How to determine the current language of a wordpress page when using polylang?

🔍 How to Determine the Current Language of a WordPress Page when Using Polylang?

🌐 Are you using the Polylang plugin on your WordPress website to create a multilingual experience for your visitors? Awesome! But wait, how can you determine the current language of a page when using Polylang? 🤔

📝 Let's dive into this common question and provide you with easy solutions to determine the current language and make the most out of Polylang. By the end of this post, you'll be able to confidently write code that adapts to the language your users are viewing.

🔎 The Search for the "Language Variable"

For many developers, the search for a "language variable" might seem like an endless quest. But fear not! There's a straightforward way to determine the current language when using the Polylang plugin.

💡 Polylang provides a global object called PLL() that gives you access to various language-related functionalities. One of those functionalities is the PLL()->curlang property, which returns the currently active language slug.

Now, let's see how we can put this into action! 💪

if (PLL()->curlang->slug === 'en') {
  // Your code for the English language goes here
} else if (PLL()->curlang->slug === 'fr') {
  // Your code for the French language goes here
} else {
  // Your code for any other languages goes here
}

🧐 In the code snippet above, we're using an if-else statement to determine the language and execute specific code blocks accordingly. Feel free to replace 'en', 'fr', and the comment placeholders with your desired language codes and corresponding code blocks.

🚀 Common Pitfalls and Easy Solutions

Now that you have the foundation to determine the current language using Polylang, let's address some common issues you might encounter and provide easy solutions.

🔸 Issue #1: Language Not Changing

• Problem: Despite changing the language in the Polylang settings, the current language doesn't seem to update.

• Solution: Ensure that the Polylang language switcher widget or language switcher code is properly integrated into your theme. Additionally, make sure that you're using the appropriate language codes when setting up your content in the Polylang settings.

🔸 Issue #2: Undefined Variable Error

• Problem: When using the code snippet mentioned earlier, you encounter an "undefined variable" error.

• Solution: Make sure you're using the correct syntax in your code. Remember, it should be PLL()->curlang, not $curlang.

🔸 Issue #3: Language Déjà Vu

• Problem: The same content is shown on multiple language pages, even though you've translated everything correctly in Polylang.

• Solution: Double-check your page templates for any hardcoded content. Instead, make use of Polylang's functions or tags to output the appropriate content, ensuring that it's language-aware.

💬 Engage with Us!

We hope this guide helped you confidently determine the current language of a WordPress page when using Polylang. ✨

If you have any questions, suggestions, or additional tips, feel free to leave us a comment below. Let's dive into the conversation and help each other create amazing multilingual experiences! 🌍

💻 Don't forget to share this blog post with fellow WordPress enthusiasts and developers who might find it useful. Together, let's break the language barriers on the web! 🙌