How to use embed_thumbnail_id filter in WordPress

So, you’re diving into the world of WordPress hooks and stumbled upon the embed_thumbnail_id filter? Well, you’re in the right place! This hook is all about filtering the thumbnail image ID for use in the embed template. And trust me, it’s quite handy! Now, before you get started, remember to register this filter using add_filter. You can do this in your theme’s functions.php or, better yet, in a custom WordPress plugin. This way, you won’t lose your modifications when updating your theme. Let’s jump into some examples to see how you can use this hook!

Example 1: Basic Usage of embed_thumbnail_id

Here’s a basic example of how you can use the embed_thumbnail_id filter. This function modifies the thumbnail ID based on the requirements of your website.

    function weplugins_modify_embed_thumbnail_id_defaults($thumbnail_id) {
        // Update the $thumbnail_id variable according to your website requirements and return this variable.
        return $thumbnail_id;
    }
    // add the filter
    add_filter("embed_thumbnail_id", "weplugins_modify_embed_thumbnail_id_defaults", 10, 1);
    

Example 2: Removing the Filter

If you need to remove a hook callback, you can use the remove_filter function. It’s important to provide the same callback function name, priority, and number of arguments.

    remove_filter("embed_thumbnail_id", "weplugins_modify_embed_thumbnail_id_defaults", 10, 1);
    

Example 3: Conditional Thumbnail ID Modification

This example demonstrates how you can conditionally modify the thumbnail ID. It’s perfect for situations where the thumbnail ID needs to change based on specific conditions.

    function weplugins_conditional_embed_thumbnail_id($thumbnail_id) {
        if (/* some condition */) {
            // Modify the $thumbnail_id as needed
        }
        return $thumbnail_id;
    }
    add_filter("embed_thumbnail_id", "weplugins_conditional_embed_thumbnail_id", 10, 1);
    

Below the 1 parameter is required to use this hook:

• $thumbnail_id: (int|false) Attachment ID, or false if there is none.