The WordPress hook get_search_form is used to modify or replace the default search form output in WordPress. This hook allows developers to customize the HTML markup and functionality of the search form displayed on the website.
When this hook is called, it passes the current HTML markup of the search form as a parameter to any hooked functions. Developers can then use this parameter to modify the search form or completely replace it with their own custom code.
The get_search_form hook is particularly useful when you want to add additional elements, change the styling, or enhance the functionality of the default search form without modifying the core WordPress files.
Example Usage:
function custom_search_form($form) {
// Add a custom class to the search form
$form = str_replace('search-form', 'search-form custom-search-form', $form);
// Add a placeholder text to the search input field
$form = str_replace('type="search"', 'type="search" placeholder="Search..."', $form);
// Add a submit button with custom text
$form .= '<button type="submit" class="search-submit">Go</button>';
return $form;
}
add_filter('get_search_form', 'custom_search_form');In the example above, we have created a custom function called custom_search_form. This function takes the default search form HTML as a parameter and performs some modifications on it.
We are using the str_replace function to add a custom class to the search form, add a placeholder text to the search input field, and append a submit button with a custom class and text.
Finally, we use the add_filter function to hook our custom function custom_search_form to the get_search_form hook. This ensures that our modifications are applied whenever the search form is rendered on the website.
By using the get_search_form hook, we have complete control over the appearance and functionality of the search form in WordPress, allowing us to tailor it to our specific needs.