What is a sidebar? How to set up and use sidebars in WordPress

Sidebar is a very familiar term to anyone who works with WordPress or does create your website. So what exactly is a sidebar and why is it used so widely, and how do you set up and display a sidebar in WordPress? To answer that, let's find out together. MONA Media in the article below.

What is a sidebar?

Sidebar is a part of a website's interface, covering the widgets and themes in WordPress. It is used to show secondary information that is not in the main content. A sidebar is not always a column on the left or right, it can also be a horizontal block below or above the content area, or in the footer, header or anywhere in the theme.

Which sidebar style to use depends on the designer's ideas and the theme. Many WordPress themes support multiple sidebars, also called widget-ready areas.

On a WordPress site, a sidebar plays an important role in the layout, showing content other than the posts in the site's main area. Examples include a short list of articles, recent comments, a list of pages, or popular posts on a site.

A sidebar can also display ads from third-party sites. Users can drag and drop items into the sidebar from Appearance → Widgets in the admin panel. Some WordPress themes come with highly configurable options for building dynamic layouts for different parts of the site. With the drag-and-drop interface, users can add their own sidebars.

What is a widget?

Widgets are small pieces of content built into the side areas of a website, such as the sidebar. Each website can customize widgets to its needs and type, with information like latest news, events, related services or product categories.

Using Widget in WordPress not only makes a website livelier and more engaging, it is also an effective way to guide users to the content you want them to explore further.

How to use a sidebar in WordPress, simply

When managing a website, a sidebar offers many conveniences for site administrators. But not everyone knows how to use a sidebar in WordPress effectively. Follow the simple guide MONA provides below and you can apply it right away.

How to create a sidebar in WordPress

When learning what a sidebar is, you may find that building one looks fairly complicated. Don't worry, the simple steps below show you how to add a sidebar in WordPress quickly and effectively.

For themes that are already activated

If your theme is installed and activated, follow these steps:

Method 1: Create a sidebar with Widgets

• Go to the WordPress admin → Choose Appearance → Choose Widgets.
• When the Widgets screen appears, choose Sidebar to add the widgets you want.

Method 2: Create a sidebar through Customize

• Go to the admin → Choose Appearance → Choose Customize → Choose Widget.
• As above, when the Widgets screen appears, just choose Sidebar to edit.

For themes that are not yet activated

If your theme does not have a sidebar enabled, you will need to register the function register_sidebar. This is a basic function PHP and you will need to know a bit of code to do it. The parameters to pay attention to are:

• Name: The name of the sidebar as shown in the admin.
• ID: The ID of the sidebar (usually lowercase).
• Description: A short description of the sidebar.
• Class: The CSS class assigned to the sidebar.
• Before_Widget: HTML placed before the widget.
• After_Widget: HTML placed after the widget.
• Before_Title: HTML before the widget title.
• After_Title: HTML after the widget title.

If you are new and not familiar with PHP, creating a sidebar yourself can lead to unexpected errors. If you are unsure, get help from professional website design services to make sure everything works smoothly.

How to add content to a sidebar

So how do you add content to a sidebar? First, go to the theme admin (Appearance) -> choose Widget. Next, drag and drop widgets into the sidebar from left to right and edit the content as you like. Don't forget to save when you are done.

WordPress provides some default widgets on the right, but if you want to add custom content, you can use the function get_Sidebar to extend your sidebar's features.

Display a sidebar in WordPress

To display a sidebar after registering it in WordPress, you need to do a few simple things in your theme. There are 2 main ways to do this:

• Method 1: Create the file sidebar.php and insert the sidebar you just created into it. Then use the function dynamic_sidebar to display the sidebar. To make sure the sidebar appears where you want it, don't forget to use the function get_sidebar to insert sidebar.php in the right place in the theme.
• Method 2: Just use the function dynamic_sidebar to place the sidebar where you want it. When using this function, note the only parameter it requires, which can be the Name or ID of the sidebar you created.

*Note: You can use method 1 or method 2, depending on your skill and needs.

Where is the best place for a sidebar?

Because a sidebar can be placed quite flexibly, many people wonder which position suits best. Below, MONA sets out the advantages of each position for you to consider when deciding where to place a sidebar.

• Sidebar on the left: This is a fairly convenient position because most users read from left to right and top to bottom. The sidebar stands out and catches the eye right away, so viewers notice it first.
• Sidebar on the right: This position guides visitors from the main content to small related details. It makes a comfortable environment for taking in information, and is also a good option to consider.

Wherever it goes, each position has its own strengths. Depending on the layout, the design concept and the writer's own intent, you can choose a suitable position to create a distinctive style that still looks natural and gets the information across in the clearest, most memorable way.

>>See also: How to edit the footer in WordPress

What should you watch for when placing a sidebar?

A well-designed, well-arranged sidebar can improve navigation, keep users on the site longer and lift the conversion rate. To get the most out of it, though, think carefully about these points below:

• Set a clear goal: First, be clear about what you want the sidebar to achieve. It could be more traffic, more engagement, a better user experience or higher sales. With a specific goal, choosing the right content and features for the sidebar becomes easier and more effective.
• Choose suitable content: Each type of website has its own sidebar needs. A news site can show featured articles or a table of contents; an e-commerce site should prioritize products on sale or search filters. What matters is arranging content sensibly so users don't feel cluttered.
• Design for harmony: The sidebar should stand out while blending with the overall interface. That takes a balance of colors, sizes and other graphic elements, so it catches the eye without hurting the look of the site.

This article has given you what you need to understand what a sidebar is and how to create and display one in WordPress. It is a useful tool for adjusting website content flexibly, attracting customers and keeping them on your site longer. We hope that, through what is shared by MONA Media you now have a clearer idea of what a sidebar is and can use it on your website effectively.