Let’s talk about what the WordPress (blogging) shortcode is. Here’s the definition from WordPress.com, “A shortcode is a WordPress-specific code that lets you do nifty things with very little effort. Shortcodes can embed files or create objects that would normally require lots of complicated, ugly code in just one line. Shortcode = shortcut.”
I think that pretty much says it all. Sometimes shortcodes already display visuals in visual mode, sometimes it does not (you have to look at the preview or publish/update it then you can go and see it in the live environment to see the real result). Let’s look at one example of how a gallery is used:
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- Visual mode: insert gallery
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- Text mode: insert gallery
Also you can use this [clear] code which will help to clear the layout issue. It really helps with some elements that contain float so you need [clear] to free from float items and start back to layout normal again. Here’s an example:
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- Before adding [clear]
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- Result without using [clear]
Now we go ahead and add the shortcode for clear: [clear]
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- Adding [clear]
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- Result, better layout
We have several shortcodes, like Slideshow and columns, and we will talk more about these in the next few posts related to shortcodes.