Unlock a Sleek Look: Google Material Icons in WordPress

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How to Use Google Material Icons in WordPress

Google Material Icons are a fantastic resource for adding visual elements to your WordPress website. These icons, designed by Google, are not only stylish and modern but also scalable and lightweight. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to integrate and use Google Material Icons in WordPress. By the end of this post, you’ll be finally ready to enhance your website’s design with ease.

google-material-icons-in-wordpress

Why Use Google Material Icons In WordPress?

Before diving into the steps, let’s briefly discuss why Google Material Icons are worth considering. These icons are:

  1. Versatile: They suit various design needs, including websites, apps, and print materials.
  2. Lightweight: Because they use vector graphics, they load quickly and don’t compromise website performance.
  3. Customizable: You can easily change their size, color, and style to fit your branding.
  4. Accessible: Material Icons follow Google’s design principles, ensuring they are intuitive and user-friendly.

For example, you might use a “shopping cart” icon to enhance your e-commerce site or a “search” icon to improve navigation. Certainly, these reasons make them a go-to choice for many web developers. Now, let’s explore how to use them in WordPress.

Adding Google Material Icons In WordPress

Method 1: Using a Plugin

If you prefer a straightforward approach, using a plugin is your best bet. Here’s how:

  1. Install a Plugin: Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New, and search for a plugin like “Material Icons Library” or “Better Font Awesome” (which also supports Material Icons).
  2. Activate the Plugin: After installation, click “Activate.”
  3. Insert Icons: Most plugins allow you to insert icons using shortcodes or a visual editor.

For instance, you can use a shortcode like [material_icon name="home"] to add a home icon.

This method is quick and doesn’t require any coding knowledge. However, plugins can sometimes slow down your website if not optimized well.

Method 2: Adding Google’s Material Icons In WordPress Manually

On the other hand, if you prefer more control, you can manually add Material Icons to your WordPress theme. Follow these steps:

    1. Adding Google’s Material Icons In WordPress Stylesheet:

    During your theme customization, navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor. Open the header.php file and add the following line within the <head> section:

    link href=”https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons” rel=”stylesheet”

    2. Use Icons in Your Content:

    After adding the stylesheet, you can in fact use Material Icons anywhere on your site. For example:

    i class=”material-icons”

    3. Customize Icons:

    You can style the icons with CSS to adjust their size, color, or alignment. For instance:

    .material-icons {
    font-size: 24px;
    color: #333;
    }

    Additionally, you can add hover effects or animations to make the icons more interactive. For example:

    .material-icons:hover {
    color: #007bff;
    transition: color 0.3s ease;
    }

    Indeed, this approach gives you full flexibility, though it does require basic coding knowledge. Be cautious when editing theme files, as updates may overwrite your changes.

    Method 3: Using a Page Builder

    Besides the above methods, popular page builders like Elementor or WPBakery often have built-in support for Material Icons. Here’s how to use them:

    1. Open Your Page Builder: Edit your page or post using Elementor or another builder.
    2. Add an Icon Widget: Drag and drop the icon widget onto your page.
    3. Select Material Icons: Choose Material Icons from the icon library, and customize their appearance.

    For example, you can adjust the icon’s size, color, and alignment directly in the builder’s settings. Some builders even allow dynamic integration, like linking icons to specific pages or actions.

    Certainly, this is a user-friendly option for those already using page builders.

    Google Material Icons In WordPress: Final Thoughts

    Google Material Icons are in fact a powerful tool for enhancing your WordPress website’s design. Whether you choose to use a plugin, manual method, or page builder, integrating these icons is straightforward. Each method has its pros and cons:

    • Plugins: Easy to use but may impact performance.
    • Manual Integration: Offers full control but requires coding knowledge.
    • Page Builders: User-friendly and integrated into the design workflow.

    Finally, don’t forget to keep your website’s performance in mind while adding icons. With proper implementation, Material Icons will undoubtedly elevate your site’s user experience.

    Have any questions or tips about using Material Icons in WordPress? Contact Codemixx now!