How to display content conditionally in WordPress

Write down exactly who should see the content and where. Examples include visitors who are not logged in, users with a particular capability, people viewing one page, or everyone during a date range.

Keep security-sensitive content separate from ordinary personalisation. Hiding a callout is not the same as protecting a download, account page or paid material.

For simple template changes, add the content inside a PHP condition in the relevant template or template part. WordPress provides conditions such as is_page(), is_single(), is_front_page() and is_user_logged_in(). For permissions, use current_user_can() rather than relying only on a displayed role name.

For example, a template can check if ( is_user_logged_in() ) before outputting a member message, or check if ( is_page( 'contact' ) ) before showing a page-specific block. Combine conditions with PHP operators such as && and ||.

Put template-specific logic in the template or block pattern that outputs the content. If you put a conditional tag directly in functions.php, it can run before WordPress has determined the current page, so the condition may fail. WordPress recommends placing the check in a template or running it later through an action or filter.

Use a child theme or a code-snippet tool rather than editing a parent theme. Test the front end while logged out, logged in as a normal user and logged in as an administrator.

If editors need to place conditional text inside posts or pages, create or install a shortcode that wraps the content. A shortcode can return the enclosed content only when its condition is true; otherwise it should return an empty string or an alternative message.

This route is suitable for a small number of stable rules, but shortcode attributes are easy to mistype and the shortcode must be processed in that editor or page builder. Support threads commonly trace missing output to an incorrect role slug, caching, or a builder that is not processing the shortcode.

Many page builders include display conditions for individual sections or widgets. Look for settings named Display conditions, Visibility, Responsive conditions, Login status or Role. These are convenient for visual content, but the exact controls depend on the builder and may not cover location, date ranges or nested rules. Elementor, for example, documents conditions based on login status and user role.

Do not assume that hiding an element in the browser is access control. For private information, restrict the page, file or server-side response as well as hiding the visual element.

For content managed by non-technical editors, WP Brain - WordPress Logic Controller is the fast route. It provides no-code rules for conditions such as user role, device, location and date, and supports multiple operators and nested condition groups.

Create a rule for the block or content area, choose the conditions, select whether all or any conditions must match, then preview it with representative accounts and devices. This is a better fit than hand-written template checks when the same site needs several combinations of visibility rules.