Display ACF Fields on Your WordPress Frontend


Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is a powerful tool for WordPress developers, offering endless possibilities to customize and display dynamic content. Once you’ve created custom fields with ACF, the next step is displaying them on your WordPress frontend. Properly showcasing these fields allows you to present unique and structured data, enhancing both design and functionality. This guide explains how to display ACF fields on your WordPress frontend effectively, complete with best practices and external resources to streamline your workflow.

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Why Display ACF Fields on the Frontend?

Displaying ACF fields on the frontend of your WordPress site unlocks several advantages:

  • Enhanced Customization: ACF fields allow you to tailor your website to specific needs, such as showcasing product specifications, event details, or user profiles.
  • Improved User Experience: Structured data presentation makes it easier for visitors to find relevant information.
  • Dynamic Content: ACF fields enable you to create templates that pull in unique data dynamically, saving time and effort.

For a comprehensive introduction to ACF, visit the official ACF website.

Preparing to Display ACF Fields

Before you display ACF fields on the frontend, ensure the following:

  1. Install and Activate ACF: You need the ACF plugin installed and activated on your WordPress site. If you haven’t done this yet, download ACF from the WordPress Plugin Repository.
  2. Create and Assign Custom Fields: Use ACF to create custom fields and assign them to posts, pages, or custom post types. Refer to the ACF field group documentation for step-by-step instructions.

Once you’ve set up your custom fields, you’re ready to display them on your WordPress frontend.

Methods to Display ACF Fields on the Frontend

Using PHP in Theme Templates

The most common way to display ACF fields on the frontend is by using PHP in your WordPress theme templates. The two primary functions used for this purpose are get_field() and the_field().

  • get_field(): Retrieves the value of a custom field and allows you to assign it to a variable for further customization.
  • the_field(): Echoes the value of a custom field directly onto the frontend.

Example: Displaying a Single Field

<?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
    <h1><?php the_title(); ?></h1>
    <p>Price: <?php the_field('price'); ?></p>
<?php endwhile; endif; ?>

In this example, the the_field('price') function displays the value of the custom field with the key price.

Displaying Repeater Fields

ACF’s repeater fields allow you to create and display multiple rows of data. For instance, a services page might display a list of features using repeater fields.

Example: Displaying Repeater Fields

<?php if (have_rows('services')) : ?>
    <ul>
        <?php while (have_rows('services')) : the_row(); ?>
            <li><?php the_sub_field('service_name'); ?></li>
        <?php endwhile; ?>
    </ul>
<?php endif; ?>

Learn more about repeater fields.

Conditional Logic for Field Display

Conditional logic ensures that fields are displayed only when they contain data. This prevents empty fields from appearing on your site.

Example: Using Conditional Logic

<?php if (get_field('special_offer')) : ?>
    <p>Special Offer: <?php the_field('special_offer'); ?></p>
<?php endif; ?>

This checks whether the special_offer field contains data before displaying it.

Displaying ACF Fields with Page Builders

If you use page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder, you can display ACF fields without writing code.

  • Elementor: Elementor Pro supports dynamic content, allowing you to pull ACF field values into widgets like text, headings, or images. Follow Elementor’s guide to dynamic content.
  • Beaver Builder: Beaver Builder also supports dynamic content through its modules, enabling seamless ACF integration.

Using page builders simplifies the process of displaying ACF fields, making it accessible for non-developers.

Explore this highly recommended read on How to Build a Custom Settings Page ACF

Advanced Techniques for Displaying ACF Fields

Styling Custom Fields with CSS

Enhance the presentation of ACF fields using custom CSS. For instance, you can style the output of custom fields to match your site’s design.

Example: Adding a Custom Class to a Field

<p class="custom-price"><?php the_field('price'); ?></p>

In your CSS file:

.custom-price {
    font-size: 1.5em;
    color: #0073aa;
}

Displaying Fields with Shortcodes

ACF provides shortcodes for displaying custom fields, which can be useful in the WordPress block editor.

Example: Using Shortcodes

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[acf field="price"]

Shortcodes are a quick way to display fields without modifying theme templates. Learn more about ACF shortcodes.

Common Use Cases for Displaying ACF Fields

E-Commerce Product Pages
Custom fields can display product specifications, FAQs, or compatibility details. For WooCommerce sites, ACF enhances the shopping experience by providing structured and detailed product data. Learn more about ACF and WooCommerce integration.

Event Listings
ACF fields like event dates, locations, and ticket prices can be dynamically displayed on event pages, ensuring visitors have all the necessary information at a glance.

Portfolio Websites
Photographers, designers, and artists can use ACF to showcase project details, client testimonials, and tools used for each portfolio entry.

Testing and Debugging ACF Fields

Testing is essential to ensure that ACF fields display correctly on your WordPress frontend.

  • Enable Debugging: Use WP_DEBUG to catch errors in your PHP code.
  • Test Conditional Logic: Verify that conditional fields display only when they contain data.
  • Check Field Keys: Ensure the field keys in your code match those created in ACF.

For troubleshooting tips, visit ACF’s support resources.

Conclusion

Displaying ACF fields on the frontend of your WordPress site is a powerful way to present dynamic content and enhance user experience. Whether you’re using PHP in theme templates or leveraging page builders like Elementor, ACF provides flexible options for showcasing custom data.

By following best practices—such as using conditional logic, styling fields with CSS, and testing your implementation—you can create professional, functional websites that stand out. For more insights, visit the official ACF documentation.

Start experimenting with ACF fields today and unlock the full potential of your WordPress site!

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