wp-admin-toolbar

WordPress Admin Toolbar

Build toolbar extensions through the public PHP API. In WordPress 7.1 the bar is also present by default in the Post and Site Editors, except in Distraction Free mode, so every node must tolerate those contexts.

Add a capability-aware node

add_action(
	'admin_bar_menu',
	static function ( WP_Admin_Bar $bar ): void {
		if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
			return;
		}

		$bar->add_node(
			array(
				'id'     => 'myplugin-status',
				'parent' => false,
				'title'  => esc_html__( 'Service status', 'my-plugin' ),
				'href'   => admin_url( 'admin.php?page=my-plugin' ),
				'meta'   => array(
					'class' => 'myplugin-toolbar-status',
					'title' => __( 'Open service status', 'my-plugin' ),
				),
			)
		);
	},
	100
);

Use a globally unique, prefixed id. Add parents before children, keep labels short, and do not place forms, complex application UI, or request-controlled HTML in title. A CSS class is not a security boundary.

Context and WordPress 7.1

The same callback may run on the frontend, ordinary wp-admin, network admin, the Post Editor, and the Site Editor. get_current_screen() is admin-only and can be null; guard it:

$screen = function_exists( 'get_current_screen' ) ? get_current_screen() : null;

if ( $screen && ( 'site-editor' === $screen->id || $screen->is_block_editor() ) ) {
	return;
}

Do not assume the Site Editor is a normal full-page reload context. Re-test focus, submenu positioning, styles, and destinations. Prefer normal links to scripts tied to one document lifecycle. If the node is irrelevant in editors, omit it explicitly rather than hiding it with fragile CSS.

WordPress owns the W logo, site icon, site title, and editor back button. Do not replace their semantics. The toolbar may be absent in Distraction Free mode, so never make it the only path to a required feature.

Remove or change nodes

Hook after the node's registration priority, then use get_node(), add_node() to update, or remove_node() to remove. Never manipulate the rendered DOM as the primary implementation.