Adding hidden fields to a contact form is an effective method for obtaining extra details from your website visitors without making the form appear cluttered. In this article, I will provide step-by-step instructions on how to add hidden fields in Contact Form 7, a widely used WordPress plugin for creating contact forms.
Introduction to Contact Form 7
Contact Form 7 is a versatile and widely-used WordPress plugin that allows you to create and manage contact forms with ease. It provides a simple and intuitive interface for building forms and supports various input fields, including text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown menus.
Why Use Hidden Fields?
Hidden fields are a type of input field that is not visible to the user. They are typically used to store and transmit data that the user does not need to see or interact with directly. Hidden fields can be beneficial in a contact form for various purposes, such as tracking referral sources, capturing campaign data, or passing along custom variables.
Adding a Hidden Field in Contact Form 7
To add a hidden field in Contact Form 7, you will need to modify the form’s HTML code. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Open the desired form in the WordPress admin dashboard.
- Locate the field where you want to add the hidden field.
- Add the following code snippet within the field’s HTML code:
[hidden your-field-name "your-default-value"]
Replaceyour-field-name
with a unique name for your hidden field, andyour-default-value
with the desired default value. - Save the changes to the form.
That’s it! You have successfully added a hidden field to your Contact Form 7 form. The hidden field will not be visible to the user but will be included in the form submission.
Using Hidden Field Values
After adding a hidden field to your contact form, you can make use of its value in various ways. For example, you can configure Contact Form 7 to send the hidden field value via email or save it to your website’s database.
If you want to include the hidden field value in the email notifications sent by Contact Form 7, you can use the following email template tag:
[_your-field-name]
Replace your-field-name
with the name of your hidden field. When the form is submitted, Contact Form 7 will replace the template tag with the actual value of the hidden field.
Conclusion
Adding hidden fields to your Contact Form 7 forms can enhance the functionality and flexibility of your contact forms. They allow you to collect additional information without cluttering the form interface. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily add and utilize hidden fields in your contact forms.