adding custom script to functions file

Question

I have a problem adding a custom script to my functions.php file:

add_action('wp_print_scripts', 'load_AJAX_URL__');
function load_AJAX_URL__() {
    wp_localize_script( 'ajax_URL', 'MyAjax', array( 'ajaxurl' => admin_url('admin-ajax.php') ) );
}

Why is not working? any ideas?

Answer 1

The function wp_localize_script() is used to send variables to a script that has already been registered and enqueued. Do you have a js file that has been registered and enqueued and has the handle of 'ajax_URL'? If not, then that explains why it isn't working.

Also, ajaxurl is already a js variable that is accessible via any scripts you enqueue, so I'm not quite sure what you're trying to do here.

If you're just trying to add a new js file into your theme, you want to look at the wp_enqueue_script() function.

Answer 2

Ok you can do it this way.

function my_ajax_scripts() {
    $data = array( 'ajaxurl' => admin_url('admin-ajax.php') );
    wp_enqueue_script( 'ajax_url', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/my-custom-ajax.js' );
    wp_localize_script( 'ajax_url', 'MyAjax', $data );
    wp_enqueue_script( 'ajax_url_2', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/my-custom-ajax-2.js' );
    wp_localize_script( 'ajax_url_2', 'MyAjax', $data );
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'my_ajax_scripts' );

You need to enqueue the scripts first and then use wp_localize_script to pass a variable to that file using the handle of that particular js file.