Title: Functions.php or theme functions.php
Last modified: March 14, 2023

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# Functions.php or theme functions.php

 *  [EndlessRange](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rhenium3/)
 * (@rhenium3)
 * [3 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functions-php-or-theme-functions-php/)
 * I tried looking in documentations and descriptions and couldn’t find anything.
 * Are front end ones only the theme functions.php and are backend the main wordpress
   functions.php? Or does this free plugin only work on the theme functions.php?

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Shea Bunge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bungeshea/)
 * (@bungeshea)
 * [3 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functions-php-or-theme-functions-php/#post-16557369)
 * Hi [@rhenium3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rhenium3/),
 * We only use the term ‘functions.php’ as an example for how snippets work. They
   are not actually added to any file, instead they are executed separately _as 
   if_ they were in one of those files.
 * The difference between the front-end and back-end scopes is that the back-end
   snippets only run in the WordPress administration dashboard, and the front-end
   snippets run everywhere else.
 *  Thread Starter [EndlessRange](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rhenium3/)
 * (@rhenium3)
 * [3 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functions-php-or-theme-functions-php/#post-16558178)
 * Hi Shea,
   I didn’t set up this plugin. How do I know if they are functions that
   should go into a child theme or a plugin? Is there a rule of thumb? We are moving
   away from editing via the dashboard.
 *  Plugin Author [Shea Bunge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bungeshea/)
 * (@bungeshea)
 * [3 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functions-php-or-theme-functions-php/#post-16558286)
 * Hi [@rhenium3](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rhenium3/),
 * Regardless of whether the functions snippet is intended for a child theme or 
   a plugin, they can be added as a snippet in this plugin.
 * The only key distinction is:
    - Functions snippet: PHP code, performs an action (normally used in plugins 
      or functions.php files)
    - Content snippet: mixed HTML and PHP code, produces output (can be used anywhere)

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘Functions.php or theme functions.php’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Shea Bunge](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bungeshea/)
 * Last activity: [3 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/functions-php-or-theme-functions-php/#post-16558286)
 * Status: not a support question