Advanced Custom Fields plugin in Wordpress - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the main purpose of the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin in WordPress?

ACF allows you to add custom fields to WordPress posts, pages, and custom post types easily, so you can store and display extra information beyond the default content.

beginner

How do you display a custom field value created with ACF in a WordPress theme template?

Use the PHP function the_field('field_name'); inside the template file to show the value of the custom field named 'field_name'.

intermediate

What is a Field Group in ACF?

A Field Group is a collection of custom fields that you create and assign to appear together on specific edit screens in WordPress, like posts or pages.

intermediate

Explain the difference between get_field() and the_field() functions in ACF.

get_field() returns the value of a custom field so you can use it in your code, while the_field() directly prints the value to the page.

advanced

How can you make a custom field appear only on posts of a specific category using ACF?

In the Field Group settings, use the Location Rules to set the field group to show only if the post is in the chosen category.

Which ACF function would you use to get a custom field value without printing it?

A get_field()

B the_field()

C have_rows()

D the_post()

get_field() returns the value so you can use it in your code, while the_field() prints it directly.

What is the purpose of a Field Group in ACF?

A To backup WordPress content

B To create a new WordPress post type

C To group multiple custom fields together for display on edit screens

D To style the WordPress admin dashboard

Field Groups organize custom fields so they appear together on specific edit pages.

How can you restrict a Field Group to show only on posts in a certain category?

A Change the WordPress permalink settings

B Edit the WordPress theme's CSS

C Add a shortcode to the post content

D Use Location Rules in the Field Group settings

Location Rules let you control where Field Groups appear based on conditions like category.

Which of these field types is NOT a default option in ACF?

A SQL Query

B Image

C Text

D Repeater

ACF does not have a built-in 'SQL Query' field type; others like Text, Image, and Repeater are standard.

What does the have_rows() function do in ACF?

A Gets the value of a text field

B Checks if a repeater or flexible content field has rows to loop through

C Deletes a custom field

D Creates a new field group

have_rows() is used to loop through rows in repeater or flexible content fields.

Describe how you would create and display a custom text field on a WordPress post using the Advanced Custom Fields plugin.

Think about the steps from setup in admin to showing on the site.

Explain how ACF's Location Rules help control where custom fields appear in WordPress.

Consider why you might want fields only on certain pages or posts.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin in WordPress?

easy

A. To add and manage extra custom fields without changing the database manually

B. To create new WordPress themes automatically

C. To speed up WordPress site loading times

D. To backup WordPress site data

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what ACF does

   ACF allows users to add custom fields easily without coding database changes.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only To add and manage extra custom fields without changing the database manually describes adding and managing extra fields without manual database edits.

3. Final Answer:

   To add and manage extra custom fields without changing the database manually -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ACF purpose = add/manage custom fields [OK]

Hint: ACF is for custom fields, not themes or backups [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing ACF with theme builders
• Thinking ACF speeds up site loading
• Assuming ACF handles backups

2. Which of the following is the correct way to retrieve a custom field value named subtitle using ACF in a WordPress template?

easy

A. the_field('subtitle');

B. fetch_field('subtitle');

C. get_field('subtitle');

D. custom_field('subtitle');

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct ACF function for retrieving values

   The function get_field() returns the value of a custom field.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   the_field() echoes the value, not returns it; others are invalid functions.

3. Final Answer:

   get_field('subtitle'); -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Retrieve field value = get_field() [OK]

Hint: Use get_field() to get value, the_field() to print directly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using the_field() when value is needed for logic
• Using non-existent functions like fetch_field()
• Confusing echo and return functions

3. Consider this code snippet in a WordPress template using ACF:

$subtitle = get_field('subtitle');
if ($subtitle) {
  echo "
$subtitle
";
} else {
  echo "
No subtitle found
";
}

What will be the output if the custom field subtitle is empty or not set?

medium

A. PHP error will occur

B.

C. Nothing will be displayed

D. No subtitle found

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the if condition

   The code checks if $subtitle has a value. If empty or not set, condition is false.

2. Step 2: Check the else block output

   If false, it echoes "

   No subtitle found

   ".

3. Final Answer:

   <h2>No subtitle found</h2> -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Empty field triggers else output [OK]

Hint: Empty fields trigger else block output [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming empty string prints empty <h2>
• Expecting no output when field is empty
• Thinking PHP error occurs on missing field

4. You have this code in your WordPress template:

echo get_field('price');

Sometimes it shows nothing and breaks the page layout. What is the best way to fix this issue?

medium

A. Remove the get_field() call completely

B. Check if the field has a value before echoing it

C. Use the_field() instead of get_field()

D. Change the field name to 'price_value'

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the problem cause

   Echoing an empty or null field can break layout if no fallback is provided.

2. Step 2: Apply a check before echoing

   Use if (get_field('price')) to ensure value exists before output.

3. Final Answer:

   Check if the field has a value before echoing it -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Always check field value before output [OK]

Hint: Always verify field value exists before printing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Removing field call instead of fixing output
• Using the_field() which echoes without checks
• Changing field name without updating code

5. You want to display a list of team members with their custom fields: name, role, and photo. Which approach correctly uses ACF to loop through a repeater field called team_members and display each member's info?

hard

A. if (have_rows('team_members')) {
while (have_rows('team_members')) {
the_row();
echo get_sub_field('name');
echo get_sub_field('role');
echo '';
}
}

B. foreach (get_field('team_members') as $member) {
echo $member['name'];
echo $member['role'];
echo '';
}

C. while (have_rows('team_members')) {
echo get_sub_field('name');
echo get_sub_field('role');
echo get_sub_field('photo');
}

D. if (get_field('team_members')) {
echo get_field('team_members')['name'];
echo get_field('team_members')['role'];
echo get_field('team_members')['photo'];
}

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand repeater field usage

   Repeater fields require have_rows() and the_row() to loop through rows.

2. Step 2: Check sub field retrieval

   Use get_sub_field() inside the loop to get each subfield value.

3. Step 3: Verify image field handling

   Image fields return an array; access ['url'] for the image source.

4. Final Answer:

   Correct repeater loop with have_rows(), the_row(), get_sub_field(), and image url access -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Repeater loop = have_rows() + the_row() + get_sub_field() [OK]

Hint: Use have_rows() and the_row() to loop repeater fields [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using foreach on get_field() without have_rows()
• Missing the_row() call inside loop
• Not accessing image url from array