Description
Slim Language Switcher helps you present the same content in multiple languages without replacing WordPress’s own language files.
Add the languages you support, assign a default URL to each one, then optionally override those URLs on posts, pages, products, and terms. The plugin outputs a language switcher (shortcode or block) and can print hreflang tags plus JSON-LD for search engines.
Features
- Language directory stored in WordPress options (no custom database tables)
- Light, dark, and auto themes with editable color palettes
- Dropdown, list, and inline layouts
- Live appearance designer with a copyable shortcode
- Language Switcher block with layout and theme controls
- Alternate URL fields on posts, pages, public post types, and public taxonomies
- Optional WooCommerce shop, product category, and product tag support
- Optional hreflang and JSON-LD output
This plugin does not translate content automatically. Pair it with translated pages or a separate translation workflow.
Developer Notes
Render the switcher in a theme:
echo slim_language_switcher_get_switcher( array( 'layout' => 'dropdown', 'theme' => 'auto' ) );
CSS custom properties used by the switcher:
--mlmgr-bg--mlmgr-text--mlmgr-border--mlmgr-hover-bg--mlmgr-hover-text--mlmgr-accent--mlmgr-radius--mlmgr-font-size
Post and term meta key for alternate URLs: _slim_language_switcher_urls.
Screenshots
Blocks
This plugin provides 1 block.
- Language Switcher Display a customizable language switcher.
Installation
- Upload the
slim-language-switcherfolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory, or install the plugin from the WordPress plugins screen. - Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen.
- Open Slim Language Switcher Languages and add your languages.
- Style the switcher under Appearance, then place it with the shortcode, the Language Switcher block, or the PHP helper.
FAQ
-
How do I display the switcher?
-
Use the shortcode
[slim_language_switcher], insert the Language Switcher block, or callslim_language_switcher_get_switcher()in a theme template. -
What shortcode attributes are available?
-
layout (
dropdown,list,inline),theme(light,dark,auto),flags(yesorno), andnames(yesorno). Omit an attribute to inherit the value saved in Appearance. -
Does the plugin translate my site?
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No. It stores language metadata and alternate URLs, then helps visitors move between those URLs.
-
What happens when I delete the plugin?
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By default all plugin data is removed. Enable Keep languages, settings, and alternate URLs if the plugin is deleted in Settings if you want to preserve them.
Reviews
Contributors & Developers
“Slim Language Switcher – Multilingual Manager with hreflang SEO Tags” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “Slim Language Switcher – Multilingual Manager with hreflang SEO Tags” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.1.2
- Updated the directory title and plugin homepage URL.
1.1.1
- Distinctive Slim Language Switcher name and slug.
- Hardened HTML escaping for switcher and flag output.
1.0.0
- Initial release.