posts, pages and custom post types? Custom meta sections are commonly used to provide a better user interface for adding custom fields (Metadata) in your content.
In this tutorial, we'll walk you through what a custom meta section is and how to easily add custom meta sections on WordPress posts and custom post types.
But before you start, take the time to take a look at How to install a WordPress theme, How many plugins to install on WordPress.
Then let's get to work.
What is a custom meta box in WordPress?
The custom meta-box is a more user-friendly interface for adding custom fields (Metadata) in your articles, pages and other types of personalized publications.
WordPress comes with an easy to use interface that helps you create content, like posts and pages, or custom post types.
Normally, each type of content consists of the actual content and its metadata. Metadata is information related to that content, such as date and time, author's name, title and more. You can also add your own metadata using custom fields.
However, adding metadata using the default custom fields area is not very intuitive. This is where the custom meta sections come in.
WordPress allows developers to create and add their own custom meta-boxes on post screens. This is how the most popular plugins add different options to your post editing screens.
How to allow users to edit certain pages ? can be found in this article.
For example, the SEO title and description available after installing and activating the plugin Yoast SEO is a custom meta area:
That said, let's see how you can easily add custom meta fields to your custom articles and types of posts.
Creation of custom meta zones on WordPress
First of all, you have to install and activate the plugin " Advanced Custom Fields ". For more details, see our guide step by step to install a WordPress plugin .
After activating the plugin, the plugin will add a new menu option called "Custom Fields"(Customs Fields) to your WordPress admin bar. Clicking on it will take you to the custom fields page.
This page will be empty since you have not yet created any custom fields. Go ahead and click on the " Add new " to continue.
You will be accessing a page « Add a new field group ».
You must provide a title for your group of controls. This title will be used as the title of your meta section.
Then you can start adding your fields. Just click on the button Add a field To add your first field.
This will display the field configuration form. First, you need to provide a label for your domain. This tag will be displayed in your meta section before the field.
Then you must select the type of field. The plugin « Advanced Custom Fields »Allows you to choose from a variety of options. This includes text, text box, radio buttons, check boxes, full WYSIWYG editor, images and more.
Then you must provide instructions on the spot. These instructions tell users what to add in the field.
Below you will find other options for your field. You should carefully consider these options and adjust them to meet your needs.
Then, click the close button to reduce the field.
Read also: How to reduce or enlarge text on WordPress: The tutorial
If you need to add other fields to the meta section, click on the " Add a field To add another field.
Once you are done adding fields, you can scroll down to the location section. This is where you can define when and where you want your meta section to appear.
Advanced Custom Fields comes with a handful of predefined rules for you to choose from. For example, you can select post types, post category, taxonomy, a parent of the page and more.
Then the parameters of the meta section are available.
First you have to choose the order. If you have more than one field group defined for a location, you can select the display order. If you are not sure, leave the value 0.
Then you have to choose the position of the meta area on the page. You can choose to display it after the content, before the content or in the right column.
Below you will need to choose a style for your meta area. You can choose a style similar to other WordPress meta box, or you can choose a transparent style (without any frame).
If you are not sure, select the Standard option (WP Meta Box).
Finally, you will see a list of fields normally displayed on a post edit screen. If you want to hide a particular field on your post edit screen, you can check it here. If you are not sure then it is best not to change anything.
To discover also: 8 WordPress plugins to integrate an editing function
Once you're done, click the publish button to create your field group.
Congratulations, you have successfully created your meta zone for your articles or custom publication types.
Depending on your settings, you can now visit your article or publication type to see your meta section in action.
See also our article on How to recover from piracy and blacklisting of your WordPress site
You can use this custom meta box to add metadata to your articles or custom post types. This data will be stored in your WordPress database when you save or publish the article.
That's it for this tutorial. In a future, we will present to you how to display custom data on a WordPress theme.
Discover also some premium WordPress plugins
You can use other WordPress plugins to give a modern appearance and to optimize the handling of your blog or website.
We offer you here some premium WordPress plugins that will help you do that.
1. Cache Total W3
W3 Total Cache is one of WordPress plugins most popular caching. It's a full-featured WordPress caching plugin with a ton of options that can make it a bit daunting for beginners.
It offers all the features needed to properly configure the WordPress cache. Which includes page cache, object cache, gzip compression, limited minification support, support for CDNEtc. ...
Beginners may find it difficult to use W3 Total Cache. For detailed configuration instructions, see our article on W3 Total Cache plug-in installation and configuration procedure.
Download | Demo | Web hosting
2. WordPress Quiz
WP Quiz is a WordPress Plugin which makes it easy to create multiple choice questions (MCQs) on your blog for many purposes like teaching, blogging, advertising, etc…
After a person completes their test, data regarding their score and answers will be immediately saved to the database for statistical purposes. Thanks to this statistical function, you can collect all the data necessary for your different objectives from your WordPress website.
See also Some WordPress features you probably do not know
In addition, WP Quiz has several customization parameters such as the localisation, color changing according to user interface, random questions, etc ...
Download | Demo | Web hosting
3.AAPro
Le WordPress Plugin AAPro comes with a bunch of tools that will let you create a website profitable affiliate business in no time. It connects your WordPress website with the Amazon Product Advertising API (Affiliate API).
Certainly there are many good plugins for affiliate marketing, but they all work with large networks, because generally local online stores do not offer their own APIs and do not participate in any affiliate network.
Its features include: WooCommerce support, the ability to use different search engines, widget support, responsive design support, API control, easy configuration and much more.
Download | Demo | Web hosting
Recommended Resources
Find out about other recommended resources to help you build and manage your website.
- How to manage the URLs of the images of your WordPress blog
- How to Fix 503 Service Unavailable Error in WordPress
- 8 plugins to manage RSS feeds on WordPress
- How to allow users to filter articles and pages
Conclusion
Here ! That's it for this tutorial, I hope it will allow you to add meta sections on posts and pages. Do not hesitate to share with your friends on your favorite social networks.
However, you can also consult our resources, if you need more elements to carry out your projects of creation of Internet sites, by consulting our guide on WordPress blog creation.
If you have suggestions or remarks, leave them in our section Comments.
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