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WordPress WordPress Theme Development Building Out WordPress Navigation The wp_nav_menu Function

Posted by fabrciojardimferreira
fabrciojardimferreira
8,100 Points

Why this _() function was used instead of just entering the string?

Taking this code as example:

function register_theme_menus() {
  register_nav_menus(
    array(
      'primary-menu' => _('Primary Menu')
    )
  );
}

Why use _() instead of just entering the string? According to the Wordpress Codex all it do is take a string and return it back.

function _($string) {
    return $string;
}

1 Answer

Malte Zwillus
Malte Zwillus
9,448 Points
Malte Zwillus
Malte Zwillus
9,448 Points

Hey Fabrício,

this is for making strings translatable. Every string that is inside of a translation function ( e.g. __(), _x() ... ) can be translated through a translation file. You can find more information here: https://codex.wordpress.org/I18n_for_WordPress_Developers

Regards Malte

fabrciojardimferreira
fabrciojardimferreira
8,100 Points

Thank you.