The ‘get_search_query’ hook in WordPress is a filter hook that allows developers to modify the search query string before it is used to perform a search on the website.
When a user searches for something on a WordPress website, the search query is passed through this hook, giving developers the ability to alter or manipulate the search query as needed. This can be useful in various scenarios, such as when you want to modify the search query to include additional parameters, filter out certain characters, or customize the search results based on specific criteria.
By using the ‘get_search_query’ hook, developers can modify the search query on-the-fly, providing a more tailored and personalized search experience for their website visitors. This hook is particularly helpful when building custom search functionality or integrating third-party search plugins.
Example usage:
function modify_search_query($query) {
// Append a custom parameter to the search query
$custom_param = 'category:news';
$query .= ' ' . $custom_param;
return $query;
}
add_filter('get_search_query', 'modify_search_query');In this example, we have defined a function called ‘modify_search_query’ that appends a custom parameter (‘category:news’) to the search query. We then use the ‘add_filter’ function to hook this function to the ‘get_search_query’ filter. As a result, whenever a search is performed on the website, the ‘modify_search_query’ function will be called, allowing us to modify the search query by appending our custom parameter.
Please note that this is just a basic example, and you can customize the function to suit your specific needs. Additionally, you can hook multiple functions to the ‘get_search_query’ filter, enabling you to perform different modifications or actions on the search query.