Shortcode Usage

Overview

The primary feature of this snippet is the [user_role] shortcode. This shortcode dynamically retrieves the WordPress role of the currently logged-in user and displays it as plain text on the frontend. If a guest (non-logged-in user) visits the page, the shortcode will return an empty string by default.

Basic Usage

To display the current user's role, insert the following shortcode into any content area:

[user_role]

In the Block Editor (Gutenberg)

1. Open the Page or Post editor.
2. Click the + icon to add a new block.
3. Search for the Shortcode block.
4. Type [user_role] into the text field.
5. Save or Update the page.

In the Classic Editor

1. Open the Post or Page editor.
2. Switch to the Visual or Text tab.
3. Paste [user_role] directly into the content area where you want the role to appear.

In Widgets

You can display the user role in sidebars or footers:

1. Navigate to Appearance > Widgets.
2. Add a Shortcode block or a Text widget to your desired sidebar.
3. Enter [user_role] and save.

Technical Examples

Usage within Text

You can wrap the shortcode with your own text to create personalized messages:

You are currently logged in as: [user_role]

Expected Output: "You are currently logged in as: administrator"

Using in PHP Templates

If you are a developer and need to display the user role directly within your theme's template files (e.g., header.php or author.php), use the do_shortcode function:

<?php echo do_shortcode('[user_role]'); ?>

Output Details

• Output Type: String.
• Case Sensitivity: The role slug is typically returned in lowercase (e.g., administrator, editor, subscriber, author), as defined by WordPress core.
• Empty State: If the visitor is not logged in, the shortcode produces no visible output, ensuring the layout remains clean for guest users.