05 — Shortcodes
A quick way to place content without using the block editor.
What's a shortcode?
A shortcode is a short piece of text in square brackets — like [raftaar_products] — that WordPress automatically replaces with real content when the page loads. Most of the blocks in Raftaar Commerce also work as shortcodes, which is useful if you need to paste the same content into a place that doesn't support the block editor — for example, inside a widget, or inside another plugin that only accepts plain text/shortcodes.
For most people building a page normally, you don't need shortcodes at all — just use the blocks described in Building Pages with Blocks. Shortcodes are a fallback option, not the primary way to build pages.
The Shortcode Builder
Rather than memorizing shortcode syntax, use the built-in visual tool:
- Go to Raftaar Commerce → Shortcode Builder in your WordPress admin.
- Configure your options using the same friendly controls as the block editor (pick products, choose a layout, etc.).
- Copy the generated shortcode.
- Paste it anywhere shortcodes are supported — a widget, another plugin, or a Classic Editor page.
Where shortcode versions come from automatically
Most blocks that support this have a small "copy shortcode" option right in the block's own toolbar while editing — so you can build something visually with the block editor, then grab the matching shortcode instead of using the Shortcode Builder separately.