As an experienced WordPress webmaster, I often get asked "What are custom fields?" – It‘s an advanced feature that can seem confusing at first. But custom fields are actually simple to use and provide tons of possibilities for your WordPress site!
In this beginner‘s guide, we‘ll walk through what custom fields are, where to find them, and how leverage these built-in WordPress tools to take your site to the next level.
Contents
What Are Custom Fields in WordPress?
Custom fields allow you to associate additional information with a post, page, or other piece of content in WordPress.
For example, by default WordPress stores things like:
- Title
- Content
- Author
- Status
- Publication date
Custom fields let you add supplementary data beyond these default fields.
You can use custom fields to store anything you want related to the content:
- ISBN number for a book review
- Ratings for a product
- Source or attribution for a quote
- Focus keywords for SEO
- Related links
- And tons more possibilities!
Custom fields are a form of metadata – meaning data about your data. They provide a flexible way to store extra information about your posts, pages, and custom post types in WordPress.
Where to Find Custom Fields in the WordPress Admin
The good news is that custom fields are built right into WordPress!
But they are hidden from view by default, since custom fields are considered an advanced feature.
Here‘s how to access custom fields in the WordPress post and page editor:
- Edit any existing post or page
- Click on "Screen Options" in the top right
- Check the box for "Custom Fields"
- Scroll down to find the Custom Fields section
Now you will see the custom fields meta box any time you create or edit content:
Here you can add, edit, and delete custom fields for that particular post or page.
Pro Tip: As a WordPress expert, I recommend leaving the custom fields visible like this at all times. It will save you hassle!
How to Add Custom Fields in WordPress
The process for adding a custom field is simple:
- Enter a name – this identifies the type of data
- Enter the value – the actual data you want to store
- Click "Add Custom Field"
For example:
- Name:
isbn - Value:
9780143110439
The custom field will now be saved along with the post content.
You can add multiple custom fields to each post or page. The options are limitless!
Some common examples include:
isbn– For storing an ISBN number on book reviewsrating– Your rating on a product review or articlesource– Attribution links and sources for quotes/infokeywords– Focus keywords for SEO optimization
And many more possibilities!
Editing and Deleting Custom Fields
You can always come back and manage existing custom fields in WordPress:
-
To edit a field, update the name and/or value and click "Update Custom Field"
-
To delete, click the "X" icon next the the field to remove it completely
Any changes made to custom fields are saved automatically with the post or page content.
Leveraging Custom Fields for Advanced WordPress Sites
While beginners may not use custom fields much initially, they are incredibly powerful for advanced WordPress sites.
Custom fields are used in WordPress:
- By plugins to extend functionality
- By themes for customization
- By developers for importing data
- By agencies for client sites
- By network admins on multi-site installs
For example:
- SEO plugins allow entering custom field data for meta descriptions, focus keywords, etc.
- Themes use custom fields to add things like author bios, featured images, etc.
- Developer import data like products, real estate listings, etc into WordPress sites using custom fields.
The flexibility of custom fields has allowed WordPress to be extended far beyond blogging into advanced sites like:
- Media sites
- Online magazines
- Ecommerce stores
- Social networking
- Educational platforms
- Company intranets
- and much more!
Here are some examples of popular WordPress plugins that leverage custom fields:
| Plugin | Uses Custom Fields For |
|---|---|
| Yoast SEO | SEO title, meta description, focus keywords |
| Advanced Custom Fields | Creating custom fields interfaces |
| Custom Post Type UI | Extending WordPress with custom post types |
The possibilities are endless when it comes to tapping into the power of custom fields for WordPress sites. They provide future-proof flexibility!
Custom Fields Tips and Best Practices
Over my 15+ years working extensively with WordPress, I‘ve learned some best practices when it comes to effectively using custom fields:
- Be consistent – Use a consistent naming convention for easier management
- Validate data – Use validation for things like URLs and emails stored in custom fields
- Optimize performance – Limit custom fields to only necessary data
- Plan ahead – Think about future needs when creating custom field names
Custom fields are a webmaster‘s best friend once you understand how to tap into their power. WordPress gives you this tool – so be sure to use it!
I hope this beginner‘s guide to understanding custom fields was helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow WordPress users learn the ins and outs of this amazing open source software.
