[Post Link Shortcode] Generates a hyperlink for the current post in WordPress. Works great with the Elementor Post Loop widget. #wordpress #elementor

post_link_shortcode.php

<?php
/**
 * Generates a hyperlink for the current post, optionally using an external link, custom link text, or featured image.
 *
 * This shortcode can be used as [post_link], [post_link link_text="Custom Text"], or [post_link link_only="true" featured_image="true"].
 * - If the post has a meta field 'external_link', that URL will be used for the hyperlink instead of the permalink.
 * - The link will open in a new tab if using an external link.
 * - If 'link_only' is true, only the URL is returned.
 * - If 'featured_image' is true, the post's featured image is returned as a linked <img> element.
 *
 * @since 1.0.0
 *
 * @param array $atts {
 *     Optional. An array of shortcode attributes.
 *
 *     @type string $link_text      Optional. The link text to display. Defaults to the current post title.
 *     @type string $link_only      Optional. If "true", only the URL is returned. Otherwise, full <h2><a>...</a></h2> markup is returned. Defaults to "false".
 *     @type string $featured_image Optional. If "true", return the post's featured image as a linked image. Defaults to "false".
 * }
 * @return string The generated hyperlink HTML, image, or just the URL based on the shortcode attributes.
 */
function myplugin_post_link_shortcode( $atts ) {
  global $post;

  if ( ! isset( $post ) ) {
    return '';
  }

  $atts = shortcode_atts(
    array(
      'link_text'      => get_the_title( $post ),
      'link_only'      => 'false',
      'featured_image' => 'false',
    ),
    $atts,
    'post_link'
  );

  $external_link = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'external_link', true );
  $link_url      = ! empty( $external_link ) ? esc_url( $external_link ) : get_permalink( $post );
  $link_target   = ! empty( $external_link ) ? '_blank' : '_self';

  $link_only      = filter_var( $atts['link_only'], FILTER_VALIDATE_BOOLEAN );
  $featured_image = filter_var( $atts['featured_image'], FILTER_VALIDATE_BOOLEAN );

  if ( $link_only ) {
    return esc_url( $link_url );
  }

  if ( $featured_image ) {
    if ( has_post_thumbnail( $post ) ) {
      $image_html = get_the_post_thumbnail( $post, 'full' );
      return sprintf(
        '<a href="%s" target="%s">%s</a>',
        $link_url,
        esc_attr( $link_target ),
        $image_html
      );
    } else {
      return ''; // No featured image to return
    }
  }

  $link_text = esc_html( $atts['link_text'] );

  return sprintf(
    '<h2><a href="%s" target="%s">%s</a></h2>',
    $link_url,
    esc_attr( $link_target ),
    $link_text
  );
}
add_shortcode( 'post_link', 'myplugin_post_link_shortcode' );