Excerpts play a crucial role in grabbing your readers' attention and providing a sneak peek into your blog posts or pages. By default, WordPress sets a specific excerpt length, but what if you want to change it? In this article, we will guide you through the process of changing the excerpt length in WordPress, empowering you to create dynamic and captivating snippets that leave your audience craving for more.
Changing the excerpt length in WordPress is a simple yet powerful way to control the display of your content on various pages, including your homepage, archives, and search results. Here's how you can do it:
1. Utilize the manual excerpt feature: By default, WordPress generates automatic excerpts based on the length you specify in your settings. However, you can override this by using the "Excerpt" meta box when writing or editing a post. Simply enter a custom excerpt in this box, and WordPress will use it instead of the automatically generated one.
2. Modify the excerpt length using code: If you have some coding knowledge or are comfortable customizing your theme's files, you can change the excerpt length by adding a few lines of code. Locate your theme's functions.php file (located in your theme's folder), and insert the following code:
```php
function custom_excerpt_length( $length ) {
return 50; /* Change the number to your desired excerpt length */
}
add_filter( 'excerpt_length', 'custom_excerpt_length', 999 );
```
In this example, the excerpt length is set to 50 words. Adjust the number according to your preference. Save the file, and your excerpts will now be truncated to the specified length.
3. Utilize a plugin: If coding isn't your cup of tea, don't worry! WordPress offers numerous plugins that make changing the excerpt length a breeze. Install and activate a reputable plugin like "Advanced Excerpt" or "Custom Excerpt Length" from the WordPress Plugin Directory. These plugins provide intuitive settings and options, allowing you to customize the excerpt length without touching a single line of code.
Wordpress Change Excerpt Length Example:
To give you a better understanding, let's consider a scenario where you run a fashion blog and want to display short and snappy excerpts on your homepage to entice readers to click on your posts. By following the steps mentioned above, you can easily modify the excerpt length to, say, 20 words. This will create concise and attention-grabbing snippets that showcase your fashion expertise and leave visitors eager to explore the full article.
Congratulations! You now have the knowledge and tools to change the excerpt length in WordPress. By creating tailored and captivating snippets, you can lure your audience in and increase engagement on your website. Don't forget to explore other insightful guides on DamnWoo, where we provide expert tips and tricks to supercharge your online success. And if you're ready to take your website to the next level, give our awesome WordPress plugins a try. Share this article with others who might find it helpful, and together, let's make your online presence extraordinary!
