WordPress is powered by plugins. From SEO to e-commerce, plugins extend functionality and make websites highly customizable. But what if you want to create your own? Whether it’s a custom feature for a client or a public plugin you plan to release, building a WordPress plugin from scratch is simpler than it looks.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to create a WordPress plugin from scratch, from setup to coding best practices.

What Is a WordPress Plugin?

A plugin is a piece of software that adds new features or extends existing functionality in WordPress without modifying core files.

Examples:

• Contact forms (WPForms, Contact Form 7)
• SEO tools (Yoast SEO, Rank Math)
• Online stores (WooCommerce)

Instead of hacking WordPress core or your theme, plugins allow modular development that is portable and easy to maintain.

Why Create a WordPress Plugin?

You might want to create a plugin if:

• A client needs a custom feature not available in existing plugins.
• You want to lightweight alternatives to heavy plugins.
• You plan to release plugins publicly (free or premium).
• You want to learn WordPress development.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Development Environment

Before writing code, prepare your setup:

• Local Server: Install Local by Flywheel, XAMPP, or MAMP.
• Text Editor/IDE: Use VS Code, PhpStorm, or Sublime Text.
• WordPress Installation: Have a fresh WordPress site ready for testing.

This keeps development isolated and safe from breaking live sites.

Step 2: Creating the Plugin Folder & File

1. Navigate to wp-content/plugins/.
2. Create a new folder for your plugin, e.g., my-first-plugin.
3. Inside it, create a PHP file with the same name: my-first-plugin.php.

At the top of this file, add plugin header comments:

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: My First Plugin
Plugin URI: https://example.com/
Description: A simple custom plugin for WordPress.
Version: 1.0
Author: Your Name
Author URI: https://yourwebsite.com/
License: GPL2
*/

This tells WordPress about your plugin. After saving, you’ll see it in the Plugins → Installed Plugins section.

Step 3: Writing Your First Plugin Code

Let’s start small. Add this code to your my-first-plugin.php file:

<?php
// Prevent direct access
if (!defined('ABSPATH')) {
    exit;
}

// Simple function
function mfp_hello_world() {
    echo "<p>Hello, World! This is my first WordPress plugin.</p>";
}

// Hook into WordPress footer
add_action('wp_footer', 'mfp_hello_world');

When activated, this plugin will print a message in your site’s footer.

Step 4: Adding Shortcodes

Shortcodes make plugins more user-friendly. Example:

function mfp_greeting_shortcode() {
    return "Hello! Thanks for visiting my site.";
}
add_shortcode('greeting', 'mfp_greeting_shortcode');

Now, adding [greeting] in a post will display the message.

Step 5: Adding CSS & JavaScript

You can enqueue custom styles and scripts:

function mfp_enqueue_scripts() {
    wp_enqueue_style('mfp-style', plugin_dir_url(__FILE__) . 'css/mfp-style.css');
    wp_enqueue_script('mfp-script', plugin_dir_url(__FILE__) . 'js/mfp-script.js', array('jquery'), '1.0', true);
}
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'mfp_enqueue_scripts');

Create /css/mfp-style.css and /js/mfp-script.js in your plugin folder.

Step 6: Adding Admin Menu Pages

To add a custom settings page in the WordPress dashboard:

function mfp_add_admin_menu() {
    add_menu_page(
        'My Plugin Settings',
        'My Plugin',
        'manage_options',
        'my-first-plugin',
        'mfp_settings_page',
        'dashicons-admin-generic',
        20
    );
}
add_action('admin_menu', 'mfp_add_admin_menu');

function mfp_settings_page() {
    echo "<h1>My First Plugin Settings</h1>";
    echo "<p>Welcome to the settings page.</p>";
}

Step 7: Following Best Practices

• Always use prefixes (e.g., mfp_) to avoid conflicts.
• Validate and sanitize user input (sanitize_text_field(), esc_html()).
• Load scripts and styles only where necessary.
• Keep functions modular and well-documented.
• Test thoroughly before release.

Step 8: Packaging & Sharing Your Plugin

When your plugin is ready:

1. Zip the folder.
2. Share it manually or upload it to the WordPress Plugin Repository (if open-source).
3. If premium, consider platforms like CodeCanyon or your own website.

Final Thoughts

Creating a plugin may sound complex, but it all starts with a simple PHP file. From there, you can expand with shortcodes, admin pages, settings, and more. With practice, you can go from simple tweaks to building full-featured plugins that power businesses.

Ready to level up your skills? Start today and create a WordPress plugin from scratch—your next big idea could power thousands of websites!