Admin Bar Functions

Last updated: February 12, 2026

Functions for managing the WordPress admin bar, defined in wp-includes/admin-bar.php.

Visibility Functions

show_admin_bar()

Sets the display status of the admin bar globally.

show_admin_bar( bool $show ): void

Parameters:

$show (bool) – Whether to allow the admin bar to show

Usage:

// Hide admin bar on front-end
show_admin_bar( false );

// Can be called immediately on plugin load
// Does not need to be hooked to 'init'

Note: This sets a global $show_admin_bar variable. The show_admin_bar filter is still applied.

is_admin_bar_showing()

Determines whether the admin bar should be showing.

is_admin_bar_showing(): bool

Returns: true if admin bar should show, false otherwise

Automatic False Conditions:

XMLRPC requests (XMLRPC_REQUEST defined)
AJAX requests (DOING_AJAX defined)
iFrame requests (IFRAME_REQUEST defined)
JSON requests (wp_is_json_request() returns true)
Embedded content (is_embed() returns true)

Usage:

if ( is_admin_bar_showing() ) {
    // Enqueue admin bar specific scripts
}

_get_admin_bar_pref()

Retrieves the admin bar display preference of a user. Private function.

_get_admin_bar_pref( string $context = 'front', int $user = 0 ): bool

Parameters:

$context (string) – Preference context: ‘front’ (default). ‘admin’ is no longer used.
$user (int) – User ID. Defaults to 0 (current user).

Returns: Whether admin bar should show for this user

Initialization Functions

_wp_admin_bar_init()

Instantiates the admin bar object and sets it up as a global. Private function.

_wp_admin_bar_init(): bool

Returns: Whether the admin bar was successfully initialized

Important: Unhooking this function will NOT properly remove the admin bar. Use show_admin_bar(false) or the show_admin_bar filter instead.

Process:

Checks is_admin_bar_showing()
Applies wp_admin_bar_class filter to get class name
Instantiates the class
Calls initialize() and add_menus()

wp_admin_bar_render()

Renders the admin bar to the page.

wp_admin_bar_render(): void

Hook Locations:

Called on wp_body_open action (primary)
Called on wp_footer action (fallback for older themes)

Fires Actions:

admin_bar_menu – Add/modify menu items
wp_before_admin_bar_render – Before rendering
wp_after_admin_bar_render – After rendering

Note: Only renders once per request (uses static $rendered flag).

Core Menu Functions

These functions add the default admin bar menus. All accept WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar as parameter.

wp_admin_bar_wp_menu()

Adds the WordPress logo menu with About, Documentation, and Support links.

wp_admin_bar_wp_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 10

Nodes Created:

wp-logo – Main logo node
about – About WordPress
contribute – Get Involved
wp-logo-external – Group for external links
wporg – WordPress.org
documentation – Documentation
learn – Learn WordPress
support-forums – Support
feedback – Feedback

wp_admin_bar_sidebar_toggle()

Adds the sidebar toggle button (admin only).

wp_admin_bar_sidebar_toggle( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 0

Nodes Created:

menu-toggle – Toggle button

wp_admin_bar_my_account_item()

Adds the "My Account" top-level item with avatar.

wp_admin_bar_my_account_item( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 9991

Nodes Created:

my-account – Parent in top-secondary group

wp_admin_bar_my_account_menu()

Adds the "My Account" submenu items.

wp_admin_bar_my_account_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 0

Nodes Created:

user-actions – Group
user-info – User avatar and name
logout – Log Out link

wp_admin_bar_site_menu()

Adds the "Site Name" menu with Dashboard/Visit Site links.

wp_admin_bar_site_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 30

Nodes Created:

site-name – Main site node
view-site / dashboard – Context-dependent link
edit-site – Manage Site (multisite)
Calls wp_admin_bar_appearance_menu() on front-end

wp_admin_bar_appearance_menu()

Adds appearance submenu items to the Site Name menu.

wp_admin_bar_appearance_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Nodes Created:

appearance – Group
themes – Themes link
widgets – Widgets link
menus – Menus link
background – Custom Background
header – Custom Header

wp_admin_bar_edit_site_menu()

Adds "Edit Site" link for block themes (Site Editor).

wp_admin_bar_edit_site_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 40

Conditions:

Block theme must be active (wp_is_block_theme())
User must have edit_theme_options capability
Must be on front-end (not admin)

Nodes Created:

site-editor – Edit Site link with current template

wp_admin_bar_customize_menu()

Adds the "Customize" link.

wp_admin_bar_customize_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 40

Conditions:

For block themes, only shows if plugins use customizer
User must have customize capability
Must be on front-end

Nodes Created:

customize – Customize link with return URL

wp_admin_bar_my_sites_menu()

Adds "My Sites" menu for multisite installations.

wp_admin_bar_my_sites_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 20

Conditions:

User must be logged in
Must be multisite installation
User must have at least one site OR be super admin

Nodes Created:

my-sites – Main node
my-sites-super-admin – Group for network admin links
network-admin – Network Admin with subitems
my-sites-list – Group for site list
blog-{id} – Individual site nodes with subitems

wp_admin_bar_shortlink_menu()

Provides a shortlink input for the current page.

wp_admin_bar_shortlink_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Nodes Created:

get-shortlink – Shortlink with input field in meta HTML

wp_admin_bar_edit_menu()

Provides Edit/View links for posts and terms.

wp_admin_bar_edit_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 80

Context-Aware Behavior:

Admin (post editor): View/Preview post link
Admin (post list): View archive link
Admin (term editor): View term link
Admin (user editor): View user link
Front-end (single post): Edit post link
Front-end (term archive): Edit term link
Front-end (author page): Edit user link

Nodes Created:

edit / view / preview / archive – Context-dependent

wp_admin_bar_new_content_menu()

Adds "Add New" menu for creating new content.

wp_admin_bar_new_content_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 70

Nodes Created:

new-content – Main "New" node
new-post – New Post
new-media – New Media
new-link – New Link
new-page – New Page
new-{cpt} – Custom post types with show_in_admin_bar = true
new-user – New User
add-new-site – New Site (multisite super admins)

wp_admin_bar_comments_menu()

Adds edit comments link with moderation count bubble.

wp_admin_bar_comments_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 60

Conditions:

User must have edit_posts capability

Nodes Created:

comments – Comments link with pending count

wp_admin_bar_updates_menu()

Provides update link if updates are available.

wp_admin_bar_updates_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 50

Conditions:

Must have available updates

Nodes Created:

updates – Updates link with count

wp_admin_bar_recovery_mode_menu()

Adds link to exit recovery mode when active.

wp_admin_bar_recovery_mode_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 9992

Conditions:

Recovery mode must be active (wp_is_recovery_mode())

Nodes Created:

recovery-mode – Exit Recovery Mode link

wp_admin_bar_search_menu()

Adds search form to admin bar.

wp_admin_bar_search_menu( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 9999

Conditions:

Only on front-end (not admin)

Nodes Created:

search – Search form in top-secondary group

wp_admin_bar_add_secondary_groups()

Adds secondary (right-aligned) groups.

wp_admin_bar_add_secondary_groups( WP_Admin_Bar $wp_admin_bar ): void

Priority: 200

Groups Created:

top-secondary – Right-aligned top-level group
wp-logo-external – External links under WP logo

Style Functions

wp_enqueue_admin_bar_header_styles()

Enqueues inline style to hide admin bar when printing.

wp_enqueue_admin_bar_header_styles(): void

CSS Added:

@media print { #wpadminbar { display:none; } }

wp_enqueue_admin_bar_bump_styles()

Enqueues inline bump styles to make room for admin bar.

wp_enqueue_admin_bar_bump_styles(): void

CSS Added:

@media screen { html { margin-top: 32px !important; } }
@media screen and ( max-width: 782px ) { html { margin-top: 46px !important; } }

Adding Custom Items

Using admin_bar_menu Hook

add_action( 'admin_bar_menu', 'my_custom_admin_bar_items', 100 );

function my_custom_admin_bar_items( $wp_admin_bar ) {
    // Add a top-level item
    $wp_admin_bar->add_node( array(
        'id'    => 'my-custom-menu',
        'title' => 'My Menu',
        'href'  => admin_url( 'options-general.php' ),
        'meta'  => array(
            'title' => 'Settings Page',
        ),
    ) );
    
    // Add a child item
    $wp_admin_bar->add_node( array(
        'parent' => 'my-custom-menu',
        'id'     => 'my-custom-submenu',
        'title'  => 'Submenu Item',
        'href'   => admin_url( 'options-general.php?page=my-settings' ),
    ) );
}

Removing Items

add_action( 'admin_bar_menu', 'remove_admin_bar_items', 999 );

function remove_admin_bar_items( $wp_admin_bar ) {
    $wp_admin_bar->remove_node( 'wp-logo' );
    $wp_admin_bar->remove_node( 'comments' );
    $wp_admin_bar->remove_node( 'updates' );
}

Using wp_before_admin_bar_render

For modifications without needing a specific priority:

add_action( 'wp_before_admin_bar_render', 'modify_admin_bar' );

function modify_admin_bar() {
    global $wp_admin_bar;
    
    // Get existing node
    $node = $wp_admin_bar->get_node( 'site-name' );
    
    // Modify and re-add
    if ( $node ) {
        $wp_admin_bar->add_node( array(
            'id'    => 'site-name',
            'title' => 'Custom Title',
        ) );
    }
}

Admin Bar Functions

Visibility Functions

show_admin_bar()

is_admin_bar_showing()

_get_admin_bar_pref()

Initialization Functions

_wp_admin_bar_init()

wp_admin_bar_render()

Core Menu Functions

wp_admin_bar_wp_menu()

wp_admin_bar_sidebar_toggle()

wp_admin_bar_my_account_item()

wp_admin_bar_my_account_menu()

wp_admin_bar_site_menu()

wp_admin_bar_appearance_menu()

wp_admin_bar_edit_site_menu()

wp_admin_bar_customize_menu()

wp_admin_bar_my_sites_menu()

wp_admin_bar_shortlink_menu()

wp_admin_bar_edit_menu()

wp_admin_bar_new_content_menu()

wp_admin_bar_comments_menu()

wp_admin_bar_updates_menu()

wp_admin_bar_recovery_mode_menu()

wp_admin_bar_search_menu()

wp_admin_bar_add_secondary_groups()

Style Functions

wp_enqueue_admin_bar_header_styles()

wp_enqueue_admin_bar_bump_styles()

Adding Custom Items

Using admin_bar_menu Hook

Removing Items

Using wp_before_admin_bar_render

More in Admin Bar

Admin Bar API Overview

WP_Admin_Bar Class

Admin Bar Hooks