How to Display WordPress Post View Count without a Plugin

WordPress plugins can add powerful features to your website, but sometimes, you may prefer a more lightweight approach, especially when it comes to displaying post view counts. In this guide, we’ll walk through a simple method to showcase your post views without relying on additional plugins.

Step 1

Open Your Theme’s/Childe Theme’s functions.php File.

Access your WordPress theme’s/child theme’s functions.php file. You can find it by navigating to your WordPress dashboard, selecting “Appearance,” then choosing “Theme Editor.” Look for the functions.php file on the right-hand side.

Insert Code Snippet for Post Views.

Add the following code snippet at the end of your functions.php file:

function getPostViews($postID){
    $count_key = 'post_views_count';
    $count = get_post_meta($postID, $count_key, true);
    if($count==''){
        delete_post_meta($postID, $count_key);
        add_post_meta($postID, $count_key, '0');
        return "0 View";
    }
    return $count.' Views';
}

function setPostViews($postID) {
    $count_key = 'post_views_count';
    $count = get_post_meta($postID, $count_key, true);
    if($count==''){
        $count = 0;
        delete_post_meta($postID, $count_key);
        add_post_meta($postID, $count_key, '0');
    }else{
        $count++;
        update_post_meta($postID, $count_key, $count);
    }
}

This code establishes two functions – getPostViews to retrieve post views and setPostViews to update them.

Step 2

Display Post Views in Your Theme

Now, wherever you want to display the post views on your site, insert the following code:

<?php echo getPostViews(get_the_ID()); ?>

You can add this code within your theme files, such as single.php or content.php, where you want the post views to appear.

By following these steps, you’ve successfully implemented a basic post view count feature without relying on a plugin, providing a lightweight and customizable solution for your WordPress site.