get_plugins() doesn't work after plugins_loaded

Question

Any idea why the following code

function my_plugin_load()
{
    get_plugins();
}
add_action( 'plugins_loaded', 'my_plugin_load' );

Throws this error?

Fatal error: Call to undefined function get_plugins()

Shouldn't get_plugins() be defined after the plugins_loaded hook is fired? If not, what would be the proper hook to call? (This hook should initiate the plugin's bootstrap/load process)

Answer 1

Possibly you're trying to use that code in a non-admin page. The functon get_plugins is only available on admin side and if you ant to use it somewhere else you have to load the file "plugin.php" manually.

To solve this error add that check at the beginning of your function:

    if ( ! function_exists( 'get_plugins' ) ) {
        require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
    }