How do I add a simple jQuery script to WordPress?

Question

I know what you mean about the tutorials. Here's how I do it:

First you need to write your script. In your theme folder create a folder called something like 'js'. Create a file in that folder for your javascript. E.g. your-script.js. Add your jQuery script to that file (you don't need <script> tags in a .js file).

Here is an example of how your jQuery script (in wp-content/themes/your-theme/js/your-scrript.js) might look:

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
  $('#nav a').last().addClass('last');
})

Notice that I use jQuery and not $ at the start of the function.

Ok, now open your theme's functions.php file. You'll want to use the wp_enqueue_script() function so that you can add your script whilst also telling WordPress that it relies on jQuery. Here's how to do that:

add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'add_my_script' );
function add_my_script() {
    wp_enqueue_script(
        'your-script', // name your script so that you can attach other scripts and de-register, etc.
        get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/your-script.js', // this is the location of your script file
        array('jquery') // this array lists the scripts upon which your script depends
    );
}

Assuming that your theme has wp_head and wp_footer in the right places, this should work. Let me know if you need any more help.

WordPress questions can be asked over at WordPress Answers.

After much searching, I finally found something that works with the latest WordPress. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Find your theme's directory, create a folder in the directory for your custom js (custom_js in this example).
2. Put your custom jQuery in a .js file in this directory (jquery_test.js in this example).

3. Make sure your custom jQuery .js looks like this:

   (function($) {
   $(document).ready(function() {
   $('.your-class').addClass('do-my-bidding');
   })
   })(jQuery);
   

4. Go to the theme's directory, open up functions.php

5. Add some code near the top that looks like this:

   //this goes in functions.php near the top
   function my_scripts_method() {
   // register your script location, dependencies and version
      wp_register_script('custom_script',
      get_template_directory_uri() . '/custom_js/jquery_test.js',
      array('jquery'),
      '1.0' );
    // enqueue the script
     wp_enqueue_script('custom_script');
     }
   add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'my_scripts_method');
   

6. Check out your site to make sure it works!

If you use wordpress child theme for add scripts to your theme, you should change the get_template_directory_uri function to get_stylesheet_directory_uri, for example :

Parent Theme :

add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'add_my_script' );
function add_my_script() {
    wp_register_script(
        'parent-theme-script', 
        get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/your-script.js', 
        array('jquery') 
    );

    wp_enqueue_script('parent-theme-script');
}

Child Theme :

add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'add_my_script' );
function add_my_script() {
    wp_register_script(
       'child-theme-script', 
       get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/js/your-script.js', 
       array('jquery') 
    );

    wp_enqueue_script('child-theme-script');
}

get_template_directory_uri : /your-site/wp-content/themes/parent-theme

get_stylesheet_directory_uri : /your-site/wp-content/themes/child-theme

You can add jQuery or javascript in theme's function.php file. The code is as below :

add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'add_my_script' );

function add_my_script() {
wp_enqueue_script(
    'your_script_name', // your script unique name 
    get_template_directory_uri().'/js/your-script.js', //script file location
    array('jquery') //lists the scripts upon which your script depends
);
}

For more detail visit this tutorial : http://www.codecanal.com/add-simple-jquery-script-wordpress/

Beside putting the script in through functions you can "just" include a link ( a link rel tag that is) in the header, the footer, in any template, where ever. You just need to make sure the path is correct. I suggest using something like this (assuming you are in your theme's directory).

<script type="javascript" href="<?php echo get_template_directory_uri();?>/your-file.js"></script>

A good practice is to include this right before the closing body tag or at least just prior to your footer. You can also use php includes, or several other methods of pulling this file in.

<script type="javascript"><?php include('your-file.js');?></script>

**#Method 1:**Try to put your jquery code in a separate js file.

Now register that script in functions.php file.

function add_my_script() {
    wp_enqueue_script(
      'custom-script', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/your-script-name.js', 
        array('jquery') 
    );
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'add_my_script' );

Now you are done.

Registering script in functions has it benefits as it comes in <head> section when page loads thus it is a part of header.php always. So you don't have to repeat your code each time you write a new html content.

#Method 2: put the script code inside the page body under <script> tag. Then you don't have to register it in functions.