Knowledge Base

Create a WordPress Plugin

Now developers need to create files and folder structure under wp-content/plugins/ folder. Let’s start creating a specific folder with name my_plugin.

Next, we must create our main plugin file under my_plugin. We’ll name it my_plugin.php. We can name it whatever we want, it does not make any difference.

Now it is the time to tell WordPress that our file is going to implement a plugin. The process to do so is very simple. All we need to do is add a plugin specific information header to our newly created file.
This standard header will look like this:
/*
Plugin Name: My Plugin
Plugin URI: http://www.onsinteractive.com
Description: Plugin for tutorial
Author: Sanjay
Version: 1.0
Author URI: http://www.onsinteractive.com
*/
?>

Now we will register plugin activation and deactivation hooks in my_plugin.php file. we can do this by following funtions:

register_activation_hook(__FILE__, ‘my_plugin_install’);
register_deactivation_hook(__FILE__, ‘my_plugin_deactivation’);
?>
Now we need to define the funtions to activate and deactivate the plugin in my_plugin.php file
function my_plugin_install()
{
// write your code here
}

function my_plugin_deactivation()
{
// write your code here
}
?>

Now you are done with the plugin.