Register Sidebar In WordPress Theme

October 21, 2016 (last updated on: October 21, 2016)
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The currect way to register sidebar in WordPress theme, create a custom sidebar in your theme, all things about sidebar and widgets.

How to Register Sidebar in WordPress

To register sidebar in WordPress, you need to register_sidebar() function and widgets_init action.

Register Sidebar

Copy the code and paste it in your “functions.php” file in your theme:

function wptime_register_sidebar(){
    register_sidebar( array(
        'name' => 'My Custom Sidebar', // your sidebar name
        'id' => 'my-sidebar-id', // your sidebar id, unique id (we need it later)
        'description' => 'A custom sidebar in my theme.', // your sidebar description
        'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">', // your widget wrap
        'after_widget' => '</aside>', // close widget wrap
        'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">', // your widget title wrap
        'after_title' => '</h3>' // close title wrap
    ) );
}
add_action( 'widgets_init', 'wptime_register_sidebar' );

Now you will find your sidebar:

Display Widgets in Your Custom Sidebar

To display the widgets in your custom sidebar, you need to is_active_sidebar() and dynamic_sidebar() function with sidebar ID. For example, create your sidebar file “sidebar.php” in your theme, and paste this code:

<?php

    if ( is_active_sidebar('my-sidebar-id') ) { // Check if have widget in your custom sidebar or not
        ?>
            <div id="sidebar">
                <?php
                    dynamic_sidebar('my-sidebar-id'); // Display widgets in the sidebar
                ?>
            </div>
        <?php
    }

?>

You can display your sidebar in anyplace and any file, for example in “footer.php” file or any custom file, not just “sidebar.php” file.