WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) that powers over 40% of websites on the internet. One of the essential features of WordPress is its ability to allow users to comment on blog posts, pages, and other types of content. Comments can be an excellent way to interact with your readers and build a community around your website. In this article, we will discuss how to display the total number of comments in WordPress.
By default, WordPress displays the number of comments for each post or page. However, it doesn’t provide an option to display the total number of comments on your website. Fortunately, there are a few ways to do this.
Using a Plugin
The easiest way to display the total number of comments in WordPress is by using a plugin. There are several plugins available that can help you achieve this. One of the most popular plugins is “WP-Statistics” that provides detailed statistics for your website, including the number of comments.
To use this plugin, you need to install and activate it on your WordPress site. Once activated, go to the “Statistics” tab in your WordPress dashboard and select “Comments” from the drop-down menu. You will see the total number of comments on your website, along with other statistics.
Using Code
If you prefer not to use a plugin, you can display the total number of comments in WordPress by adding a code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file. Here’s the code you need to use:
function total_comments() {
$total_comments = get_comment_count();
return $total_comments['approved'];
}
Once you’ve added this code to your functions.php file, you can use the following shortcode to display the total number of comments anywhere on your website:
[total_comments]
Conclusion
Displaying the total number of comments on your website can be a great way to showcase your website’s engagement and build trust with your readers. You can either use a plugin or add a code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file to display the total number of comments. Whichever method you choose, it’s a simple process that can be completed quickly. Try it out today and see the impact it has on your website!
Things To Consider When Displaying The Total Number Of Comments In WordPress
Here are some things to consider when displaying the total number of comments in WordPress:
User experience: While it’s essential to showcase the total number of comments, you should consider the impact it has on the user experience. Adding too much information can make your website cluttered and overwhelming, so ensure that you display it in a way that doesn’t interfere with the user experience.
Website speed: Displaying the total number of comments can affect your website’s speed, especially if you’re using a plugin. Make sure to test your website’s speed after implementing this feature to ensure that it doesn’t slow down your website.
Spam comments: When displaying the total number of comments, it’s crucial to ensure that it only includes approved comments and not spam comments. Spam comments can negatively impact the user experience and damage your website’s reputation, so make sure to exclude them from the total count.
Theme compatibility: The code snippet provided in this article works for most themes. However, some themes may use different functions or have a different structure, so make sure to test the code snippet on your website before implementing it.
By considering these factors, you can ensure that displaying the total number of comments on your website is a positive addition that improves your website’s user experience and engagement.
