Scripts & Styles Functions

Last updated: February 12, 2026

Core functions for managing JavaScript and CSS assets.

Source: wp-includes/functions.wp-scripts.php, wp-includes/functions.wp-styles.php, wp-includes/script-loader.php

Script Functions

wp_scripts()

Initializes and returns the global WP_Scripts instance.

wp_scripts(): WP_Scripts

Since: 4.2.0

Returns: WP_Scripts instance.

wp_register_script()

Registers a script for later enqueueing.

wp_register_script(
    string $handle,
    string|false $src,
    string[] $deps = array(),
    string|bool|null $ver = false,
    array|bool $args = array()
): bool

Since: 2.1.0, 6.3.0 ($args array), 6.9.0 (fetchpriority)

Parameter	Type	Description
`$handle`	string	Unique script name
`$src`	string\|false	Script URL or false for alias
`$deps`	string[]	Dependency handles
`$ver`	string\|bool\|null	Version (false=WP version, null=none)
`$args`	array\|bool	Loading options or boolean for footer

Args Array:

Key	Type	Description
`strategy`	string	`'defer'` or `'async'`
`in_footer`	bool	Print in footer (default: false)
`fetchpriority`	string	`'auto'`, `'low'`, `'high'`

Returns: true on success, false on failure.

Example:

wp_register_script(
    'my-app',
    plugins_url( 'js/app.js', __FILE__ ),
    array( 'jquery', 'wp-api-fetch' ),
    '1.0.0',
    array(
        'strategy'  => 'defer',
        'in_footer' => true,
    )
);

wp_enqueue_script()

Enqueues a script for output. Registers if source provided.

wp_enqueue_script(
    string $handle,
    string $src = '',
    string[] $deps = array(),
    string|bool|null $ver = false,
    array|bool $args = array()
): void

Since: 2.1.0, 6.3.0 ($args array)

Parameter	Type	Description
`$handle`	string	Script handle
`$src`	string	Script URL (optional if pre-registered)
`$deps`	string[]	Dependencies
`$ver`	string\|bool\|null	Version
`$args`	array\|bool	Loading options

Example:

// Enqueue pre-registered script
wp_enqueue_script( 'jquery' );

// Register and enqueue in one call
wp_enqueue_script(
    'my-script',
    get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/script.js',
    array( 'jquery' ),
    '1.0.0',
    true
);

wp_dequeue_script()

Removes a script from the queue.

wp_dequeue_script( string $handle ): void

Since: 3.1.0

wp_deregister_script()

Unregisters a script. Protected scripts cannot be deregistered in admin.

wp_deregister_script( string $handle ): void

Since: 2.1.0

Protected Handles (admin only): jquery, jquery-core, jquery-migrate, jquery-ui-*, underscore, backbone

wp_script_is()

Checks script status.

wp_script_is( string $handle, string $status = 'enqueued' ): bool

Since: 2.8.0

Parameter	Type	Description
`$handle`	string	Script handle
`$status`	string	`'enqueued'`, `'registered'`, `'queue'`, `'to_do'`, `'done'`

Returns: true if script matches status.

wp_script_add_data()

Adds metadata to a registered script.

wp_script_add_data( string $handle, string $key, mixed $value ): bool

Since: 4.2.0

Key	Type	Description
`strategy`	string	`'defer'` or `'async'`
`group`	int	0 (header) or 1 (footer)

wp_add_inline_script()

Adds inline JavaScript to a registered script.

wp_add_inline_script(
    string $handle,
    string $data,
    string $position = 'after'
): bool

Since: 4.5.0

Parameter	Type	Description
`$handle`	string	Script handle
`$data`	string	JavaScript code (no `<script>` tags)
`$position`	string	`'before'` or `'after'`

Example:

wp_add_inline_script( 'my-script', 'window.MY_CONFIG = ' . wp_json_encode( $config ) . ';', 'before' );

wp_localize_script()

Passes PHP data to JavaScript as a global object.

wp_localize_script(
    string $handle,
    string $object_name,
    array $l10n
): bool

Since: 2.2.0

Parameter	Type	Description
`$handle`	string	Script handle
`$object_name`	string	JavaScript variable name
`$l10n`	array	Data array

Example:

wp_localize_script( 'my-script', 'myPluginData', array(
    'ajaxUrl' => admin_url( 'admin-ajax.php' ),
    'nonce'   => wp_create_nonce( 'my_action' ),
    'i18n'    => array(
        'loading' => __( 'Loading...', 'my-plugin' ),
    ),
) );

Output:

<script>
var myPluginData = {"ajaxUrl":"...","nonce":"...","i18n":{"loading":"Loading..."}};
</script>

wp_set_script_translations()

Sets translation text domain for a script.

wp_set_script_translations(
    string $handle,
    string $domain = 'default',
    string $path = ''
): bool

Since: 5.0.0

Parameter	Type	Description
`$handle`	string	Script handle
`$domain`	string	Text domain
`$path`	string	Path to translation files

Example:

wp_set_script_translations( 'my-editor', 'my-plugin', plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) . 'languages' );

wp_print_scripts()

Prints scripts in the queue.

wp_print_scripts( string|string[]|false $handles = false ): string[]

Since: 2.1.0

Returns: Array of printed script handles.

Style Functions

wp_styles()

Initializes and returns the global WP_Styles instance.

wp_styles(): WP_Styles

Since: 4.2.0

Returns: WP_Styles instance.

wp_register_style()

Registers a stylesheet for later enqueueing.

wp_register_style(
    string $handle,
    string|false $src,
    string[] $deps = array(),
    string|bool|null $ver = false,
    string $media = 'all'
): bool

Since: 2.6.0

Parameter	Type	Description
`$handle`	string	Unique style name
`$src`	string\|false	Stylesheet URL or false for alias
`$deps`	string[]	Dependency handles
`$ver`	string\|bool\|null	Version
`$media`	string	Media query (default: `'all'`)

Media Examples: 'all', 'screen', 'print', '(min-width: 768px)'

Example:

wp_register_style(
    'my-theme-style',
    get_stylesheet_uri(),
    array( 'dashicons' ),
    wp_get_theme()->get( 'Version' )
);

wp_enqueue_style()

Enqueues a stylesheet for output.

wp_enqueue_style(
    string $handle,
    string $src = '',
    string[] $deps = array(),
    string|bool|null $ver = false,
    string $media = 'all'
): void

Since: 2.6.0

Example:

wp_enqueue_style(
    'my-plugin-admin',
    plugins_url( 'css/admin.css', __FILE__ ),
    array(),
    '1.0.0'
);

wp_dequeue_style()

Removes a stylesheet from the queue.

wp_dequeue_style( string $handle ): void

Since: 3.1.0

wp_deregister_style()

Unregisters a stylesheet.

wp_deregister_style( string $handle ): void

Since: 2.1.0

wp_style_is()

Checks stylesheet status.

wp_style_is( string $handle, string $status = 'enqueued' ): bool

Since: 2.8.0

Status	Description
`'enqueued'`	In queue or dependency of queued
`'registered'`	Registered (may not be enqueued)
`'queue'`	Alias for enqueued
`'to_do'`	Will be printed
`'done'`	Already printed

wp_style_add_data()

Adds metadata to a registered stylesheet.

wp_style_add_data( string $handle, string $key, mixed $value ): bool

Since: 3.6.0

Key	Type	Description
`rtl`	bool\|string	`true`, `'replace'`, or RTL URL
`suffix`	string	Suffix for RTL (e.g., `.min`)
`alt`	bool	Alternate stylesheet
`title`	string	Stylesheet title
`path`	string	Absolute path (enables inlining)

RTL Example:

wp_register_style( 'my-style', 'style.css' );
wp_style_add_data( 'my-style', 'rtl', 'replace' );
wp_style_add_data( 'my-style', 'suffix', '.min' );
// Loads style-rtl.min.css in RTL mode

wp_add_inline_style()

Adds inline CSS to a registered stylesheet.

wp_add_inline_style( string $handle, string $data ): bool

Since: 3.3.0

Parameter	Type	Description
`$handle`	string	Style handle
`$data`	string	CSS code (no `<style>` tags)

Example:

$custom_css = sprintf(
    ':root { --primary-color: %s; }',
    esc_attr( get_theme_mod( 'primary_color', '#0073aa' ) )
);
wp_add_inline_style( 'my-theme-style', $custom_css );

wp_print_styles()

Prints stylesheets in the queue.

wp_print_styles( string|bool|array $handles = false ): string[]

Since: 2.6.0

Returns: Array of printed style handles.

Output Functions

wp_print_head_scripts()

Prints scripts queued for the head.

wp_print_head_scripts(): string[]

Since: 2.8.0

wp_print_footer_scripts()

Fires the footer scripts action.

wp_print_footer_scripts(): void

Since: 2.8.0

print_head_scripts()

Prints head scripts in admin.

print_head_scripts(): string[]

Since: 2.8.0

print_footer_scripts()

Prints footer scripts in admin.

print_footer_scripts(): string[]

Since: 2.8.0

print_admin_styles()

Prints stylesheets in admin head.

print_admin_styles(): string[]

Since: 2.8.0

print_late_styles()

Prints styles queued after head.

print_late_styles(): array|void

Since: 3.3.0

Utility Functions

wp_scripts_get_suffix()

Returns the script suffix based on SCRIPT_DEBUG.

wp_scripts_get_suffix( string $type = '' ): string

Since: 5.0.0

Type	SCRIPT_DEBUG=true	SCRIPT_DEBUG=false
`''`	`''`	`'.min'`
`'dev'`	`''`	`'.min'`

wp_get_script_polyfill()

Generates inline script for conditional polyfill loading.

wp_get_script_polyfill( WP_Scripts $scripts, string[] $tests ): string

Since: 5.0.0

Example:

$polyfill = wp_get_script_polyfill( wp_scripts(), array(
    'fetch' in window' => 'wp-polyfill-fetch',
) );

script_concat_settings()

Determines concatenation and compression settings.

script_concat_settings(): void

Since: 2.8.0

Sets globals: $concatenate_scripts, $compress_scripts, $compress_css

Scripts & Styles Functions

Script Functions

wp_scripts()

wp_register_script()

wp_enqueue_script()

wp_dequeue_script()

wp_deregister_script()

wp_script_is()

wp_script_add_data()

wp_add_inline_script()

wp_localize_script()

wp_set_script_translations()

wp_print_scripts()

Style Functions

wp_styles()

wp_register_style()

wp_enqueue_style()

wp_dequeue_style()

wp_deregister_style()

wp_style_is()

wp_style_add_data()

wp_add_inline_style()

wp_print_styles()

Output Functions

wp_print_head_scripts()

wp_print_footer_scripts()

print_head_scripts()

print_footer_scripts()

print_admin_styles()

print_late_styles()

Utility Functions

wp_scripts_get_suffix()

wp_get_script_polyfill()

script_concat_settings()

More in Scripts Styles

WP_Dependencies

WP_Scripts

WP_Styles