How to use customize_load_themes filter in WordPress

Alright, let’s dive into the customize_load_themes filter in WordPress. This nifty feature allows you to load theme data from an external source or tweak the data fetched from wp_prepare_themes_for_js() or even WordPress.org via themes_api(). To get started with the customize_load_themes filter, you need to register it using add_filter. You can do this in the functions.php file of your active theme or, as we always recommend, in a custom WordPress plugin. This way, nothing breaks when you update your theme in the future.

Here’s a quick rundown on how to register the filter using the add_filter function. It takes four parameters: the hook name (customize_load_themes), the function you want to call, the priority (in case the hook is used multiple times), and the number of arguments to pass to the function. And if you ever need to remove a registered hook, you can use remove_filter.

Now, let’s look at the parameters required for using this hook:

• $themes: (array|stdClass) Nested array or object of theme data.
• $args: (array) List of arguments like page, search term, and tags to query for.
• $manager: (WP_Customize_Manager) Instance of Customize manager.

Example 1: Modifying Theme Data

Here’s how you can use the customize_load_themes hook to modify theme data according to your website’s needs.

    function weplugins_modify_customize_load_themes_defaults($themes, $args, $manager) { 
        // Update the $themes variable according to your website requirements
        return $themes; 
    }
    // add the filter
    add_filter("customize_load_themes", "weplugins_modify_customize_load_themes_defaults", 10, 3);
    

Example 2: Removing a Hook Callback

To remove a hook callback, you can use the following example. Ensure you provide the same callback function name, priority, and number of arguments while removing the hook callback.

    remove_filter("customize_load_themes", "weplugins_modify_customize_load_themes_defaults", 10, 3);
    

Example 3: Conditional Theme Modification

You can also modify the $themes variable conditionally. This means you can apply different conditions to alter the theme data as needed.

    function weplugins_conditional_theme_modification($themes, $args, $manager) {
        if ($args['page'] === 'featured') {
            // Apply some modification to $themes for featured themes
        }
        return $themes;
    }
    add_filter("customize_load_themes", "weplugins_conditional_theme_modification", 10, 3);
    

If you need any customization or have trouble using this hook, feel free to Contact Us. Our WePlugins Team is here to help you out.