Table of Contents
WordPress already makes website creation an easy process. After the mockup designs are approved I use Salient WordPress Theme as the default theme. I will discuss more on how to use Salient to create almost any Layouts in another article.
When to use Advanced Custom Fields (in short ACF)?
What is Advanced Custom Fields?
Advanced Custom Fields is a WordPress plugin which allows you to add extra content fields to your WordPress edit screens. These extra content fields are more commonly referred to as Custom Fields and can allow you to build websites faster and educate your clients quicker.
Lets say you are building a website which will showcase embeded youtube videos from 3 different youtube channels and contain them in 3 Custom Post Types. In this scenario you can use ACF.
What is Custom Post Type?
WordPress comes with five default post types: post, page, attachment, revision, and menu. And if you want additional post types then you need to create Custom Post Types. There is a very good article where you can learn how to create new Custom Post Types.
Now each video post in each custom post type will have few wordpress default custom field within each post type. Such as Post Title, Featured Image, Post Content, etc. But you will need an additional field such as Youtube Video ID Text Field. In our single-{post-type}.php we will use this {youtube-video-id} text field inside the youtube embed code.
You can easily create a Custom Field for this Youtube Video ID with Advanced Custom Field and link it with the custom post type.
How many Field Types Advanced Custom Fields have?
Every field you can think of.
You can also create Global Theme Setting Page with Advanced Custom Fields using the Options page feature. But you will need the Pro license for that.
Lets see what are the benefits of using ACF PRO.
With ACF Pro you will get 5 Advanced Field Types.
PRO Feature #1
The Repeater Field
The repeater field allows you to create a set of sub fields which can be repeated again, and again, and again.
Any type of field can be added as a sub field which allows you to create and manage very customized data with ease!
PRO Feature #2
ACF Blocks
Discover a powerful PHP-based framework for developing custom block types.
ACF blocks are highly customisable and powerfully dynamic. They integrate deeply with custom fields allowing PHP developers to create bespoke solutions inline with WordPress theme development.
PRO Feature #3
The Flexible Content Field
The flexible content field is a complete content layout manager!
Define groups of sub fields (layouts) and add, edit, and re-order them to create highly customized content!
PRO Feature #4
Options Pages
The options page provides a set of functions to add extra admin pages to edit ACF fields!
All data saved on an options page is global and can be displayed on any page throughout the website (good for header and footer data)!
PRO Feature #5
The Gallery Field
The gallery field provides a simple and intuitive interface for managing a collection of images.
Multiple images can be added, edited and sorted with ease!
This plugin has an awesome Documentation.
I am not a hardcore PHP developer. I am a web designer or builder. But I understand how logic works in coding. What variable, loop, ifelse, etc is. If you know these basics then learning or adapting to ACF will be like a walk in the park with the help of the huge easy to understand ACF Documentation.
UI/UX Consultant, Photoshop, XD, SketchApp, Product Designer, Website Designer, Mobile App Designer, Expert WordPress Developer. For web/mobile design and wordpress development related projects please contact me at dibakar@themepurpose.com
