Track Post View Count | functions.php

In your Blog (Front-End), you can display the Post View Counter by doing the following: Open the functions.php file located in your theme´s folder, and add (copy and paste) the following CODE-1. Save the file and upload it to the server.

CODE-1 :: Sets, Tracks and Displays the Count of Post Views

Note: To scroll within the code: You can also click on the code window and use your keyboard´s arrow keys.

<?php
/************************************CODE-1***************************************
* @Author: Boutros AbiChedid 
* @Date:   January 16, 2012
* @Websites: http://bacsoftwareconsulting.com/ ; http://blueoliveonline.com/
* @Description: Displays the Number of times Posts are Viewed on Your Blog.
* Function: Sets, Tracks and Displays the Count of Post Views (Post View Counter)
* Code is browser and JavaScript independent.
* @Tested on: WordPress version 3.2.1 
*********************************************************************************/
//Set the Post Custom Field in the WP dashboard as Name/Value pair 
function bac_PostViews($post_ID) {

	//Set the name of the Posts Custom Field.
	$count_key = 'post_views_count'; 
	
	//Returns values of the custom field with the specified key from the specified post.
	$count = get_post_meta($post_ID, $count_key, true);
	
	//If the the Post Custom Field value is empty. 
	if($count == ''){
		$count = 0; // set the counter to zero.
		
		//Delete all custom fields with the specified key from the specified post. 
		delete_post_meta($post_ID, $count_key);
		
		//Add a custom (meta) field (Name/value)to the specified post.
		add_post_meta($post_ID, $count_key, '0');
		return $count . ' View';
	
	//If the the Post Custom Field value is NOT empty.
	}else{
		$count++; //increment the counter by 1.
		//Update the value of an existing meta key (custom field) for the specified post.
		update_post_meta($post_ID, $count_key, $count);
		
		//If statement, is just to have the singular form 'View' for the value '1'
		if($count == '1'){
		return $count . ' View';
		}
		//In all other cases return (count) Views
		else {
		return $count . ' Views';
		}
	}
}
?>

Display the Post View Counter on Your Blog (Front-End) | single.php

After adding CODE-1. Now to display the Post View Counter, you need to add the Template Tag (CODE-2) to your theme´s single.php file. Add it where you want the Post View Counter to appear. Remember that CODE-2 must be added within the loop, otherwise it will not work.

What is “The Loop”? The Loop is used by WordPress to display each of your posts. Using The Loop, WordPress processes each of the posts to be displayed on the current page and formats them according to how they match specified criteria within The Loop tags. When WordPress documentation states “This tag must be within The Loop”, such as for specific Template Tag, the tag will be repeated for each post.

Final Result | Back-End (Dashboard)

The picture below shows the Views Column added to the “Posts” tab in the WordPress dashboard for this blog.

CODE-3 :: Creates a Post Views Column in the Dashboard

Note: To scroll within the code: You can also click on the code window and use your keyboard´s arrow keys.

<?php
/*********************************CODE-3********************************************
* @Author: Boutros AbiChedid 
* @Date:   January 16, 2012
* @Websites: http://bacsoftwareconsulting.com/ ; http://blueoliveonline.com/
* @Description: Adds a Non-Sortable 'Views' Columnn to the Post Tab in WP dashboard.
* This code requires CODE-1(and CODE-2) as a prerequesite.
* Code is browser and JavaScript independent.
* @Tested on: WordPress version 3.2.1
***********************************************************************************/ 

//Gets the  number of Post Views to be used later.
function get_PostViews($post_ID){
    $count_key = 'post_views_count';
    //Returns values of the custom field with the specified key from the specified post.
	$count = get_post_meta($post_ID, $count_key, true);

	return $count;
}

//Function that Adds a 'Views' Column to your Posts tab in WordPress Dashboard.
function post_column_views($newcolumn){
	//Retrieves the translated string, if translation exists, and assign it to the 'default' array.
    $newcolumn['post_views'] = __('Views');
    return $newcolumn;
}

//Function that Populates the 'Views' Column with the number of views count.
function post_custom_column_views($column_name, $id){
	
	if($column_name === 'post_views'){
		// Display the Post View Count of the current post.
		// get_the_ID() - Returns the numeric ID of the current post.
        echo get_PostViews(get_the_ID());
    }
}
//Hooks a function to a specific filter action.
//applied to the list of columns to print on the manage posts screen.
add_filter('manage_posts_columns', 'post_column_views');

//Hooks a function to a specific action. 
//allows you to add custom columns to the list post/custom post type pages.
//'10' default: specify the function's priority.
//and '2' is the number of the functions' arguments.
add_action('manage_posts_custom_column', 'post_custom_column_views',10,2);
?>

CODE-3 Notes:

If you added CODE-3 to your functions.php file, and you still don´t see the Views Column in your Dashboard, then make sure that your screen options is set to display the new column as shown in the image below:

CODE-3 requires CODE-1 and CODE-2. You can´t use CODE-3 on its own.

You could Manually set the value of the Custom Field ´post_views_count´ to numbers or letters if you want and it updates the count accordingly.

IF YOU don´t want to show the Post Views Column in your admin area, remove CODE-3.

If you want to display Post View Count in your WordPress dashboard but NOT on your Blog, then you need to modify the above CODE-2 (just remove the echo language construct from line 2 of CODE-2, as follows:

CODE-2a :: Post Views Template Tag (MODIFIED)

<?php if(function_exists('bac_PostViews')) { 
	bac_PostViews(get_the_ID()); 
}?>

CODE-3 adds a Non-Sortable Custom “Views” Column for Posts in the Dashboard. If you want to be able to sort that custom column, then check my next tutorial: How To Make the “Views” Column Sortable.

CODE-3 References:

• get_post_meta()
• add_filter()
• add_action()
• manage_posts_custom_column
• __()
• translate()

To Recap! In case You are Confused

I want to display Post Views on my Blog AND on my WordPress Dashboard: In this case, use CODE-1, CODE-2 AND CODE-3.

I want to display Post Views on my Blog ONLY (but Not on my WordPress Dashboard): In this case, use CODE-1 AND CODE-2.

I want to display Post Views on My WordPress Dashboard ONLY (but Not on my Blog): In this case, use CODE-1, CODE-2a AND CODE-3.

How This Code Could be Improved

The Post View Counter code above, specifically CODE-1, counts posts views based on visits or refresh rates. The post view counter increments for every time the single post reloads/refreshes. The code could improve as follows:

1. Post Views Count does not increment for Logged-in users, by using the is_user_logged_in() function. See CODE-1 MODIFIED that takes into consideration Logged-In Users.
2. Post Views Count increments only once per visitor per post by using PHP Sessions.

Can This be Done With Custom Post Types?

Apparently yes. Please read this comment thread.

Your Turn to Talk

You now have the choice to show the Post Views Count in your WordPress blog and in your WordPress Dashboard, and without a plugin. In the blog, the code displays how many times a post had been viewed. And in the dashboard the code adds a new column that tracks the number of views for your Posts.

How easy did you find this tutorial to implement? Do you have something to add or anything else to say? If so, please share your opinion in the comments section. Your opinion matters, unless it is a Spam.