wp_register_script( string $handle, string|bool $src, array $deps = array(), string|bool|null $ver = false, bool $in_footer = false )

Register a new script.


Description Description

Registers a script to be enqueued later using the wp_enqueue_script() function.

See also See also


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Parameters Parameters

$handle

(string) (Required) Name of the script. Should be unique.

$src

(string|bool) (Required) Full URL of the script, or path of the script relative to the WordPress root directory. If source is set to false, script is an alias of other scripts it depends on.

$deps

(array) (Optional) An array of registered script handles this script depends on.

Default value: array()

$ver

(string|bool|null) (Optional) String specifying script version number, if it has one, which is added to the URL as a query string for cache busting purposes. If version is set to false, a version number is automatically added equal to current installed WordPress version. If set to null, no version is added.

Default value: false

$in_footer

(bool) (Optional) Whether to enqueue the script before </body> instead of in the <head>. Default 'false'.

Default value: false


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Return Return

(bool) Whether the script has been registered. True on success, false on failure.


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Source Source

File: wp-includes/functions.wp-scripts.php

function wp_register_script( $handle, $src, $deps = array(), $ver = false, $in_footer = false ) {
	$wp_scripts = wp_scripts();
	_wp_scripts_maybe_doing_it_wrong( __FUNCTION__ );

	$registered = $wp_scripts->add( $handle, $src, $deps, $ver );
	if ( $in_footer ) {
		$wp_scripts->add_data( $handle, 'group', 1 );
	}

	return $registered;
}

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Changelog Changelog

Changelog
Version Description
4.3.0 A return value was added.
2.1.0 Introduced.

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More Information More Information

Scripts that have been pre-registered using wp_register_script() do not need to be manually enqueued using wp_enqueue_script() if they are listed as a dependency of another script that is enqueued. WordPress will automatically include the registered script before it includes the enqueued script that lists the registered script’s handle as a dependency.

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Usage Usage

wp_register_script( $handle, $src, $deps, $ver, $in_footer );
  • Registering scripts is technically not necessary, but highly recommended nonetheless.
  • If the handle of a registered script is listed in the $deps array of dependencies of another script that is enqueued with wp_enqueue_script(), that script will be automatically loaded prior to loading the enqueued script. This greatly simplifies the process of ensuring that a script has all the dependencies it needs. See below for a simple example.
  • So, the main purpose of the register functions is to allow you to simplify your code by removing the need to duplicate code if you enqueue the same script or style in more than one section of code. The benefits of this are many and probably don’t need to be listed here.

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Notes Notes

  • The function should be called using the wp_enqueue_scripts action hook if you want to call it on the front-end of the site. To call it on the administration screens, use the admin_enqueue_scripts action hook. For the login screen, use the login_enqueue_scripts action hook. Calling it outside of an action hook can often lead to unexpected results and should be avoided.
  • If attempt to register or enqueue an already registered handle with different parameters, the new parameters will be ignored. Instead, use wp_deregister_script() and register the script again with the new parameters.
  • jQuery UI Effects is not included with the jquery-ui-core handle

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Core-Registered Scripts Core-Registered Scripts

By default, WordPress bundles many popular scripts commonly used by web developers besides the scripts used by core itself. Below is an (incomplete) list of the handles and paths of these scripts.

Handle Path in WordPress
utils /wp-includes/js/utils.js
common /wp-admin/js/common.js
sack /wp-includes/js/tw-sack.js
quicktags /wp-includes/js/quicktags.js
colorpicker /wp-includes/js/colorpicker.js
editor /wp-admin/js/editor.js
wp-fullscreen /wp-admin/js/wp-fullscreen.js
wp-ajax-response /wp-includes/js/wp-ajax-response.js
wp-pointer /wp-includes/js/wp-pointer.js
autosave /wp-includes/js/autosave.js
heartbeat /wp-includes/js/heartbeat.js
wp-auth-check /wp-includes/js/wp-auth-check.js
wp-lists /wp-includes/js/wp-lists.js
prototype external: //ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.1.0/prototype.js
scriptaculous-root external: //ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.1.0/prototype.js
scriptaculous-builder external: //ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.1.0/builder.js
scriptaculous-dragdrop external: //ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.1.0/dragdrop.js
scriptaculous-effects external: //ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.1.0/effects.js
scriptaculous-slider external: //ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.1.0/slider.js
scriptaculous-sound external: //ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.1.0/sound.js
scriptaculous-controls external: //ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/prototype/1.7.1.0/controls.js
scriptaculous scriptaculous-dragdrop, scriptaculous-slider, scriptaculous-controls
cropper /wp-includes/js/crop/cropper.js
jquery (v1.10.2 as of WP 3.8) jquery-core, jquery-migrate
jquery-core /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js
jquery-migrate /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.js (v1.10.2 as of WP 3.8)
jquery-ui-core /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core.min.js
jquery-effects-core /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect.min.js
jquery-effects-blind /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-blind.min.js
jquery-effects-bounce /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-bounce.min.js
jquery-effects-clip /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-clip.min.js
jquery-effects-drop /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-drop.min.js
jquery-effects-explode /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-explode.min.js
jquery-effects-fade /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-fade.min.js
jquery-effects-fold /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-fold.min.js
jquery-effects-highlight /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-highlight.min.js
jquery-effects-pulsate /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-pulsate.min.js
jquery-effects-scale /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-scale.min.js
jquery-effects-shake /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-shake.min.js
jquery-effects-slide /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-slide.min.js
jquery-effects-transfer /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effect-transfer.min.js
jquery-ui-accordion /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion.min.js
jquery-ui-autocomplete /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete.min.js
jquery-ui-button /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button.min.js
jquery-ui-datepicker /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker.min.js
jquery-ui-dialog /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog.min.js
jquery-ui-draggable /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable.min.js
jquery-ui-droppable /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.droppable.min.js
jquery-ui-menu /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu.min.js
jquery-ui-mouse /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse.min.js
jquery-ui-position /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position.min.js
jquery-ui-progressbar /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.progressbar.min.js
jquery-ui-resizable /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable.min.js
jquery-ui-selectable /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.selectable.min.js
jquery-ui-slider /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider.min.js
jquery-ui-sortable /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable.min.js
jquery-ui-spinner /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.spinner.min.js
jquery-ui-tabs /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs.min.js
jquery-ui-tooltip /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip.min.js
jquery-ui-widget /wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.widget.min.js
jquery-form /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.form.js
jquery-color /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.color.min.js
suggest /wp-includes/js/jquery/suggest.js
schedule /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.schedule.js
jquery-query /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.query.js
jquery-serialize-object /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.serialize-object.js
jquery-hotkeys /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.hotkeys.js
jquery-table-hotkeys /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.table-hotkeys.js
jquery-touch-punch /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.ui.touch-punch.js
jquery-masonry /wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.masonry.min.js
thickbox /wp-includes/js/thickbox/thickbox.js
jcrop /wp-includes/js/jcrop/jquery.Jcrop.js
swfobject /wp-includes/js/swfobject.js
plupload /wp-includes/js/plupload/plupload.js
plupload-html5 wp-includes/js/plupload/plupload.html5.js
plupload-flash /wp-includes/js/plupload/plupload.flash.js
plupload-silverlight /wp-includes/js/plupload/plupload.silverlight.js
plupload-html4 /wp-includes/js/plupload/plupload.html4.js
plupload-all plupload, plupload-html5, plupload-flash, plupload-silverlight, plupload-html4
plupload-handlers /wp-includes/js/plupload/handlers.js
wp-plupload /wp-includes/js/plupload/wp-plupload.js
swfupload /wp-includes/js/swfupload/swfupload.js
swfupload-swfobject /wp-includes/js/swfupload/plugins/swfupload.swfobject.js
swfupload-queue /wp-includes/js/swfupload/plugins/swfupload.queue.js
swfupload-speed /wp-includes/js/swfupload/plugins/swfupload.speed.js
swfupload-all /wp-includes/js/swfupload/swfupload-all.js
swfupload-handlers /wp-includes/js/swfupload/handlers.js
comment-reply /wp-includes/js/comment-reply.js
json2 /wp-includes/js/json2.js
underscore /wp-includes/js/underscore.min.js
backbone /wp-includes/js/backbone.min.js
wp-util /wp-includes/js/wp-util.js
wp-backbone /wp-includes/js/wp-backbone.js
revisions /wp-admin/js/revisions.js
imgareaselect /wp-includes/js/imgareaselect/jquery.imgareaselect.js
mediaelement /wp-includes/js/mediaelement/mediaelement-and-player.min.js
wp-mediaelement /wp-includes/js/mediaelement/wp-mediaelement.js
zxcvbn-async /wp-includes/js/zxcvbn-async.js
password-strength-meter /wp-admin/js/password-strength-meter.js
user-profile /wp-admin/js/user-profile.js
user-suggest /wp-admin/js/user-suggest.js
admin-bar /wp-includes/js/admin-bar.js
wplink /wp-includes/js/wplink.js
wpdialogs /wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpdialogs/js/wpdialog.js
wpdialogs-popup /wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpdialogs/js/popup.js
word-count /wp-admin/js/word-count.js
media-upload /wp-admin/js/media-upload.js
hoverIntent /wp-includes/js/hoverIntent.js
customize-base /wp-includes/js/customize-base.js
customize-loader
customize-preview
customize-controls
accordion
shortcode
media-models
media-views
media-editor
mce-view
admin-tags
admin-comments
xfn
postbox
post
link
comment
admin-gallery
admin-widgets
theme
theme-install
inline-edit-post
inline-edit-tax
plugin-install
farbtastic
iris
wp-color-picker
dashboard
list-revisions
media
image-edit
set-post-thumbnail
nav-menu
custom-header
custom-background
media-gallery
svg-painter


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User Contributed Notes User Contributed Notes

  1. Skip to note 1 content
    Contributed by Peter Ph

    Easy way to link to external JS library and use it easily in project:
    register:

     wp_register_script( 'someScript-js', 'https://domain.com/someScript.js' , '', '', true );

    this will put the someScript.js at the bottom of our HTML file before
    call:

    wp_enqueue_script( 'someScript-js' );
  2. Skip to note 2 content
    Contributed by tazotodua

    Corrected code from Luizaris:

    add_action("wp_enqueue_scripts", "myscripts");
    function myscripts() { 
        wp_register_script('myfirstscript', 
                            get_template_directory_uri() .'/myscript.js',   //
                            array ('jquery', 'jquery-ui'),					//depends on these, however, they are registered by core already, so no need to enqueue them.
                            false, false);
        wp_enqueue_script('myfirstscript');
         
    }
  3. Skip to note 3 content
    Contributed by ashishsthanp

    In a case where first script should be loaded only if another second script is loaded:

    function my_enqueue_scripts()
    {
        wp_register_script( 'first', get_template_directory_uri() . 'js/first.js' );
    
        wp_enqueue_script( 'second', get_template_directory_uri() . 'js/second.js', array( 'first' ) );
    }
    add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'my_enqueue_scripts' );

    Here, first.js will load( before second.js ) only if second.js is enqueued/loaded.

  4. Skip to note 4 content
    Contributed by luizarios

    Using register_script() to add a script and its dependencies

    function myscripts() {
        //get some external script that is needed for this script
        wp_enqueue_script('jquery-ui', 'http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.9.1/jquery-ui.min.js'); 
        $script = get_template_directory_uri() . '/library/myscript.js';
        wp_register_script('myfirstscript', 
                            $script, 
                            array ('jquery', 'jquery-ui'), 
                            false, false);
        //always enqueue the script after registering or nothing will happen
        wp_enqueue_script('fullpage-slimscroll');
        
    }
    add_action("wp_enqueue_scripts", "myscripts");
    

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