Why Shortcodes are Still Showing Up

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 138 views

Discussion Category: PHP, Shortcode, Excerpt

Problem Statement: Shortcodes are showing in the excerpts on your website, despite the fact that WordPress should remove them automatically. You have tried two different solutions, but the issue persists.

Understanding the Issue

In WordPress, shortcodes are used to add dynamic content to your posts and pages. However, when you display excerpts of your content, you might not want the shortcodes to be visible. To resolve this issue, WordPress provides a function called strip_shortcodes(), which is supposed to remove shortcodes from the excerpt. However, in your case, the shortcodes are still showing up, and you're not sure why.

Solution 1: Using the strip_shortcodes Function

One of the solutions you've tried is to use the strip_shortcodes() function directly in your code. This function takes the excerpt as an argument and returns the excerpt with the shortcodes removed. Here's an example of how you might use this function:

function remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt($excerpt) {
    return strip_shortcodes($excerpt);
}

However, this solution might not work as expected, especially if you're using a custom excerpt function or a plugin that modifies the excerpt output.

Solution 2: Using the get_the_excerpt Function

Another solution you've tried is to use the get_the_excerpt() function, which is a WordPress function that returns the excerpt of a post. This function also takes an argument, which is the post ID. Here's an example of how you might use this function:

function get_excerpt_with_shortcodes_removed($post_id) {
    $excerpt = get_the_excerpt($post_id);
    return strip_shortcodes($excerpt);
}

However, this solution might also have its limitations, especially if you're using a custom excerpt function or a plugin that modifies the excerpt output.

Why Shortcodes are Still Showing Up

So, why are shortcodes still showing up in your excerpts despite using the strip_shortcodes() function? There could be several reasons for this:

Custom excerpt function: If you're using a custom excerpt function, it might be overriding the default strip_shortcodes() function.
Plugin modifications: If you're using a plugin that modifies the excerpt output, it might be causing the shortcodes to show up.
Theme modifications: If your theme is modifying the excerpt output, it might be causing the shortcodes to show up.

Debugging the Issue

To debug this issue, you can try the following:

Check your custom excerpt function: Make sure that your custom excerpt function is not overriding the default strip_shortcodes() function.
Check your plugins: Make sure that none of your plugins are modifying the excerpt output.
Check your theme: Make sure that your theme is not modifying the excerpt output.
Use the debug function: You can use the debug_backtrace() function to see where the strip_shortcodes() function is being called from.

Conclusion

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks that might help you resolve this issue:

Use the apply_filters() function: You can use the apply_filters() function to apply the strip_shortcodes() function to the excerpt output.
Use the add_filter() function: You can use the add_filter() function to add a custom filter that removes shortcodes from the excerpt output.
Use a plugin: There are several plugins available that can help you remove shortcodes from the excerpt output.

Example Use Cases

Here are some example use cases that demonstrate how to use the strip_shortcodes() function to remove shortcodes from the excerpt output:

Removing shortcodes from a custom excerpt function:

function custom_excerpt($post_id) {
    $excerpt = get_the_excerpt($post_id);
    return strip_shortcodes($excerpt);
}

Removing shortcodes from a plugin that modifies the excerpt output:

function remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt($excerpt) {
    return strip_shortcodes($excerpt);
}
add_filter('the_excerpt', 'remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt');

Removing shortcodes from a theme that modifies the excerpt output:

function remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt($excerpt) {
    return strip_shortcodes($excerpt);
}
add_filter('the_excerpt', 'remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt');

Final Thoughts

Discussion Category: PHP, Shortcode, Excerpt

Q&A Session

Q: What are shortcodes and why are they showing up in my excerpts? A: Shortcodes are used to add dynamic content to your posts and pages in WordPress. They are usually enclosed in square brackets and can be used to add images, videos, and other types of content. If shortcodes are showing up in your excerpts, it's likely because the strip_shortcodes() function is not being applied correctly.

Q: What is the strip_shortcodes() function and how does it work? A: The strip_shortcodes() function is a WordPress function that removes shortcodes from a given string. It takes a string as an argument and returns the string with all shortcodes removed. However, if the function is not applied correctly, shortcodes may still show up in your excerpts.

Q: Why is the strip_shortcodes() function not working for me? A: There could be several reasons why the strip_shortcodes() function is not working for you. Some possible causes include:

Custom excerpt function: If you're using a custom excerpt function, it might be overriding the default strip_shortcodes() function.
Plugin modifications: If you're using a plugin that modifies the excerpt output, it might be causing the shortcodes to show up.
Theme modifications: If your theme is modifying the excerpt output, it might be causing the shortcodes to show up.

Q: How can I debug the issue and find the cause of the problem? A: To debug the issue, you can try the following:

Check your custom excerpt function: Make sure that your custom excerpt function is not overriding the default strip_shortcodes() function.
Check your plugins: Make sure that none of your plugins are modifying the excerpt output.
Check your theme: Make sure that your theme is not modifying the excerpt output.
Use the debug function: You can use the debug_backtrace() function to see where the strip_shortcodes() function is being called from.

Q: What are some additional tips and tricks that can help me resolve this issue? A: Here are some additional tips and tricks that might help you resolve this issue:

Use the apply_filters() function: You can use the apply_filters() function to apply the strip_shortcodes() function to the excerpt output.
Use the add_filter() function: You can use the add_filter() function to add a custom filter that removes shortcodes from the excerpt output.
Use a plugin: There are several plugins available that can help you remove shortcodes from the excerpt output.

Q: Can you provide some example use cases that demonstrate how to use the strip_shortcodes() function to remove shortcodes from the excerpt output? A: Here are some example use cases that demonstrate how to use the strip_shortcodes() function to remove shortcodes from the excerpt output:

Removing shortcodes from a custom excerpt function:

function custom_excerpt($post_id) {
    $excerpt = get_the_excerpt($post_id);
    return strip_shortcodes($excerpt);
}

Removing shortcodes from a plugin that modifies the excerpt output:

function remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt($excerpt) {
    return strip_shortcodes($excerpt);
}
add_filter('the_excerpt', 'remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt');

Removing shortcodes from a theme that modifies the excerpt output:

function remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt($excerpt) {
    return strip_shortcodes($excerpt);
}
add_filter('the_excerpt', 'remove_shortcodes_from_excerpt');

Q: What are some common mistakes that people make when trying to remove shortcodes from the excerpt output? A: Here are some common mistakes that people make when trying to remove shortcodes from the excerpt output:

Not using the strip_shortcodes() function correctly: Make sure to use the strip_shortcodes() function correctly and apply it to the excerpt output.
Not checking for custom excerpt functions: Make sure to check for custom excerpt functions that might be overriding the default strip_shortcodes() function.
Not checking for plugin modifications: Make sure to check for plugin modifications that might be causing the shortcodes to show up.
Not checking for theme modifications: Make sure to check for theme modifications that might be causing the shortcodes to show up.

Conclusion

In conclusion, shortcodes showing up in excerpts despite using the strip_shortcodes() function can be a frustrating issue. However, by understanding the possible causes and using the debugging techniques outlined above, you should be able to resolve this issue and get the desired output. Remember to use the apply_filters() function, the add_filter() function, and plugins to help you remove shortcodes from the excerpt output.