Advanced Custom Fields: In-Depth Plugin Review in 2024

The Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin is one of the best plugins for managing meta fields and Custom Post Types (CPTs). With its rich history and a large user base, ACF has emerged as the go-to plugin for developers seeking an efficient way to customize and enhance their websites. In this article, we will explore the features, installation process, user interface, available field types, location rules, extra features, display options, and add-ons of the ACF plugin, equipping beginners with the knowledge to harness its potential.

ACF extends the built-in WordPress postmeta functionality, allowing you to effortlessly manage and customize any type of data within your website. With ACF, you are no longer limited to the default fields provided by WordPress. Instead, you can easily create custom fields and add them to your posts, pages, custom post types, and more. Whether you need to store additional information for products, events, or user profiles, ACF provides a seamless and intuitive way to handle and organize your custom data, giving you the flexibility to tailor your website to specific needs.

ACF has a long-standing history within the WordPress community and was published long ago in the year 2011. It has been trusted by developers and website creators for years to enhance the functionality of their WordPress sites. With its reliable performance and continuous development, ACF has garnered a large user base, making it one of the most popular plugins available today.

While there are other plugins in the market, such as Pods, Meta Box, and Custom Field Suite, ACF shines through with its distinct advantages. One of the key advantages of ACF is its extensive user base (2+ million), which translates into better support and a thriving community. More users mean more ideas, bug fixes, and plugin improvements.

ACF also offers a broader range of features compared to its competitors, providing developers with a comprehensive set of tools to customize their websites. Whether you need simple text fields, image galleries, or complex data structures, ACF has you covered. The plugin's intuitive and user-friendly interface ensures that even beginners can navigate through the customization process with ease.

Furthermore, ACF's documentation is highly regarded within the WordPress community. The clear and comprehensive documentation acts as a valuable resource, guiding users through the plugin's features and helping them leverage its full potential.

In summary, ACF's advantages over its competitors lie in its large user base, which translates into better support and continuous improvement, its extensive range of features, its user-friendly interface, and its comprehensive documentation.

The Advanced Custom Fields plugin has emerged as a powerful and feature-rich tool. With its extensive capabilities, ACF has become a go-to resource for developers, providing them with limitless opportunities to customize and enhance their websites. The main points are;

One of the key strengths of ACF lies in its ability to handle custom data seamlessly. With over 30 field types at your disposal, you can capture and display any information you require. For instance, you can create fields to collect customer testimonials, product specifications, event details, or even complex data structures. ACF allows you to build galleries to showcase a collection of images, and the "repeater" field enables you to create dynamic lists or itemized data with ease. The possibilities are truly endless.

Since the ACF 6.1 version, ACF enables you to effortlessly register Custom Post Types (CPT) and Taxonomies. This means that you can define and manage different content types beyond traditional posts and pages. For example, you can create a "Portfolio" CPT to showcase your projects or a "Recipes" CPT to share your culinary creations. With ACF, you have the flexibility to tailor your website's structure to match your specific needs.

ACF goes beyond just post and page customization. It empowers you to create options pages, which act as centralized hubs for managing site-wide settings. This feature is particularly useful when you need to configure global settings, such as site colors, logo, social media links, or custom scripts. With ACF's option pages, you can streamline the management of these settings, making it easier to maintain consistency throughout your website.

With the rise of the Gutenberg editor, ACF offers seamless integration through its ACF Blocks feature. ACF Blocks allow you to create and add custom Gutenberg blocks effortlessly. Think of these blocks as building blocks for your website's content. For example, you can create a custom block to showcase a testimonial slider, a call-to-action section, or a feature highlight. ACF Blocks provide a simple and intuitive way to extend the capabilities of the Gutenberg editor, giving you more control over the content creation process.

In addition to the mentioned features, the Advanced Custom Fields plugin offers numerous other functionalities, each serving as a valuable tool in the arsenal of web developers. From conditional logic to flexible field group layouts, ACF empowers you to craft personalized and dynamic websites.

In conclusion, the Advanced Custom Fields plugin is a treasure trove of possibilities for developers embarking on their website creation journey. With its extensive range of features, ACF serves as a reliable and versatile tool that simplifies customization and opens doors to endless creative opportunities.

It's important to know that there are two versions available: Basic and Pro. The Basic version has all the essential features you need and is suitable for most websites. On the other hand, the Pro version offers extra features and personal support.

We recommend starting with the Basic version, which provides ample functionality for many websites. If you later find yourself needing more advanced features, you can easily upgrade to the Pro version.

The good news is that the migration from Basic to Pro is painless and seamless. All the data you've already created using the Basic version will remain intact, ensuring a smooth transition without any loss or inconvenience.

So, the Pro version of Advanced Custom Fields offers several advantages over the Basic version. These include:

The Pro version introduces additional field types such as gallery, repeater, and flexible content.

• Gallery Field
  The Gallery field enables you to create image galleries within your content. You can easily upload multiple images or select them from your media library, providing a visually appealing way to showcase photo galleries, portfolios, or any collection of images.
• Group field
  The Group field allows for better organization and structuring of your fields. It's particularly useful for large sets of fields, as it simplifies navigation for editors and helps avoid potential name conflicts.
• Repeater Field
  The Repeater field allows you to create repeating sets of fields. It's like having a mini form within your form. This is especially useful when you need to collect and display multiple instances of the same type of data. For example, you can create a repeater field for a team member section, where you can add multiple team members with their respective information such as name, photo, and role. The ACF Repeater field gives you the flexibility to handle repetitive data structures with ease.
• Clone Field
  The Clone field type serves as a virtual connector, facilitating the linking of other fields or entire groups within various contexts, including nested groups or layout fields.
• Flexible Content Field
  The Flexible Content field is a versatile feature that enables you to create flexible and customizable layouts. It allows you to define different sets of fields, called layouts, and then choose and arrange these layouts within your content. This flexibility lets you create dynamic page structures with varying sections, such as hero banners, text blocks, image galleries, or any other content module you require. The ACF Flexible Content field empowers you to build highly customizable and reusable content layouts without limitations.

ACF Blocks is a powerful feature of the Advanced Custom Fields plugin that allows you to create custom Gutenberg blocks effortlessly. Gutenberg is the default WordPress editor, and blocks are the building elements of content.

With ACF Blocks, you can design and add unique blocks tailored to your website's needs. These blocks can be used for various purposes like testimonials, team member profiles, or call-to-action sections. ACF Blocks seamlessly integrate with the Gutenberg editor, and you can easily add, customize, and rearrange them.

The beauty of ACF Blocks is that you can use Advanced Custom Fields to define and control the fields within each block. This allows you to gather specific data for each block using custom fields like text inputs, image uploads, or select dropdowns. ACF Blocks provide flexibility and a user-friendly editing experience.

The options pages feature is very useful when you need to configure global settings, such as site colors, logo, social media links, or custom scripts. With ACF's option pages, you can streamline the management of these settings, making it easier to maintain consistency throughout your website.

Since version 6.2, you can create options pages using the plugin's UI.

With the Pro version, you gain access to priority support from the ACF team. They are known for their prompt and helpful assistance, ensuring that you receive timely solutions to any issues or queries you may have.

1. Access the WordPress Plugin Directory: Visit the "Plugins" section within your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Search for "Advanced Custom Fields": Type "Advanced Custom Fields" into the search bar.
3. Click "Install Now": Locate the ACF plugin in the search results and click the "Install Now" button.
4. Activate the Plugin: Once the installation is complete, click the "Activate" button to activate the ACF plugin.

Congratulations! You now have the basic version of Advanced Custom Fields up and running on your website.

To install the Pro version, follow these steps:

1. Purchase and Download the Pro Version: Visit the official ACF website and purchase the Pro version. Download the plugin file (usually a ZIP file) to your computer.
2. Access the WordPress Plugin Directory: In your WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to the "Plugins" section.
3. Click "Add New" and then "Upload Plugin": Click on "Add New" and select the "Upload Plugin" button.
4. Upload the Pro Version: Click the "Choose File" button and select the plugin ZIP file you downloaded. Then, click "Install Now."
5. Activate the Plugin: Once the installation is complete, click the "Activate" button to activate the ACF Pro plugin.

Find the new "ACF" item in your admin menu, and click on the "Updates" sub item. On the Updates page, enter your license key to unlock automatic updates.

When getting started with the Advanced Custom Fields plugin, it's important to familiarize yourself with some basic terms that will help you navigate and make the most of its features. Let's take a closer look at these terms:

1. ACF Group
   An ACF group is a container that holds a collection of related fields. It allows you to organize and group fields together for a specific purpose. Think of it as a folder that holds various files related to a specific project. For example, you might create an ACF group called "Product Details" that contains fields like "Product Name," "Price," and "Description."
2. ACF Field
   An ACF field represents a specific input or output element that captures or displays data. It defines the type of data you can enter or retrieve. You can think of an ACF field as a form field you encounter on a website, such as a text input, select dropdown, or image upload. Each field has its own settings and configurations, allowing you to customize its behavior and appearance.
3. Group Location Rules
   Location rules in ACF determine where your fields are displayed within the WordPress administration area. These rules define the context or conditions under which your fields will be visible. For example, you can set location rules to display certain fields only on specific pages, posts, or custom post types. This ensures that your fields appear exactly where you need them, providing a tailored editing experience.

So, ACF groups help you group related fields together, ACF fields represent the individual input or output elements, and location rules ensure that your fields appear in the right place at the right time. Together, these terms lay the foundation for creating and managing custom data structures with ease and efficiency.

As we mentioned before, ACF has over 30 field types, which gives you full flexibility over the content formats.

Below is a list of the main field types, which likely you'll use most often;

• Text
  The Text field type allows users to enter and store simple text or alphanumeric characters.
• Textarea
  The Textarea field type extends the Text field and is better suited for multiline text data.
• Wysiwyg
  The Wysiwyg-editor field type allows storing and managing HTML-related content.
• Number
  The Number field type enables users to input and store numerical values, including integers or decimal numbers.
• Url
  The Url field type allows users to input any URL, including both internal and external links.

• Image
  The Image field type allows users to upload and store image files, providing a convenient way to manage and display images within custom fields.
• oEmbed
  The oEmbed field provides an interactive component for embedding videos, images, tweets, audio, and other content. This field makes use of the native WordPress oEmbed functionality.
• Gallery
  The Gallery field type allows users to create and manage image galleries by uploading multiple images and arranging them in a specific order.
• Link
  The Link field type enables users to input and store URL links, including website addresses or internal/external links.
• Page Link
  The Page Link field type is specifically designed for internal links and provides additional filters to refine options for editors.
• File
  The File field type allows users to upload and store various file types, such as documents, PDFs, or multimedia files.

• True/false
  The True/False field type provides a checkbox or toggle option, allowing users to select either a true or false value.
• Select
  The Select field type offers a dropdown or list of predefined options, allowing users to choose a single value from the provided options.

• Relationship
  The Relationship field type allows to create connections between various post types, pages, or custom post types.
• Post Object
  The Post Object field type provides a dropdown or an autocomplete field that allows users to select and link to other posts or pages within the WordPress site.
• Taxonomy
  The Taxonomy field allows editors to choose terms and can be utilized as an alternative input to the native WP terms form.
• User
  The user field allows users to 'relate' one or more users to posts, CPT items, or other users.

• Google Map
  The Google Map field type integrates with the Google Maps API, enabling users to select and store geographic locations on a map.
• DatePicker
  The Date, DateTime, and Time fields are included in the Advanced group fields, enabling editors to select and store date, date and time, or just time data.

• Group
  The Group field allows for better organization and structuring of your fields. It's particularly useful for large sets of fields, as it simplifies navigation for editors and helps avoid potential name conflicts.
• Repeater
  The Repeater field type allows users to create repeatable sets of fields, making it possible to add multiple instances of a group of fields for structured data entry or flexible content display.
• Clone
  The Clone field type serves as a virtual connector, facilitating the linking of other fields or entire groups within various contexts, including nested groups or layout fields.
• Flexible
  The Flexible field stands apart from other field types, offering an enhanced editor experience.
  

You can find the full list of the supported field types on the official docs.

We have reviewed the basic terms, and now let's dig a bit deeper into the location rules. Through this setting, we'll be able to better understand the ACF capabilities.

So, the location rules determine where your ACF fields will be displayed. Let's explore the different location rule options available in ACF:

1. Page
   You can attach ACF fields to specific pages on your WordPress website. This means you can create custom fields that are visible and editable only when editing certain pages. For example, you might have a "Company history" File field that appears only on the "Home" page, allowing you to attach a unique file for the homepage.
2. Post:
   Similar to pages, ACF fields can be attached to individual posts. This allows you to customize the data associated with each post separately. For instance, you could have a "Rating" field that appears only when editing a "Movie Review" post, allowing you to assign a rating to that specific movie.
3. Custom Post Type:
   In addition to pages and posts, ACF fields can be associated with custom post types. Custom post types are a way to create content structures tailored to your specific needs. For example, if you have a WooCommerce store and use the "WooProducts" custom post type, you can attach ACF fields to this type of post to capture additional product information like SKU, price, or specifications.

In addition to the post and CPT admin screens, you can 'attach' your group to the following screens:

1. User:
   ACF fields can also be attached to user profiles, allowing you to gather additional information about users beyond the standard WordPress user fields. For instance, you might create fields to capture user details, such as their designation.
2. Options (Site-wide):
   ACF fields can be attached to site-wide options, which means they will be accessible and editable from anywhere within your WordPress site. These fields store data that applies globally across the entire website. An example could be a "Site Logo" field that allows you to easily change the logo displayed throughout your site.
3. Taxonomy:
   ACF fields can be associated with taxonomies, which are used to categorize and organize content. For instance, if you have a "Product Category" taxonomy, you can add ACF fields to this taxonomy to capture additional information specific to each category, such as a category description or image.

Whether it's customizing pages, posts, custom post types, user profiles, site-wide options, or taxonomies, ACF covers all the main aspects of WordPress, empowering you to create tailored and structured content with ease.

In addition to its core functionality, the Advanced Custom Fields plugin offers several extra features that enhance its capabilities and make it even more versatile. Let's explore these features in detail;

1. CPT and Taxonomy management
   ACF simplifies the process of creating custom post types (CPTs) and taxonomies in WordPress. CPTs allow you to define new content types with their own set of fields and characteristics. With ACF, you can effortlessly register custom post types and associate them with specific field groups, enabling you to tailor the editing experience for each content type. For example, you can create a CPT called "Testimonials" and add fields such as "Client Name," "Testimonial Text," and "Rating."
2. ACF Blocks
   ACF Blocks provide a seamless integration between ACF and the Gutenberg editor in WordPress. They allow you to create custom blocks with ACF fields, making it incredibly easy to add dynamic and customized content to your Gutenberg-powered pages and posts. ACF Blocks give you the ability to build reusable components that can be easily added and edited using the block editor. For instance, you can create a custom block for a "Call-to-Action" section that includes fields like "Title," "Description," and "Button Text."
3. Option Pages
   ACF Option Pages enable you to create global settings pages for your WordPress site. These option pages act as a centralized location for managing site-wide settings or configurations. They allow you to add fields that control various aspects of your website, such as site logo, social media links, or custom scripts. ACF Option Pages provide a user-friendly way to manage these settings without the need for coding. It's like having a control panel where you can adjust the site's behavior and appearance.

With these features, you can tailor your website's structure, content, and behavior precisely to your needs, making it a powerful tool for developers and content creators alike.

You can watch the video about the new CPT and Taxonomy management features below.

When it comes to displaying fields created with the Advanced Custom Fields plugin, there are a few approaches you can take.

One of the most basic methods is using the get_field() function, which is a universal and flexible way to retrieve and display field values. However, it requires you to know the field names and handle the return types correctly by referring to the ACF documentation.

To simplify the process, we can use a plugin called Advanced Views. The Lite version is free and introduces smart templates with automated template generation and built-in post queries.

We will utilize it to showcase ACF fields, and it also supports post fields and more. This plugin is a time-saver, as it automatically generates the necessary HTML markup based on the selected fields. You can learn more about the benefits of this plugin here.

Let's first clarify what we mean by 'templates' in the context of this plugin: Advanced Views templates are built on the Twig engine. You might be thinking, 'Not bad, but it still requires fetching fields via PHP and writing markup from scratch, not to mention reading Twig documentation'.

Here's where the plugin shines: "Smart templates". This means we don't have to fetch fields or create markup manually from scratch. The plugin provides a solid foundation that covers most use cases. If we require something specific, we can easily customize it. Isn't that nice?

To follow along; install the Advanced Views plugin on your WordPress site and remember to activate it. You'll also need the ACF (free) plugin installed and active.

Now, let's take a basic look at how it works.

The plugin introduces two new Custom Post Types (CPTs): ACF View and ACF Card.

• View for post data and Advanced Custom Fields
  We create a View and assign one or more post fields, the plugin then generates a shortcode that we'll use to display the field values to users. We can style the output with the CSS field included in every View.
• Card for post selections
  We create a Card and assign posts (or CPT items), choose a View (that will be used to display each item) and the plugin generates a shortcode that we'll use to display the set of posts. The list of posts can be assigned manually or dynamically with filters.

The plugin offers us the convenience of working with familiar WordPress CPTs while taking care of querying and automatically generating Twig markup templates.

All we need to do is specify our requirements, and we'll receive a shortcode ready to be placed anywhere. In the Pro version, instead of the shortcode usage, we can create and use a Gutenberg block (with a simple checkbox toggle). This feature is highly valuable if you are using a block-based theme.

Let's consider a practical example to see the plugin in action.

When you've activated the Advanced Views plugin you'll see a new item in your admin menu, called "Advanced Views".

In the submenu, there are several items, but we'll only need to use the one called 'Advanced Views'.

Visit the Advanced Views tab, click the 'Add New' button to create a View.

Give a name for your View. It can be anything that describes the View, this is the name that will be displayed in the list of Views making it easier to find. I've called my View "Page side image".

Now you need to assign a new field to your View. Click the 'Add Field' button and select your 'Group' from the dropdown. In our case, the group is called "Page fields". Then select the target field from the list. In our case, the field is called "Side image". (Note: The field type is shown in brackets for easy identification). In this case, you should see the type is an "image", continue to choose an 'Image Size' from the list of sizes available, in our case we've chosen 'Full'.

Every View supports an unlimited amount of ACF fields, but in our case, we'll use only one.

Click on the 'Publish' button to save and publish your View . After your View is published you'll notice that Shortcodes were generated in a block on the right side of your View edit screen. Every View has its own shortcode with a unique ID. So the shortcode structure is the same for all Views, but arguments are unique.

[acf_views view-id="xxxx" name="x"]

Click on the 'Copy to clipboard' button for the first shortcode of your View.

Okay, so now everything should be ready to display the image field. Visit the target page with the image field. Make sure the field has an image attached, and then paste the shortcode anywhere you'd like in the page content. To paste the shortcode with the Gutenberg editor, click on the plus button and choose the "Shortcode" block from the list. Paste your shortcode in the block and click the 'Update' button to save your post/page.

Visit the page to see the result, and if you've done everything correctly then you should see your ACF image displayed in the content.

If you can't see your image, then go back and edit the page. Make sure you've attached an image to the ACF image field because if the field is empty it'll have nothing to display.

Let's see how you can use the get_field() function to display different field types:

The Link field with the "URL" Return Format:

<?php

// don't forget to replace 'link' with your field name
$linkUrl = get_field('link');

if ($linkUrl) {
    // displays the link. Each %s in the string will be replaced with the related argument
    printf("<a href='%s' target='_blank'>Read more</a>",
        esc_url($linkUrl));
}

The Image field with the "ID" Return Format:

// don't forget to replace 'image' with your field name
$imageID = get_field('image');
// can be one of the built-in sizes ('thumbnail', 'medium', 'large', 'full' or a custom size)
$size = 'full';

if ($imageID) {
    // creates the img tag
    echo wp_get_attachment_image($imageID, $size);
}

The File field with the "URL" Return Format:

<?php

// don't forget to replace 'file' with your field name
$fileUrl = get_field('file');
if ($fileUrl) {
    // displays the file. Each %s in the string will be replaced with the related argument
    printf("<a href='%s' download='prices.pdf'>Prices.pdf</a>", esc_attr($fileUrl));
}

To get additional information, watch the video below and read the official ACF article.

If your website has, or going to have, content in several languages, then you may have a question about translation.

As you know, WordPress doesn't offer multilingual out of the box. So, to make your website multilingual, you need to use some plugins. The most popular are WPML and Polylang.

So, in fact, supporting the field translation is a matter of the plugin, that you use. The good news is that as we mentioned, ACF is super popular, and most of the multilingual plugins fully support ACF. And provide multiple options about it: to translate only field values or even field labels.

Both WPML and Polylang support ACF groups and fields out of the box.

Tip: The ACF options page is a feature, that uses another approach, than other features. It means translation of the options page may require extra steps. You can read more in the ACF options page article.

One of the reasons for the popularity of the Advanced Custom Fields plugin is the availability of powerful add-ons that extend its functionality and add extra useful features. These add-ons provide additional tools and enhancements. Let's take a look at some of them:

1. ACF: Better Search
   This addon enhances the search functionality of your website by enabling the search to include content from ACF fields. It ensures that your visitors can find relevant results based on the custom data you've added using ACF.
2. Advanced Views
   The plugin introduces smart templates to display your content easily. It has built-in post queries and automated template generation. So we can develop quickly, and maintain flexibility.
3. ACF Quick Edit Fields
   With this addon, you can edit ACF field values directly from the WordPress Quick Edit screen. It provides a convenient way to make quick changes to your custom fields without navigating to the full edit screen.
4. Admin Columns
   The plugin allows administrators to customize and display custom field data as columns in the admin area. This streamlines editing by providing a quick overview of relevant information.

These are just a few examples of the add-ons available for the ACF plugin. Each add-on serves a specific purpose and offers unique features that can enhance your website's functionality and user experience. Whether you need to improve search capabilities, streamline editing processes, optimize SEO for custom content, or create interactive tables, there is likely an add-on available to meet your requirements.

Developers of the Advanced Custom Fields plugin have constantly been improving the plugin. Below we review the last most significant releases:

Since 21st April 2022, the plugin has a new modern UI.

Since 3rd April 2023, we can create Post Types and Taxonomies using the plugin's UI.

Since 9th August 2023, we can create Options Pages using the plugin's UI. In addition, the new Bidirectional feature for Relationships fields allows us to get related posts without making a WP_Query.

Tip: The list is been updated. Bookmark the article to stay posted about the new most important updates. As this article covers all the most important features, you can use it along with the official docs.

The Advanced Custom Fields plugin is a powerful tool that simplifies working with custom data in WordPress. With its user-friendly interface and extensive features, ACF has become a go-to choice for developers during website creation. The plugin offers an array of possibilities, including custom post type and taxonomy registration, adding various field types like galleries and repeaters, creating options pages, and easily integrating with Gutenberg blocks through ACF blocks.

When installing ACF, beginners can start with the Basic (free) version, which provides core functionality and is sufficient for many websites. For those seeking additional features and personal support, upgrading to the Pro version is recommended. Notably, migrating from Basic to Pro is a painless process that preserves all previously created data.

Understanding the basic terms of ACF, such as ACF group and ACF field, is essential. ACF fields can be attached to different sources like pages, posts, custom post types, users, options (site wide), and taxonomies. This versatility covers all the main aspects of WordPress, allowing developers to customize their websites extensively.

Displaying ACF fields can be achieved using the flexible get_field() function, which offers a universal and flexible approach. However, it requires careful consideration of field names and return types, with reference to ACF's documentation. Alternatively, the Advanced Views add-on simplifies the process, by allowing the display of selected ACF fields or posts anywhere on the website using shortcodes. The add-on automatically generates HTML markup, providing a convenient solution for showcasing custom data.

ACF's popularity is further enhanced by the availability of various add-ons. These add-ons extend the functionality of the plugin, offering features such as enhanced search capabilities, quick editing of ACF fields, content analysis for SEO purposes, and the ability to create dynamic tables. The diverse range of add-ons ensures that developers can tailor ACF to their specific needs.

In conclusion, the Advanced Custom Fields plugin empowers developers with a user-friendly interface, extensive features, and a vast array of possibilities for customizing WordPress websites. By leveraging its capabilities, beginners can easily manage custom data, display fields efficiently, and enhance functionality through a wide range of add-ons. Whether building a simple blog or a complex e-commerce site, ACF proves to be an invaluable tool for creating dynamic and customized WordPress experiences.