Many features that can be added to WordPress with a few lines of code are not worth wrapping into a plugin. Instead of writing a plugin for short snippets, we tend to paste the code snippets into a theme file called functions.php.

JournalXtra’s new QuickSnips category is the place to be to grab simple WordPress code snippets.
Ideally, snippets should be placed into a child theme’s functions.php file to prevent them being overwritten when the parent (theme) is updated.
You can get a good explanation of what a child theme is by reading this page in the WordPress Codex.
To add code snippets to a WP website:
- Use FTP or your web server’s file manager to browse to /wp-content/themes/THEME-NAME/functions.php
- Copy and paste one or more snippets into the bottom of functions.php
- Use the new feature as described under the snippets listing page
What to do when a site crashes after adding a snippet
- Remove the added code from functions.php
- Ask for advice in the snippet’s article comments board
What to do when the theme is changed
- If you still need the feature added by a snippet, copy the code into your new theme’s child’s functions.php file.
Need more advice? Ask questions in the comments board below.