Description
Slim Language Switcher helps you present the same content in multiple languages without replacing WordPress’s own language files.
Add the languages you support, assign a default URL to each one, then optionally override those URLs on posts, pages, products, and terms. The plugin outputs a language switcher (shortcode or block) and can print hreflang tags plus JSON-LD for search engines.
Features
- Language directory stored in WordPress options (no custom database tables)
- Light, dark, and auto themes with editable color palettes
- Dropdown, list, and inline layouts
- Live appearance designer with a copyable shortcode
- Language Switcher block with layout and theme controls
- Alternate URL fields on posts, pages, public post types, and public taxonomies
- Optional WooCommerce shop, product category, and product tag support
- Optional hreflang and JSON-LD output
This plugin does not translate content automatically. Pair it with translated pages or a separate translation workflow.
Developer Notes
Render the switcher in a theme:
echo slim_language_switcher_get_switcher( array( 'layout' => 'dropdown', 'theme' => 'auto' ) );
CSS custom properties used by the switcher:
--mlmgr-bg--mlmgr-text--mlmgr-border--mlmgr-hover-bg--mlmgr-hover-text--mlmgr-accent--mlmgr-radius--mlmgr-font-size
Post and term meta key for alternate URLs: _slim_language_switcher_urls.
Screenshots
Blocks
This plugin provides 1 block.
- Language Switcher Display a customizable language switcher.
Installation
- Upload the
slim-language-switcherfolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory, or install the plugin from the WordPress plugins screen. - Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen.
- Open Slim Language Switcher Languages and add your languages.
- Style the switcher under Appearance, then place it with the shortcode, the Language Switcher block, or the PHP helper.
FAQ
-
How do I display the switcher?
-
Use the shortcode
[slim_language_switcher], insert the Language Switcher block, or callslim_language_switcher_get_switcher()in a theme template. -
What shortcode attributes are available?
-
layout (
dropdown,list,inline),theme(light,dark,auto),flags(yesorno), andnames(yesorno). Omit an attribute to inherit the value saved in Appearance. -
Does the plugin translate my site?
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No. It stores language metadata and alternate URLs, then helps visitors move between those URLs.
-
What happens when I delete the plugin?
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By default all plugin data is removed. Enable Keep languages, settings, and alternate URLs if the plugin is deleted in Settings if you want to preserve them.
Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
Contributors & Developers
“Slim Language Switcher – Multilingual Manager with hreflang SEO Tags” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “Slim Language Switcher – Multilingual Manager with hreflang SEO Tags” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.1.2
- Updated the directory title and plugin homepage URL.
1.1.1
- Distinctive Slim Language Switcher name and slug.
- Hardened HTML escaping for switcher and flag output.
1.0.0
- Initial release.