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WordPress How to Build a WordPress Plugin Building a WordPress Plugin Settings Page Adding CSS to WordPress Plugin Settings Pages

Chris Hubbard
Chris Hubbard
2,253 Points
Posted by Chris Hubbard
Chris Hubbard
2,253 Points

Difference between WP_PLUGIN_URL & plugins_url

Can someone help me understand why WP_PLUGIN_URL was used when linking to images, but plugins_url was used when loading the styles?

Aren't they both returning a path to our plugins directory? Are there situations when one should be used over the other?

1 Answer

Kevin Korte
Kevin Korte
28,149 Points
Kevin Korte
Kevin Korte
28,149 Points

That's a good question. WP Codex says the WP_PLUGIN_URL is a constant used by plugins_url to find the correct path, but should not be used directly in plugins or themes.

http://codex.wordpress.org/Determining_Plugin_and_Content_Directories

And for the Codex for plugins_url in the notes section, it says it uses WP_PLUGIN_URL [edit] constant internally, to compose the resultant URL. Note that direct usage of WordPress internal constants is not recommended.

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/plugins_url

Maybe things have changed since these lessons were made? I'm just starting to get into plugin writing after becoming comfortable with theme development, so I too am curious as to why this is, just so we understand how to make our own good decisions later on projects.