WooCommerce Conditional Hooks: Pages, Products & Categories

This article was last manually reviewed for data accuracy on 13 November 2025.

If your WooCommerce store feels slower than it should, the problem may not be your hosting or caching plugin—it’s likely your custom code. Many developers unknowingly execute PHP logic across every page, even when it only needs to run on a single product or checkout screen.

That’s where WooCommerce Conditional Hooks come in. These allow you to control when and where your code executes, dramatically improving performance and maintainability.

In this hands-on guide, you’ll learn:

• How WooCommerce conditional tags actually work (and when they’re safe to use)
• How to target specific pages, products, categories, or user roles
• How to combine conditions for complex logic
• Best practices for speed, security, and clean architecture

Whether you build for clients or manage your own store, this guide will help you run code precisely where it belongs—nowhere else.

Understanding WooCommerce Conditional Tags: How They Work & When to Use Them

A Conditional Tag is a core WordPress or WooCommerce PHP function that returns a Boolean value (true or false) based on the context of the page currently being loaded.

The critical concept is execution timing. Standard WooCommerce Conditional Tags cannot be reliably called in the global scope of functions.php or a plugin file, as the queried object (page, post, product) has not yet been fully identified.

All conditional logic must be executed after the main query has run, typically by hooking into the wp action or placing the conditional check inside your hooked function.

The wp action fires after the main query is run, making all conditional tags safe to use globally.

This is critical for efficiency—it stops you from loading resources or running complex logic on pages where it’s not needed, even if they aren’t WooCommerce template pages.

Code Example: Global Conditional Logic on the wp Action

PHP

/**
 * Action hook hooked to 'wp' for global, but late, conditional checks.
 * This is the FIRST safe place to run global conditional logic.
 */
add_action( 'wp', 'my_late_running_global_logic' );

function my_late_running_global_logic() {
    
    // Condition: Run ONLY if it is a WooCommerce page AND NOT the checkout page
    if ( is_woocommerce() && ! is_checkout() ) {
        // Example: Only load a specific script or run maintenance logic here
        // This is safe because the queried object is now identified.
        // My Logic for all Woo pages (except checkout) runs here.
        add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'enqueue_my_woo_script' );
    }

    // Condition: Run ONLY if the user is a logged-in "Customer"
    if ( current_user_can( 'customer' ) ) {
        // My Logic for logged-in customers runs here.
    }
}

Handling Arguments and Returning Values in Filters

When working with WooCommerce filters, always ensure your callback functions correctly handle parameters and return values. Returning incorrect types or omitting a return statement can break WooCommerce functionality.

For example, when filtering the price HTML:

phpfunction custom_price_html( $price, $product ) {
    if ( $product->is_on_sale() ) {
        return $price . ' <span class="sale-badge">Sale!</span>';
    }
    return $price;
}
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_price_html', 'custom_price_html', 10, 2 );

Failing to return $price at the end would cause the price not to display.

For a deep dive into WooCommerce Hooks and Filters, read: WooCommerce Hooks and Filters: Complete Guide with Examples

Essential WooCommerce Page Conditionals

The following functions are the primary filters for general page types:

Code Example: Basic WooCommerce Conditional Execution Structure

This snippet demonstrates the fundamental requirement: placing the conditional check inside the function that is hooked to a WooCommerce action. This ensures the condition is evaluated at the correct point in the page lifecycle.

/**
 * WooCommerce Conditional Tags: Basic Page Check
 * Runs a custom action only on the Shop Page.
 */
function custom_shop_page_message() {
    // Check is performed *inside* the function.
    if ( is_shop() ) {
        echo '<div class="shop-alert">Free shipping applies to all items listed here!</div>';
    }
}
// Hook the function to the top of the main WooCommerce content area.
add_action( 'woocommerce_before_main_content', 'custom_shop_page_message', 5 );

Using Conditional Tags to Target Pages, Products & Custom Conditions in WooCommerce

To achieve micro-level customization, you must use the is_product() function with specific parameters or access the global product object to target individual products or groups.

Targeting a Single Product by ID in WooCommerce

The is_product($product_id) function allows you to specify a single product ID, ensuring your code runs exclusively on that product’s page. Note that this function works only for single product contexts, not archives.

Code Example 1 (Action): Add Promotional Text

This action adds custom text only to the single product page with ID 123.

/**
 * Action hook targeting Product ID 123.
 * Adds a unique promotional message before the product summary.
 */
function add_special_promotional_text() {
    if ( is_product( 123 ) ) {
        // Only executes when viewing Product ID 123
        echo '<p class="special-promo-tag">LIMITED TIME OFFER: Exclusive bundle available with this product.</p>';
    }
}
add_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'add_special_promotional_text', 5 );

Code Example 2 (Filter): Modify “Add to Cart” Text

This filter modifies the “Add to Cart” button text, but only for product ID 456.

/**
 * Filter hook targeting Product ID 456.
 * Changes the Add to Cart button text for a specified product ID.
 */
function change_cart_button_text_for_single_product( $button_text, $product ) {
    // Check if the current product being processed is ID 456
    if ( $product->get_id() === 456 ) {
        return 'Download License Now';
    }

    // Return the original text if the condition is not met
    return $button_text;
}
add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_single_add_to_cart_text', 'change_cart_button_text_for_single_product', 10, 2 );

Targeting Multiple WooCommerce Products by ID Using Arrays

The is_product() function accepts an array of product IDs, applying the logic across a defined set of products.

Code Example: Remove the product price only for products in a specific array.

/**
 * Filter hook targeting multiple product IDs.
 * Removes the price for products in the specified array.
 */
function remove_price_for_selected_products( $price, $product ) {
    $target_product_ids = array( 99, 101, 102 );

    // is_product accepts an array of IDs for the current product being viewed
    if ( is_product( $target_product_ids ) ) {
        return 'Contact Us for Pricing';
    }

    return $price;
}
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_price_html', 'remove_price_for_selected_products', 10, 2 );

Targeting WooCommerce Product SKUs for Advanced Conditional Logic

For systems integrated with external inventory, checking by SKU is often more reliable than ID. This requires accessing the product object within the conditional scope.

A critical nuance: when using an action hook that doesn’t pass the $product object (like those in the product summary area), you must manually make the object available using global $product;.

Code Example: Add a warning message if the product SKU starts with “DISCONTINUED-“.

PHP

/**
 * Action hook targeting products based on their SKU prefix.
 * Adds a warning message if the SKU indicates discontinuation.
 *
 * NOTE: We use 'global $product;' because this action (woocommerce_single_product_summary) 
 * does not pass the product object as an argument.
 */
function add_discontinued_sku_warning() {
    // Ensure we are on a single product page
    if ( is_product() ) {
        // Access the global product object for attribute checks
        global $product; 

        // Check if $product object exists and get its SKU
        if ( is_a( $product, 'WC_Product' ) ) {
            $sku = $product->get_sku();

            if ( str_starts_with( $sku, 'DISCONTINUED-' ) ) {
                echo '<p class="discontinued-warning">This item is being phased out. Availability is not guaranteed beyond current stock.</p>';
            }
        }
    }
}
add_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'add_discontinued_sku_warning', 9 );

Alternative to is_product($id) on Archives

The function is_product($id) is perfect for checking the currently viewed single product page. However, to target a product based on its ID within an archive loop (like the Shop page or Category archives), you need to check the product object being processed in the loop, which is often available via a filter or action.

Code Example: Modify the price display for a specific product only on archive pages.

PHP

/**
 * Filter hook targeting a specific Product ID on archive pages (Shop/Category).
 * Adds a special tag to the price, but only in the loop.
 */
function display_special_price_tag_in_loop( $price, $product ) {
    $target_product_id = 789; // The product ID you want to target

    // Check if we are currently in a WooCommerce loop (i.e., not a single product page)
    if ( $product->get_id() === $target_product_id && ( is_shop() || is_product_category() || is_product_tag() ) ) {
        // Add a "Hot Item" tag to the price HTML
        return $price . '<span class="hot-item-tag"> Hot Item</span>';
    }

    return $price;
}
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_price_html', 'display_special_price_tag_in_loop', 10, 2 );

Variable Product Targeting Nuance

For modifying the product itself (like price or button text) within a filter, it’s essential to know its type. This check prevents errors when trying to get properties that don’t exist on simple products (like variation data).

Key Conditional Method: Product Type Check

The method $product->is_type() is the most reliable way to target specific product types.

Code Example: Targeting Variable Products

PHP

/**
 * Filter hook to change the Add to Cart button text ONLY for Variable products.
 */
function change_button_text_for_variable_products( $button_text, $product ) {
    
    // Check if the product being processed by the filter is explicitly a Variable type
    if ( $product->is_type( 'variable' ) ) {
        return 'Choose Your Customization';
    }

    return $button_text;
}
add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_single_add_to_cart_text', 'change_button_text_for_variable_products', 10, 2 );

Conditional Logic for Product Categories & Tags in WooCommerce

Targeting product taxonomies (categories and tags) requires distinguishing between single product pages and archive pages.

How to Target WooCommerce Product Categories

Code Example 1: Add a ‘Free Shipping Available’ banner to single product pages belonging to the ‘Electronics’ category.

/**
 * Action hook targeting products within the 'electronics' category.
 * Adds a notice to single product pages.
 */
function add_category_shipping_banner() {
    // Checks if the product being viewed has the 'electronics' category slug
    if ( is_product() && has_term( 'electronics', 'product_cat' ) ) {
        echo '<div class="category-banner">📦 Free Shipping Available for this Electronics item!</div>';
    }
}
add_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'add_category_shipping_banner', 8 );

Targeting Multiple Categories (OR Logic) in WooCommerce

The has_term() function accepts an array of category slugs, allowing OR logic without complex nesting.

Code Example 2: Add a specific badge hook to all products within the ‘Clothing’ or ‘Apparel’ categories.

/**
 * Action hook to add product badges for multiple categories.
 * Targets products in 'clothing' OR 'apparel' (by slug).
 */
function add_multiple_category_badge() {
    $target_categories = array( 'clothing', 'apparel' );
    
    // Check if the current single product page belongs to any of the target categories
    if ( is_product() && has_term( $target_categories, 'product_cat' ) ) {
        // Output a badge below the title
        echo '<span class="new-collection-badge">✨ New Collection</span>';
    }
}
add_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'add_multiple_category_badge', 15 );

How to Target Product Tags in WooCommerce

The process for tags is identical to categories, substituting the taxonomy slug (product_cat) with product_tag.

Code Example 3: Modify the related products title on single products marked with the ‘limited-edition’ tag.

/**
 * Filter hook to modify related products title based on the 'limited-edition' tag.
 */
function modify_related_products_title_by_tag( $title ) {
    // Check if the current single product page has the tag 'limited-edition'
    if ( is_product() && has_term( 'limited-edition', 'product_tag' ) ) {
        return 'Exclusive Related Items';
    }
    return $title;
}
add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_related_products_heading', 'modify_related_products_title_by_tag' );

Advanced Conditional Logic in WooCommerce: AND, OR & NOT Examples

Complex customizations mandate combining conditions using logical operators (&& for AND, || for OR, and ! for NOT).

Using AND Logic (&&) with WooCommerce Conditionals

Use the && operator to ensure two or more conditions are simultaneously true.

Code Example: Run a hook only if the page is a single product page (is_product()) AND the user is an Administrator (current_user_can('administrator')).

/**
 * Action hook combining two conditions (AND logic).
 * Adds an administrative link only for logged-in admins on product pages.
 */
function add_admin_edit_link() {
    // Condition A: Single Product Page AND Condition B: User is an Administrator
    if ( is_product() && current_user_can( 'administrator' ) ) {
        global $post;
        $edit_link = get_edit_post_link( $post->ID );
        echo '<p class="admin-tool-link"><a href="' . esc_url( $edit_link ) . '">Quick Edit Product</a></p>';
    }
}
add_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'add_admin_edit_link', 1 );

Using NOT Logic (!) to Exclude Pages in WooCommerce

Use the ! (negation) operator to run code everywhere except a specific page.

Code Example: Enqueue a custom stylesheet everywhere EXCEPT the checkout page (! is_checkout()).

/**
 * Action hook excluding the checkout page (NOT logic).
 * Enqueues a specific font or script globally, but excludes checkout for speed.
 */
function enqueue_custom_asset_conditionally() {
    // Condition: Run if it is NOT the checkout page
    if ( ! is_checkout() ) {
        // Replace with your actual script/style handle
        wp_enqueue_style( 'custom-global-style', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/css/global.css' );
    }
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'enqueue_custom_asset_conditionally' );

Targeting Product Attributes & Types in WooCommerce Conditional Hooks

To target products based on their internal properties (like sale status or product type), you must access the product object.

Code Example: Automatically change the product price format only for Virtual products.

/**
 * Filter hook targeting a specific product type property.
 * Changes the price suffix only for 'Virtual' products.
 */
function custom_price_html_for_virtual( $price, $product ) {
    // Check if the product is explicitly a Virtual product
    if ( $product->is_virtual() ) {
        // Append a custom suffix indicating digital goods
        $price .= '<span class="virtual-suffix"> (Digital Access)</span>';
    }
    return $price;
}
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_price_html', 'custom_price_html_for_virtual', 10, 2 );

User, Cart & Checkout Conditionals in WooCommerce: Explained

The most complex and powerful customizations revolve around who the customer is and what they are doing. These checks require access to the global WordPress User object and the global WooCommerce Cart object (WC()->cart).

Cart/Product Check: Run Logic When Specific Items Are in the Cart

This snippet demonstrates a clean way to check if a specific product (ID: 123) is in the cart, which is far more efficient than iterating through the cart contents manually for every product loop.

PHP

/**
 * Action hook to display a notice only if Product ID 123 is in the cart.
 */
function add_accessory_upsell_if_base_product_in_cart() {
    $base_product_id = 123; // Target the primary product
    
    // Check if WooCommerce is loaded and if the product is in the cart
    if ( WC()->cart && WC()->cart->find_product_in_cart( WC()->cart->generate_cart_id( $base_product_id ) ) ) {
        // Only executes if Product ID 123 is found in the cart
        echo '<div class="upsell-alert">Don\'t forget your necessary accessory!</div>';
    }
}
// Run the check on the Cart page before the contents
add_action( 'woocommerce_before_cart', 'add_accessory_upsell_if_base_product_in_cart' );

Best Practices for WooCommerce Conditional Hooks: Speed, Security & Maintainability

Why Hook Priority Matters in WooCommerce Conditional Logic

The priority parameter (the third argument in add_action or add_filter) dictates the order in which functions are executed on the same hook. Lower numbers run earlier.

When working with conditional logic, ensure your hooked function runs after any foundational functions it might need to interact with, but generally keep your priority low (e.g., 10 or less) if you are injecting content.

For a deep dive into Hook priorites, read:WooCommerce Hook Priority: Execution Order & Best Practices

Where to Place Conditional Hook Code: Child Theme, Snippets or Plugin

Never modify WooCommerce core files or a parent theme directly. Place all conditional PHP logic in one of the following secure locations:

• Child Theme functions.php: Ideal for theme-specific customizations.
• Code Snippets Plugin: Provides granular control, easy activation/deactivation, and better portability for complex logic.
• Custom Plugin: The professional standard for maximum maintainability and separation of concerns.

Caching Considerations When Using Conditional Hooks in WooCommerce

Conditional logic executed server-side (PHP) often interacts poorly with static page caching (e.g., provided by WP Rocket or Varnish).

If your conditional code results in user-specific or dynamic content (e.g., showing a specific message only to subscribers), you must:

• Exclude Pages with Dynamic Content: Use caching plugin settings to exclude pages like Cart, Checkout, and My Account from full page caching.
• Fragment Caching: Use AJAX or JavaScript to load user-specific elements after the page loads, keeping the static cache intact.
• Server-Side Conditions: Avoid heavy conditional logic inside shortcode or template functions that cache aggressively unless properly excluded.

Debugging & Testing Conditional Hooks in WooCommerce: Efficient Methods

Effective debugging and testing are critical to ensure your WooCommerce conditional hooks work correctly and avoid site errors or performance issues. WordPress and WooCommerce provide several robust tools and methods to assist developers.

Using WooCommerce Logging & Error Reporting for Conditional Hooks

WooCommerce includes a built-in logger accessible via WooCommerce > System Status > Logs in the WordPress admin area. You can log custom messages or errors in your conditional hook functions using the wc_get_logger() helper.

Example:

php$logger = wc_get_logger();
$logger->debug( 'Conditional hook triggered for product ID 123', array( 'source' => 'custom-hook' ) );

Error logs can also be found in the /wp-content/wc-logs directory for server-level debugging.

WP_DEBUG and Debug Log Tips for WooCommerce Conditional Code

Enable WordPress debugging by adding these lines to your wp-config.php:

phpdefine( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

This will log PHP errors and warnings to wp-content/debug.log, allowing you to isolate issues caused by faulty conditional logic.

Useful Plugins for Debugging WooCommerce Hooks & Conditionals

• Query Monitor: Excellent for monitoring which hooks run on a given page and inspecting query execution and PHP errors.
• WP Hooks Finder: Visually displays all available hooks on WooCommerce pages, making it easier to identify where to attach your conditional code.

FAQ: Common Questions on WooCommerce Conditional Hooks

What is the difference between is_product() and has_term()?

is_product() checks if the current URL is a single product page, or a specific product by ID. has_term() checks if the product currently being processed (either on a single page or within a loop) belongs to a specific taxonomy term (like a category or tag). They serve different contextual purposes: page-type identification vs. product attribute identification.

Why is my conditional logic not working in functions.php?

You are attempting to run the conditional tag too early in the WordPress execution flow. Conditional tags require the main query to have run (the page object must be identified). Always ensure the conditional check is performed inside a function hooked to an action that fires later, such as wp or a relevant WooCommerce hook like woocommerce_before_main_content.

How do I target a specific product variation?

This requires client-side detection using JavaScript (listening for the found_variation event) to show/hide elements. For server-side validation based on the selected variation, use the woocommerce_add_to_cart_validation filter, where the variation ID is available in the $product_id or $_POST array, as is_product() only checks the parent product.

Can I use conditional logic to hide a shipping method?

Yes. This is accomplished using the woocommerce_package_rates filter. Within the function hooked to this filter, you can inspect cart contents, product IDs, customer metadata, and then use unset() to remove specific shipping methods ($rates) if your conditions are met.

Where can I find a list of all WooCommerce Conditional Tags?

The most reliable and complete resource is the official WooCommerce developer documentation on Conditional Tags.

Conclusion: Implementing Conditional Hooks for a Faster WooCommerce Store

Conditional hooks are more than a performance optimization. By wrapping your logic inside smart, context-aware conditions, you turn bulky, always-on code into efficient, targeted automation.

We’ve explored how to:

• Run hooks for specific products, categories, or tags
• Combine multiple conditions for fine control
• Target user roles, cart contents, and checkout states
• Avoid caching conflicts and premature execution

If you’re serious about WooCommerce performance, start auditing your snippets today. Identify where your code runs unnecessarily, move logic inside conditional checks, and measure the load-time difference—it’s often dramatic.

For deeper insights into hooks, filters, and execution order, check out our related guides below or join our newsletter for field-tested WooCommerce development strategies.