In Part 1 of this series, I showed you how to start adding Customizer functionality to your theme (or plugin). As well as showing how to add Panels & Sections, I also walked through the process of creating the individual Settings and UI Controls, sanitizing your data, updating the live preview and retrieving your settings. In Part 2 we’re going to look at creating Customizer Custom Controls.
The WordPress Customizer – A Developers Guide (Part 1)
If you’ve used WordPress in the last couple of years, you’re no doubt familiar with, or have at least heard of, the Customizer. The WordPress Customizer allows users to modify and configure theme options, whilst also providing them with a live-preview of those changes. The Customizer was built to provide theme developers with a standard interface they could use when providing customisation options within their theme.
Let’s talk about the WordPress Customizer
I’m on the record as a huge fan of WordPress. I’m a fan of the community, the software and everyone who contributes to make it better and safer. I help organise the WordPress Melbourne monthly meetups, you can hear me talk at WordCamps, meetups and even colleges, and you can download my themes and plugins in the official WordPress Theme and Plugin Directories. Having said that, I will say that I don’t love every single thing about WordPress and if you know me at all, you’ll know that one of those things is the WordPress Customizer. I’ve even been known to say I loathe the Customizer. I really feel like it provides a horrible user experience.