How to add custom fields to categories

This article is a tutorial of how to add custom fields to taxonomies, and in particular categories. (categories are taxonomies too). You can do this in 3 steps.

First, add the fields into the add and edit forms:

function wcr_category_fields($term) {
    // we check the name of the action because we need to have different output
    // if you have other taxonomy name, replace category with the name of your taxonomy. ex: book_add_form_fields, book_edit_form_fields
    if (current_filter() == 'category_edit_form_fields') {
        $short_description = get_term_meta($term->term_id, 'short_description', true);
        $color_code = get_term_meta($term->term_id, 'color_code', true);
        ?>
        
            
            
                <?php echo esc_textarea($short_description); ?>

                
            
        
        
            
            
                

                
            
           
	
        

            
            
            

        
        

            
            
            

        
  
    
Second, save the fields values into options:
function wcr_save_category_fields($term_id) {
    if (!isset($_POST['term_fields'])) {
        return;
    }

    foreach ($_POST['term_fields'] as $key => $value) {
        update_term_meta($term_id, $key, sanitize_text_field($value));
    }
}

// Save the fields values, using our callback function
// if you have other taxonomy name, replace category with the name of your taxonomy. ex: edited_book, create_book
add_action('edited_category', 'wcr_save_category_fields', 10, 2);
add_action('create_category', 'wcr_save_category_fields', 10, 2);
Third, get the saved info by using get_term_meta built-in function:
// $term_id = 4, $key = 'short_description'
echo get_term_meta(4, 'short_description', true);

// $term_id = 4, $key = 'color_code'
echo get_term_meta(4, 'color_code', true);