How can I change a function in a parent theme via a child themes functions.php

Question

I have a function in a parent theme:

function cyberchimps_logo_icons() { ?>
<header id="cc-header" class="row-fluid">
    <div class="span7">
        <?php if (function_exists('cyberchimps_header_logo') ) {
            cyberchimps_header_logo();
        } ?>
    </div>  

    <div id="register" class="span5">
        <?php if (function_exists('cyberchimps_header_social_icons') ) {
            cyberchimps_header_social_icons();
        } ?>
    </div>
</header>
<?php }
add_action('cyberchimps_header_content', 'cyberchimps_logo_icons');

I want to remove the social icons by removing the second half of this function. What's the best way to ADD something to a child themes functions.php to over ride this? I tried copying and pasting this into the child themes functions.php file, and deleting what I wanted gone, but the same function name can't be called twice.

Answer 1

On the init action, remove the action calling their function and enqueue an action calling your (differently named) function, like this:

add_action('init', 'wpse_80107_init');

function wpse_80107_init() {
    // remove parent theme's header content action
    remove_action('cyberchimps_header_content', 'cyberchimps_logo_icons');

    // add child theme's header content action
    add_action('cyberchimps_header_content', 'wpse_80107_logo_icons');

}

function wpse_80107_logo_icons() {
    // your custom code here
}