Inheritance with wp_enqueue_scripts()

In WordPress, the “wp_enqueue_scripts” action hook is used to enqueue styles and scripts for use on the front-end of a website. This action hook is typically used in the theme’s “functions.php” file or in a custom plugin to add styles and scripts to the website. However, when working with child themes or custom plugins that extend existing themes, it’s important to understand how the “wp_enqueue_scripts” action hook works with respect to inheritance.

When a child theme is activated, it inherits all of the functionality and styles from its parent theme. This includes any styles and scripts that are enqueued using the “wp_enqueue_scripts” action hook in the parent theme’s “functions.php” file. However, a child theme also has the ability to add its own styles and scripts, or override those of the parent theme, by using the same action hook in its own “functions.php” file.

The same is also applicable for custom plugin that extends the functionality of a theme. A plugin can add its own styles and scripts, or override those of the theme, by using the “wp_enqueue_scripts” action hook in its own plugin file.

To add or override styles and scripts in a child theme or a custom plugin, you can use the “wp_enqueue_scripts” action hook in the same way as you would in a parent theme. For example, to enqueue a custom style sheet in a child theme, you can use the following code in the child theme’s “functions.php” file:

Copy codefunction my_child_theme_scripts() {
    wp_enqueue_style( 'my-child-theme-style', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/style.css' );
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'my_child_theme_scripts' );

In this example, the “my_child_theme_scripts” function is hooked to the “wp_enqueue_scripts” action, and it enqueues a custom style sheet called “style.css” located in the child theme’s directory.

It’s important to note that when enqueuing styles and scripts in a child theme or custom plugin, you should use the appropriate WordPress functions such as “get_stylesheet_directory_uri()” or “plugins_url()” to ensure that the correct URLs are used to reference the files.

It’s also important to note that when you are dequeuing a script or style that is enqueued by the parent theme or another plugin, you should use the appropriate handle, which is the first parameter passed to the “wp_enqueue_script” or “wp_enqueue_style” function.

For example, if the parent theme enqueues a script with the handle “parent-theme-script”, you can dequeue it in the child theme or plugin using the following code:

Copy codewp_dequeue_script( 'parent-theme-script' );

By using the “wp_dequeue_script” function with the correct handle, you can remove the script from the front-end of the website.

In conclusion, when working with child themes or custom plugins that extend existing themes, it’s important to understand how the “wp_enqueue_scripts” action hook works with respect to inheritance. A child theme or plugin can add its own styles and scripts, or override those of the parent theme, by using the same action hook in its own “functions.php” file