I have used the youtube video: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJdIUU1pjl4&t=1261s) to learn how to create my first custom widget. From here I have create a class with a front end display and a backend display (forms) I want to create a form to post the information, then gets saved to the database that later gets generated on the front end.
I have done this with an options page using update_option() and get_option() however, this would be a hard coded variable and since someone can use my widget in multiple places I would want each one to have a unique storage.
Here is currently what I have with php variables with no values because I am uncertain how to make my form post save the details to the database.
//Back-end display of widget
public function form($instance) {
?>
<form method="post">
<label for="inner-text">Inside Text</label>
<input name="inner-text" type="text">
<label for="bg-image">Background Image</label>
<input name="bg-image" type="image">
</form>
<?php
}
//front end display of widget
public function widget($args, $instance ) {
echo $args['before_widget'];
?>
//$bg_img & $inner_text are currently unassigned but would like to use the back end to assign them
<div class="bg-img" style="background: url('<?= $bg_img ?>');">
<div class="container">
<div class="inner-rectangle">
<?= $inner_text ?>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<?php
echo $args['after_widget'];
return;
}
The reason I have refrained from using get_option() is because it is a static variable and can’t have a unique value for each widget.
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Answer
Use get_field_name() & get_field_id() * $instances to display
//Back-end display of widget
public function form($instance) {
// DECLARE VARIABLES
$inner_text = '';
$widget_background = '';
if($instance) {
$inner_text = esc_textarea($instance['inner_text']);
$widget_background = esc_url($instance['widget_background']);
}
?>
<form method="post">
<label for="<?php echo $this->get_field_id('widget_background'); ?>"><?php _e('Widget Background URL', 'wp_widget_plugin'); ?></label>
<input class="widefat" id="<?php echo $this->get_field_id('widget_background'); ?>" name="<?php echo $this->get_field_name('widget_background'); ?>" type="text" value="<?php echo $widget_background; ?>">
<label for="<?php echo $this->get_field_id('inner_text'); ?>"><?php _e('Inner text', 'wp_widget_plugin'); ?></label>
<textarea class="widefat" id="<?php echo $this->get_field_id('inner_text'); ?>" name="<?php echo $this->get_field_name('inner_text'); ?>" type="text" value=""><?php echo $inner_text; ?></textarea>
</form>
<?php
}
// AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE THE STORED FIELDS
function update($new_instance, $old_instance) {
$instance = $old_instance;
// Fields
$instance['inner_text'] = strip_tags($new_instance['inner_text']);
$instance['widget_background'] = strip_tags($new_instance['widget_background']);
return $instance;
}
//front end display of widget
public function widget($args, $instance ) {
echo $args['before_widget'];
?>
<div class="bg-img" style="background: url('<?= $instance['widget_background'] ?>');">
<div class="container">
<div class="inner-rectangle">
<?= $instance['inner_text']?>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<?php
echo $args['after_widget'];
return;
}
}