Title: Enqueuing js properly
Last modified: March 23, 2021

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# Enqueuing js properly

 *  [jkepler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkepler/)
 * (@jkepler)
 * [5 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enqueuing-js-properly/)
 * Good evening
 * I usually don’t have problems with the plugins I develop, but I have actually
   a doubt related to the proper way to insert javascript (or css) in a plugin.
 * I have a plugin that when the shortcode is called, loads a pre-existant php file(
   with html, php and javascript code, etc.) that must by itself call js files (
   most can be called directly with their url because they are fully customized 
   for that script only) and outputs it to the place of the shortcode. The question
   is, how to enqueue jquery.js, or moment.js or even a customized one.
 * If I want to load a js file with wp_enqueue_script(), do I do this directly in
   the pre-existant php page (that will be outputted by the shortcode routine), 
   or in the plugin file? I made some tests, and I get errors, from jquery or moment
   problems, to having the libraries loaded at the end of the php code.
 * What is the proper way to do this? What do I place on the plugin php file, and
   what do I put in the php custom file called by the shortcode?
    Can someone give
   me a small example?
 * Thanks for the help.
 * Best regards
 * JKepler

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/)
 * (@bcworkz)
 * [5 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enqueuing-js-properly/#post-14231121)
 * I think you may be enqueuing too late. It must be done before the “wp_print_scripts”
   action, or maybe a bit earlier. Generally before any output occurs would be a
   good idea. It can be difficult for a plugin to know whether their script will
   be needed for a particular page or not. Many plugins simply enqueue their script
   for all front end requests so they’re covered no matter what.
 * As a site owner, I find this practice annoying, but understandable. I often add
   code to dequeue scripts except where actually needed. It does cause problems 
   with future maintenance sometimes. Anyway, it’s my problem, not the plugin dev’s.
 * Generally speaking, specifying `['jquery']` as a dependency when you enqueue 
   your script is enough to get jQuery loaded. Similar for moment.js if it has already
   been registered. If this existant .php file is loaded from a shortcode I don’t
   see how it can be early enough to enqueue at that point, so I don’t think you
   have much choice but to enqueue from your plugin code.
 *  Thread Starter [jkepler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkepler/)
 * (@jkepler)
 * [5 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enqueuing-js-properly/#post-14238732)
 * Hi bcwork
 * Thank you very much for your reply.
 * So, you are saying that the best solution is to write the directive – for example–**
   wp_enqueue_script(“my_js”, path_to_my_js, array( ‘jquery’),false,false)** (already
   calling jquery) in the php file that I am loading in the shortcode?
 * Best regards
 * JKepler
    -  This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by [jkepler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkepler/).
 *  Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/)
 * (@bcworkz)
 * [5 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enqueuing-js-properly/#post-14240165)
 * Your enqueue code is what I meant, but you cannot enqueue from a shortcode handler,
   directly or via included file, it’ll be too late. You’d best enqueue from “wp_enqueue_scripts”
   callback, added from your main plugin file.
 *  Thread Starter [jkepler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jkepler/)
 * (@jkepler)
 * [5 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enqueuing-js-properly/#post-14240249)
 * Good afternoon,
 * Ok, so I place the “wp_enqueue_scripts” callback (enqueuing the js scripts) in
   the main plugin file, and nothing on the php to be loaded, correct?
 * I believe that I did not try this option.
 * Best regards
 * JKepler
 *  Moderator [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/)
 * (@bcworkz)
 * [5 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enqueuing-js-properly/#post-14243160)
 * Well, assuming the PHP file requested loads the WP environment, your plugin’s
   code always gets evaluated when the WP environment is loaded. Thus the JS is 
   enqueued with every front end request.
 * Without the WP environment, enqueuing won’t work at all and you can simply output
   script tags with src attributes in the page’s head section.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Enqueuing js properly’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [css](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/css/)
 * [enqueue](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/enqueue/)
 * [javascript](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/javascript/)
 * [jquery](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/jquery/)
 * [script](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/script/)
 * [wp_enqueue_script](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/wp_enqueue_script/)

 * In: [Developing with WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/wp-advanced/)
 * 5 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [bcworkz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bcworkz/)
 * Last activity: [5 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enqueuing-js-properly/#post-14243160)
 * Status: not a support question

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