Description
Simple Category List is built for production sites: multiple presets, a clear admin UI, transient-backed term queries, and optional per-shortcode overrides.
Good for: WooCommerce product categories and tags, blog categories, custom post types, any public taxonomy (e.g. product_cat, category, custom taxonomies), hierarchical or flat term lists, and theme builders that support shortcodes.
WordPress.org allows only five plugin tags; related terms above help people find this page in search.
Features
- Multiple lists — each row has a numeric id, a URL slug, and JSON settings (taxonomy, exclude list, default title, design).
- Shortcodes —
[category_list id="2"],[category_list preset="my-slug"], or[category_list](first list). Other attributes override saved defaults. - Front-end design — heading level, colors, spacing, list markers via CSS custom properties on the wrapper.
- Top-level admin menu “Category lists” (dashicon) with All lists and Add new.
- Migration — legacy
nzp_scl_config/nzp_option_namedata is migrated when possible.
Bootstrap files
- Root
index.php— WordPress plugin header, constants,register_activation_hook, andrequireofincludes/bootstrap.php. includes/bootstrap.php— PSR-style autoload, text domain,Pluginbootstrap. Not loadable on its own (guards require WordPress +NZP_CATEGORY_LIST_LOADED).
Support
💬 Need Help?
If you have any issues, we’re here for you.
🔹 WordPress Support Forum: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/categorylist/
🔹 Direct Support: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nziniwal/
💖 Support This Plugin
If you find this plugin useful, consider supporting development:
👉 Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/5PPDH7K9MZSNG
Your support helps us improve and add new features!
Screenshots
Category lists — table of lists and shortcodes. 
Add / Edit list — shortcode defaults and design. 
Installation
- Upload the
categorylistfolder to/wp-content/plugins/(or ZIP via Plugins Add New Upload). - Activate Simple Category List.
- If you upgraded from a build that used
category_list.phpas the main file, deactivate and activate the plugin once so WordPress loadsindex.php. - Go to Category lists, create lists, copy shortcodes.
Translations: place wp-categorylist-show-{locale}.mo files in the languages/ folder (same folder name as the Text Domain). A blank languages/index.php ships to block direct directory access.
FAQ
-
Where is data stored?
-
Table
{prefix}nzp_scl_presets(columns: id, name, slug, payload JSON, sort_order). Legacynzp_scl_configis migrated and removed when present. -
How does the shortcode choose a list?
-
id— database id of the listpreset— slug of the list- Neither — first list by sort order / id
-
How do I add a Documentation link on the Plugins screen?
-
add_filter( ‘nzp_scl_docs_url’, function() { return ‘https://example.com/docs’; } );
Reviews
Contributors & Developers
“Simple Category List” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “Simple Category List” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
2.1.3
- Security: autoload path containment, preset JSON size cap (save + load), admin save uses
check_admin_referer, delete handler verifies nonce after resolving id, admin assets only formanage_options, no-op if plugin bootstrap is included twice.
2.1.2
languages/index.phpplaceholder for safe emptylanguages/directory.- Plugins screen: optional Documentation link via filter
nzp_scl_docs_url(plugin row meta).
2.1.1
- Single entry file: root
index.phponly (removedcategory_list.phpandnzp-simple-category-list.php). Runtime lives inincludes/bootstrap.php. - Plugins screen: “Manage lists” and related action links when configured.
- Plugin headers:
Requires at least,Requires PHP,License URI. - Readme: installation, file layout.
2.1.0
- Multiple presets,
nzp_scl_presetstable, top-level admin menu,id/presetshortcode attributes.
2.0.0
- Custom table storage, OOP layout, design tokens.
1.6.1
- Modular includes, transient cache fixes.