How to use dashicons or icons in WordPress meta box?

Adding icons to a WordPress meta box can significantly enhance its visual appeal and usability. Icons help users quickly identify the purpose of the meta box, making the interface more intuitive. WordPress provides a built-in library of icons called Dashicons, which can be easily integrated into various parts of the admin panel, including meta boxes.

Understanding Dashicons in WordPress

Dashicons is the default icon font bundled with WordPress. It contains a wide range of icons that can be used in admin menus, buttons, meta boxes, and more. Since WordPress already loads Dashicons in the admin panel, there is no need to enqueue any extra scripts or styles.

Steps to Add Dashicons to a WordPress Meta Box

To include Dashicons in a custom meta box, follow these steps:

1. Register the Meta Box

First, create a meta box using the add_meta_box function. In the example below, a meta box named “Custom Meta Box” is added to the post editor screen.

function custom_meta_box() {
    add_meta_box(
        'custom_meta', 
        'Custom Meta Box',
        'custom_meta_box_callback',
        'post', 
        'side', 
        'high'
    );
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'custom_meta_box');

2. Display Dashicons Inside the Meta Box

Within the callback function of the meta box, Dashicons can be incorporated using HTML classes. Below is an example of a callback function that displays an icon:

function custom_meta_box_callback() {
    echo '
';
    echo '';
    echo '
This is a custom meta box with an icon.
';
    echo '
';
}

Here, the dashicons-admin-generic class is used to load the generic admin icon.

3. Enqueue Dashicons for Custom Pages (if needed)

By default, Dashicons are loaded in the WordPress admin panel. However, if you are working on a custom admin page where Dashicons are not included, you need to enqueue them manually:

function load_dashicons() {
    wp_enqueue_style('dashicons');
}
add_action('admin_enqueue_scripts', 'load_dashicons');

Using Custom Icons Instead of Dashicons

If Dashicons do not fit your design preferences, you can use custom icons instead:

• Upload an icon to your theme or plugin directory.
• Use CSS to style and position the icon.
• Apply the icon using an img tag within the meta box.

Example of using a custom icon:

function custom_meta_box_callback() {
    echo '
';
    echo '';
    echo '
Custom icon loaded in the meta box.
';
    echo '
';
}

Best Practices for Using Icons

When adding icons to meta boxes, consider the following best practices:

• Choose meaningful icons: Ensure the icon represents the function or content of the meta box.
• Maintain consistency: Use a uniform size and style for icons across the admin panel.
• Avoid excessive decorations: Icons should enhance usability, not clutter the interface.
• Test across devices: Verify that icons display correctly on different screen sizes and resolutions.

Conclusion

Using Dashicons in WordPress meta boxes is an excellent way to improve the appearance and usability of the admin interface. Since Dashicons are built into WordPress, integrating them is straightforward and does not require additional dependencies. By following best practices and keeping the design consistent, you can make your custom meta boxes more professional and user-friendly.