What It Does
Shortcode Inspector scans all registered shortcodes (excluding WordPress built-in ones like [gallery] and [embed]) and uses PHP Reflection to determine the exact source — which plugin, theme, mu-plugin, or core file registered each one. It shows the callback function, file path, line number, and extracted docblock description. You can also test any shortcode's output directly from the admin page.
Features
- Lists all non-core registered shortcodes with their tag name and callback function
- Source detection via PHP Reflection — identifies the plugin name, theme, mu-plugin, or core file that registered each shortcode
- Shows the exact file path and line number of the callback function
- Extracts description from PHPDoc comments on the callback function
- Extracts function parameter information (name, required/optional, default value)
- Test any shortcode directly — enter custom shortcode text and see the rendered output without switching pages
- Statistics dashboard showing total shortcode count broken down by source type (plugin, theme, mu-plugin, core, unknown)
- Refresh button to re-scan shortcodes (clears object cache first)
- Sorted by source type (plugins first, then themes, mu-plugins, core, unknown), then alphabetically
How to Use
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Open Shortcode Inspector
Go to WP Multitool > Shortcode Inspector in the admin menu.
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Browse registered shortcodes
The page shows all registered shortcodes with their source plugin/theme, callback function, file location, and description. Built-in WordPress shortcodes (gallery, playlist, audio, video, embed, caption) are excluded.
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Identify a shortcode's source
Each shortcode row shows the source type (plugin/theme/mu-plugin), the specific plugin or theme name, and the file path with line number.
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Test a shortcode
Enter a shortcode string (e.g., [my_shortcode attr="value"]) in the test area and submit to see the rendered HTML output and any PHP errors it produces.
FAQ
Why are some shortcodes listed as "Unknown Source"?
If a shortcode uses a closure (anonymous function) as its callback, PHP Reflection cannot determine the source file. These appear as "Unknown Source" with an "Anonymous function" callback.
Why don't I see [gallery] or [embed] shortcodes?
Built-in WordPress shortcodes (gallery, playlist, audio, video, embed, caption, wp_caption) are intentionally excluded to reduce noise. The inspector focuses on shortcodes added by plugins and themes.
Is the shortcode test safe to use?
The test executes the shortcode using do_shortcode() in the admin context. Most shortcodes are safe, but poorly written ones could have side effects. The test captures and displays any PHP errors separately.
Can I disable or remove shortcodes from here?
No. Shortcode Inspector is read-only — it helps you find and understand shortcodes but does not modify them. To remove a shortcode, deactivate the plugin that registered it.
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