How to use media_buttons_context filter in WordPress

As an Indian developer, I totally get how important it is to dive deep into WordPress hooks. They’re like the secret ingredients that can make your site truly unique. Today, we’re chatting about the media_buttons_context filter. Though you might want to use the ‘media_buttons’ action instead, let’s explore how this filter works and how you can put it to good use.

To get started with the media_buttons_context filter, you’ll need to register it using add_filter. This can be done in your theme’s functions.php or, better yet, in a custom WordPress Plugin. Over at WePlugins, we always recommend creating a custom plugin to ensure your changes stay intact even after theme updates.

Example 1: Modifying Media Buttons Context

In this example, we define a function called weplugins_modify_media_buttons_context_defaults that modifies the media buttons context. We register it using add_filter.

        function weplugins_modify_media_buttons_context_defaults($string) {
            // Customize the $string variable as needed for your site.
            return $string;
        }
        // Add the filter
        add_filter("media_buttons_context", "weplugins_modify_media_buttons_context_defaults", 10, 1);
        

Example 2: Removing a Hook Callback

If you need to remove a registered hook, you can use remove_filter. Below is an example of how to remove our previously registered function.

        // Remove the filter
        remove_filter("media_buttons_context", "weplugins_modify_media_buttons_context_defaults", 10, 1);
        

Example 3: Conditional Media Buttons Context

Here’s how you can conditionally change the media buttons context based on specific conditions.

        function weplugins_conditional_media_buttons_context($string) {
            if (is_admin()) {
                // Change context if in the admin area
                $string .= " - Admin Area";
            }
            return $string;
        }
        add_filter("media_buttons_context", "weplugins_conditional_media_buttons_context", 10, 1);
        

Note: Always ensure you provide the same callback function name, priority, and number of arguments when removing a hook callback.