How do do_action and add_action work?

Question

I am trying to find what exactly do_action and add_action works. I already examine with add_action but for do_action i am trying as new now. This what i tried.

function mainplugin_test() {

$regularprice = 50;

if(class_exists('rs_dynamic')) {
$regularprice = 100;
}

// and doing further
//like i echoing the regular price
echo $regularprice; //It print 100 from this code

}

Now instead of placing few code in main file i am planning to create do_action to avoid code messing issue.

    function mainplugin_test() {

    $regularprice = 50;

    do_action('testinghook');

// and doing further
//like i echoing the regular price
echo $regularprice; //It should print 100 but it print 50

    }

so i created another function to point out that hook as something like

function anothertest() {
if(class_exists('rs_dynamic')) {
$regularprice = 100;
}
}
add_action('testinghook','anothertest');

Not sure how to add the lines of code to that hook that above function may work? As per i tried in my testing environment nothing helps. If i understand correct do_action is more like including a file??? If not please advise me.

Thanks.

Answer 1

The reason it didn't print 100, because $regularprice within anothertest() function is local to that function. The variable $regularprice used in parent mainplugin_test() function is not same as the variable used in anothertest() function, they are in separate scope.

So you need to either define the $regularprice in a global scope (which is not a good idea) or you can pass argument as a parameter to do_action_ref_array. The do_action_ref_array is the same as do_action instead it accepts second parameter as array of parameters.

Passing as argument:

function mainplugin_test() {

    $regularprice = 50;

    // passing as argument as reference
    do_action_ref_array('testinghook', array(&$regularprice));

    echo $regularprice; //It should print 100

}

// passing variable by reference
function anothertest(&$regularprice) {
    if(class_exists('rs_dynamic')) {
        $regularprice = 100;
    }
}
// remain same
add_action('testinghook','anothertest');

Answer 2

//with do_action we create own tag(hook) use in wordpress Ex. Here I added 1 custom function to call this In add_action I added function name with any custom tag name With do_action(my custom tag name)

function mywork()
{
    echo "display my name";
}

add_action('mytag','mywork');

do_action('mytag');

---add_action()---

hook-specific hook that will affect by function()

 add_action( hook, **function**() )

It will change functionality and behaviour of wordpress by Specific “hook” we can change it and functions method.

Answer 3

do_action creates an action hook, add_action executes hooked functions when that hook is called.

For example, if you add the following in your theme's footer:

do_action( 'my_footer_hook' );

You can echo content at that location from functions.php or a custom plugin:

add_action( 'my_footer_hook', 'my_footer_echo' );
function my_footer_echo(){
    echo 'hello world';
}

You can also pass variables to a hook:

do_action( 'my_footer_hook', home_url( '/' ) );

Which you can use in the callback function:

add_action( 'my_footer_hook', 'my_footer_echo', 10, 1 );
function my_footer_echo( $url ){
    echo "The home url is $url";
}

In your case, you're probably trying to filter the value based on a condition. That's what filter hooks are for:

function mainplugin_test() {
    echo apply_filters( 'my_price_filter', 50 );
}

add_filter( 'my_price_filter', 'modify_price', 10, 1 );
function modify_price( $value ) {
    if( class_exists( 'rs_dynamic' ) )
        $value = 100;
    return $value;
}

Reference

• add_action()
• do_action()
• add_filter()
• apply_filters()

Answer 4

Actually, the add_action is an action hook which is used to invoke an action (a registered handler) on a certain point depending on the action and the do_action is used to manually invoke that registered action. For example:

add_action('some_hook', 'handler_for_some_hook');

This handler will be invoked when you take or the script does the some_action but if you want you may invoke that action manually using the do_action. So, basically the do_action invokes the registered action hook when you call it. Check more on Codex.