I have created a custom plugin. How do I define its slug?

To clarify, if I attach a custom PHP function to the manage_plugins_custom_column hook, and in that function print the value of the $plugin_data array for each plugin in my WordPress installation, that array will contain information about each plugin. Here is such a function:

function opn_render_date( $column_name, $plugin_file, $plugin_data ) {
  error_log( print_r( $plugin_data, true ) );
}
add_action( 'manage_plugins_custom_column', 'opn_render_date', 10, 3 );

And here is example output for one popular plugin in the WordPress repo (Classic Editor). In that output, the array element $plugin_data['slug'] => classic-editor can be seen. I have created a plugin, installed it, and activated it. The plugin functions as expected. But when I print out the same $plugin_data[] for my plugin, $plugin_data['slug'] does not exist. Why is that? How do I define the slug for my plugin?

If the issue is related to the header in my main plugin PHP file, that header can be seen here.

Maybe a slug is assigned by WordPress, only after a plugin is accepted to the WordPress plugin repo? I have not yet submitted it there.

edit: To clarify, I've written a plugin that is installed/activated via Dashboard-->Plugins.

I have created a custom plugin. How do I define its slug?

To clarify, if I attach a custom PHP function to the manage_plugins_custom_column hook, and in that function print the value of the $plugin_data array for each plugin in my WordPress installation, that array will contain information about each plugin. Here is such a function:

function opn_render_date( $column_name, $plugin_file, $plugin_data ) {
  error_log( print_r( $plugin_data, true ) );
}
add_action( 'manage_plugins_custom_column', 'opn_render_date', 10, 3 );

And here is example output for one popular plugin in the WordPress repo (Classic Editor). In that output, the array element $plugin_data['slug'] => classic-editor can be seen. I have created a plugin, installed it, and activated it. The plugin functions as expected. But when I print out the same $plugin_data[] for my plugin, $plugin_data['slug'] does not exist. Why is that? How do I define the slug for my plugin?

If the issue is related to the header in my main plugin PHP file, that header can be seen here.

Maybe a slug is assigned by WordPress, only after a plugin is accepted to the WordPress plugin repo? I have not yet submitted it there.

edit: To clarify, I've written a plugin that is installed/activated via Dashboard-->Plugins.

• plugins
• plugin-development
• slug

Share Improve this question edited Oct 21, 2019 at 13:36 cag8f asked Sep 16, 2019 at 14:22 cag8fcag8f 1,99733 gold badges2121 silver badges3131 bronze badges

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2 Answers 2

Sorted by: Reset to default 1

I eventually submitted this plugin to the WordPress repo. As soon as it was accepted, my plugin was assigned a slug. So it looks like the WordPress plugin admins assign your plugin a slug during the initial review process.

By default, it should be the folder of your plugin.

If you use wp cli, you can use

wp plugin list

to show all the plugin slugs.