Title: Create Plugin/Widget or not Last modified: February 27, 2018 --- # Create Plugin/Widget or not * [chz516](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chz516/) * (@chz516) * [8 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-plugin-widget-or-not/) * Hi All, * I am just starting with a widget/plugin and realized I am confused on two fronts, so I am hoping someone can shed some light. * I have a separate site (not WP) that has user-generated content (posts). I want to create a way for WP users to include this content. I have developed a widget on the site and it uses three code snippets, as many widgets do: * 1) script tag to go in the header with link to external js 2) script tag to go in body to call function from the external js (there can be multiple of these and the result would just be multiple posts shown as widgets) 3) script tag to go after body for some final loading * So it looks like this: * ``` ``` * So you can see that I load the head.js and bottom.js once, but may have more than one script in the body. * The code is generated on the site and, if someone does not use WP, this would be what they user. I would look to leverage this in a WP widget. * So my two points of confusion are: * 1) Do I first need a plugin in order to have widgets? There could be multiple widgets (pointing to different posts) on various pages. Because of this, dont think a plugin is the correct option as that would be one instance per site. If that is correct, is a plugin needed as the foundation for the widget? I am looking to make this as easy for users. * 2) Is it easier/better to just have WP users use the same widget. I know we can add javascript, but is it as convenient as a widget from the console? * Any thoughts are appreciated as my head is spinning from research - This topic was modified 8 years, 2 months ago by [chz516](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chz516/). - This topic was modified 8 years, 2 months ago by [chz516](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chz516/). Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total) * Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/) * (@bcworkz) * [8 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-plugin-widget-or-not/#post-10022106) * To add widgets, you need to add your custom code somewhere. Your only two choices in WP are either plugins or themes. There is a sub-option of a sort for themes. Your widget code can be part of a child theme. A child theme is great for modifying a packaged theme that will occasionally be updated. If you were to directly alter a theme, its update will overwrite your efforts. Not so with a child theme. A child theme essentially tells WP “Use this other packaged theme, but apply these custom changes.” * If you will be altering theme templates, a child theme is the best option, but a child theme ties you to a specific parent theme. If you want your code applied to a site regardless of the theme used, a plugin is your best option. * Neither option needs to be very complicated, the needed boiler plate is minimal. Contrast that with a fully developed stand alone theme, which has quite a few requirements that must be met. * I’m not sure why you think a plugin would be a poor choice. It’s not a problem having multiple widgets. Users can pick whichever they want and drag it into a widget area offered by their theme. Even if you were to implement a JavaScript solution, you would need one module or the other to cause the script reference to be added onto a page or post. From your description, it sounds to me like you should be using a plugin to add your widgets. * Thread Starter [chz516](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chz516/) * (@chz516) * [8 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-plugin-widget-or-not/#post-10022461) * Well, its not that I think a plugin would be a poor choice so much as I think I am still a little confused between a plugin and widget. * My understanding is that a plugin adds to the functionality of the site at the site level. And that a widget is more localized. * So, if I am correct, then my assumption is that I need a plugin to be able to add my widgets. The plugin would be responsible for putting the js scripts at the top and bottom of the page and the widget would be the code that calls the js functions. * But maybe I am still confused (and I dont even want to think about themes–that is an entirely new level of confusion 🙂 * I guess what I wonder is, is a WP plugin/widget needed. In other words, if I gave you the snippets of code above (the original post) would you easily be able to add them to your WP page? I know that if a site is not WP, its very easy. Just open the HTML page, paste the code where you need it, and all set. If it is just as easy in a WP site, is the widget needed. * And, I agree that a boilerplate setup would probably work in my case because it is fully coded already. All the js functions, css, etc are all ready to go. Its really just a matter of leveraging that code and adhering to the WP guidelines. * So if a WP plugin/widget is the way to go I dont think it would be hard to do, Im just still a bit confused as to WHAT to do. * Thread Starter [chz516](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chz516/) * (@chz516) * [8 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-plugin-widget-or-not/#post-10024511) * Ok, just creating an example helps to make sense of this all (as expected) but one thing that has been driving me crazy for hours, how do I add an inline script? * I have enqued the header and bottom scripts, but the middle script, the inline one, needs to be in the body–at the location where the widget is placed. * ``` ``` * I figured it is is “wp_add_inline_script” but that only seems to add lines to an existing registered script (such as header or bottom) * The header script loads all the functions, now they just need to be called with some parameters. * If I simply, wanted to add this to the widget: `` * How would that be done? Does a js file need to be created and registered for any inline js? - This reply was modified 8 years, 2 months ago by [chz516](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chz516/). * Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/) * (@bcworkz) * [8 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-plugin-widget-or-not/#post-10025603) * Plugin vs. widget is not an either/or proposition. A widget is an UI device that requires some underlying code. A plugin is one type of code container for WP. Widget code has to go somewhere. A plugin is as good as any for the most part. A child theme is another good container in some circumstances. Either one can contain widget code. * The formal way to add JavaScript to a WP page is to register an external .js file with wp_register_script(), then enqueue it with wp_enqueue_script(). (If you don’t need to reference the script in other functions, you can enqueue without registering). You are correct that wp_add_inline_script() requires a registered script, it’s not adequate on it’s own. The biggest advantage of this process is WP can resolve various dependencies so that all script references are output in the proper order. It’s clearly way too complicated for something really simple like a Hello World alert. * There are a couple shortcuts you can do for simple scripts. Using these can cause problems and conflicts if used for more complex situations. The simplest shortcut is to simply output your JS on a page somewhere. It can even be within post content as long as it’s within