How to Hide a Category in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide

WooCommerce is a popular e-commerce platform that provides a robust solution for online stores. However, there might be instances where you need to hide specific categories from your store’s front end. Whether it’s to create a more streamlined navigation experience or to manage inventory visibility, hiding categories can be a strategic move. In this guide, we’ll walk you through various methods to hide a category in WooCommerce effectively.

Why Hide a Category in WooCommerce?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s explore some reasons why you might want to hide a category:

• **Organizational purposes**: Keep certain categories visible only to specific user roles.
• **Inventory management**: Temporarily hide out-of-stock categories.
• **Exclusive collections**: Offer special products to select customers.
• **Simplified navigation**: Improve user experience by showing only relevant categories.

Methods to Hide a Category in WooCommerce

1. Using Custom CSS

One of the simplest methods to hide a category is by using custom CSS. Read more about How To Add Product Addons With Woocommerce This approach is ideal for those comfortable with a little bit of coding.

• Navigate to your WordPress dashboard.
• Go to **Appearance > Customize**.
• Click on **Additional CSS**.
• Add the following CSS code:

 .category-123 { display: none; } 

Replace `123` with the actual ID of the category you want to hide. This will hide the category from the front end.

2. Utilizing a Plugin

For those who prefer a more user-friendly approach, using a plugin can be an excellent choice. One popular option is the WooCommerce Catalog Visibility Options plugin.

• Install and activate the WooCommerce Catalog Visibility Options plugin.
• Go to **WooCommerce > Settings**.
• Click on the **Catalog** tab.
• Here, you can choose to hide categories from the catalog.

This plugin provides an intuitive interface to hide categories without any coding.

3. Editing Functions.php

For a more advanced solution, you can add custom code to your theme’s `functions.php` file. This method allows you to hide categories programmatically.

• Access your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to **Appearance > Theme Editor**.
• Open the `functions.php` file.
• Add the following code:

 add_filter('get_terms', 'hide_category_from_shop'); 

function hide_category_from_shop($terms, $taxonomies, $args) {

$new_terms = array();

if ( !is_admin() && in_array( ‘product_cat’, $taxonomies ) && !isset($args[‘include’]) ) {

foreach ( $terms as $term ) {

if ( $term->slug === ‘hidden-category-slug’ ) {

continue;

}

$new_terms[] = $term;

}

$terms = $new_terms;

}

return $terms;

}

Replace `’hidden-category-slug’` with the slug of the category you wish to hide.

4. Restricting Access via User Roles

Sometimes, you may want to hide categories from specific user roles. This can be accomplished using the User Role Editor plugin.

• Install and activate the User Role Editor plugin.
• Go to **Users > User Role Editor**.
• Select the role you want to edit.
• Adjust capabilities to restrict access to certain categories.

This approach is effective for stores that offer exclusive products to certain user groups.

Best Practices for Hiding Categories

• **Backup Your Site**: Before making any changes, ensure you have a full backup of your website.
• **Test Changes**: Always test changes in a staging environment to avoid disrupting your live site.
• **Clear Cache**: After implementing changes, clear your site’s cache to ensure updates are reflected.
• **Regular Updates**: Keep plugins and themes updated to maintain compatibility.

Conclusion

Hiding categories in WooCommerce can enhance your store’s functionality and user experience. Whether you choose to use custom CSS, a plugin, or edit the `functions.php` file, each method offers a unique way to achieve your goals. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively manage category visibility on your WooCommerce store. Remember, the key to a successful e-commerce operation lies in creating a seamless and intuitive shopping experience for your customers.