Allow HTML in Category Descriptions

Description

When you add text to the category description textarea and save the category, WordPress runs content filters that strips out all but the most basic formatting tags.

This plugin disables those filters for roles with the necessary permissions. Any html code you add to the category description will not be stripped out.

This plugin does not do anything other than disable the filters. It does not protect you from entering invalid HTML, nor does it help you create WYSIWYG HTML. You can use the post or page composing screen to help you create the text and formatting. Switch to the ‘code’ tab and copy the HTML code into the category description field.

Screenshots

Installation

1. Upload html-in-category-descriptions.php to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory
2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
3. Paste or type HTML code in the category description and save (Refer to “The category description isn’t saving. Why?” in the FAQ if you’re having problems saving)
4. Enjoy HTML in your category descriptions (Refer to “I see the HTML in the admin panel preview, but not on my website. Why?” in the FAQ if the HTML isn’t appearing on your website)

FAQ

The category description isn’t saving. Why?

1. For security reasons, the role that you’re using to edit the description needs to have the “unfiltered_html” capability
2. In single site installations, Administrators and Editors has this capability by default; in a multisite installation, only Super Admins have this capability
3. Refer to WordPress Roles and Capabilities

I see the HTML in the admin panel preview, but not on my website. Why?

1. For the HTML to show up on your website, the theme you’re using needs to output the category description
2. Contact your theme developer and refer them to WordPress Developer Documentation – category_description

How do I contact you?

1. Email Address: [email protected]
2. Subject Line: Question: WordPress Plugin: Allow HTML in Category Descriptions
3. Donations: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SGS5KSM9N4D3Y

Reviews

Work well with WordPress 6

Nicolas Reznikoff September 21, 2022

Work well with Wordpress 6, tested version 6.0.2 and no errors in the logs. Html filters are perfectly disabled on the category description. For example, now the addition of parameters and properties on the links are possible. < a href=”./?order=alpha” class=”aa”>Order< /a> —

Simple et efficace

dmsr July 22, 2022 1 reply

Très pratique et fort utile!

Also works for WooCommerce product categories

billcv May 7, 2022 1 reply

I have had HTML in my product category descriptions for years. Every new Wordpress release seems to break long-standing features, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when I edited a product category and found the HTML stripped out. I took a look at what this plugin does and thought it would probably fix the problem and, indeed, it does. Thanks!

Perfekt!

Jan February 14, 2021 1 reply

Vielen Dank ??

EXACTLY what I want

iainlaird July 6, 2020 1 reply

This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for for 3 months. Thank you so much. Now I can actually make my links LOOK like links on my category pages.

Simple, straightforward

twoforksandapassport July 1, 2020 1 reply

A ridiculously simple plugin that does what it says and then opens up a world of possibilities! Recommended all the way!

Contributors & Developers

Changelog

1.2.4

• Update tested wordpress versions to 6.4.3

1.2.3

• Change the plugin initialisation after the previous security update went out in a bit of a rush.

1.2.2

• Address a security vulnerability

1.2.1.1

• Add a text domain for translation purposes

1.2.1

• Minor formatting of the plugin code, syntax, etc.
• Added a banner image for the plugin page

1.2

• A version bump to indicate to WordPress that the plugin was reviewed and tested in the latest version of WordPress
• Made sure that the pre_filters array had corresponding items in the filters array
• Added a donation link

1.1

• Added a filter array for the textareas admin displays

1.0

• First release into the wild after helping someone on a forum post