How to create a widgetized sidebar for every category dynamically?

1 comment

1. Not a good thing if you have a lot of categories, so be careful!

   First, add the following function in functions.php:

   add_action( 'widgets_init', 'generate_widget_areas' );
   
   function generate_widget_areas() {
   
   //Do not create for uncategorized category
   $terms = get_categories('exclude=1&hide_empty=0'); 
   
   foreach ($terms as $term) {
      register_sidebar( array(
       'name' => 'Category '.$term->name,
       'id' => $term->slug.'-widget-area',
       'description' => 'Widget area for category and posts in '.$term->name,
       'before_widget' => '<li id="%1$s" class="widget-container %2$s">',
       'after_widget' => '</li>',
       'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',
       'after_title' => '</h3>'    ) );
     }
   }
   

   This is enough, now in Widgets you have a widget area for every category. Now you have to show the area for the category. I like to display the area for categories listings (categories posts listings) and the same area for posts using the category as well (single posts pages).

   In sidebar.php, add:

   <?php if (is_category() ||is_archive()||is_single()) : ?>
   <div id="categories" class="widget-area" role="complementary">
   <ul class="xoxo">
     <?php
      $category = get_the_category();
      if (in_category($category[0]->slug) || is_category($category[0]->slug)){
           dynamic_sidebar( $category[0]->slug.'-widget-area' );
       };
      ?>
   </ul>
   </div><!-- #categories .widget-area -->
   <?php endif; ?>
   

   That’s all, I bet someone can came up with a better code, by now this does the trick.

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