> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.kaliumtheme.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.kaliumtheme.com/other/shortcodes.md).

# Shortcodes

Small tags that drop dynamic content, the copyright line, social icons, a template part, into places that only accept text.

A shortcode is a short tag in square brackets that WordPress swaps for real content when the page loads. `[date format="Y"]` becomes 2026. `[kalium_social_icons]` becomes your row of social links.

They're useful wherever you can type text but can't drop in a proper element, a widget, a text field, the middle of a paragraph.

**Two of them are already on your site.** Kalium's default footer puts `[kalium_site_info]` and `[kalium_social_icons]` into its first two widget areas, which is why the copyright year updates itself.

***

### Where shortcodes work

| Place                          | Works                                            |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Post and page content          | Yes                                              |
| The builder's **Text** element | Yes                                              |
| Text widgets                   | Yes, Kalium adds this; WordPress doesn't have it |
| WPBakery text elements         | Yes                                              |
| Theme option text fields       | Only where the field says so                     |
| Custom JavaScript fields       | No                                               |

Fields that accept shortcodes tell you: *"HTML and shortcodes are supported."*

{% hint style="info" %}
**A shortcode printing as plain text** means the field you put it in doesn't process shortcodes. Move it to page content, a text widget, or a builder Text element.
{% endhint %}

***

## The copyright line

### `[kalium_site_info]`

This is what builds the line at the bottom of your site.

| Attribute | Default                                             |
| --------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `display` | `{copyright} {year} {site_title} – {theme_credits}` |

Four placeholders are swapped for real values:

| Placeholder       | Becomes                                     |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `{copyright}`     | ©                                           |
| `{year}`          | The current year                            |
| `{site_title}`    | Your site name from **Settings -> General** |
| `{theme_credits}` | "WordPress theme by Laborator", linked      |

**To remove the theme credit** while keeping a year that updates itself, use:

```
[kalium_site_info display="{copyright} {year} {site_title}"]
```

Anything that isn't a placeholder is printed as written, so you can put your own wording around them:

```
[kalium_site_info display="{copyright} {year} {site_title}. All rights reserved."]
```

This is the cleanest way to change the footer branding.

{% content-ref url="/pages/l8xtrUxjFspuS2mvxieh" %}
[Adding/Editing Content](/general/footer/adding-editing-content.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

***

## Social icons

### `[kalium_social_icons]`

Shows the accounts you've set once under **Appearance -> Customize -> General -> Social Icons**. The shortcode takes the list from there, the attributes only change how it looks.

| Attribute   | Values                          | Default       |
| ----------- | ------------------------------- | ------------- |
| `icon`      | `yes` / `no`                    | `yes`         |
| `label`     | `yes` / `no`                    | `no`          |
| `spacing`   | a number                        | theme default |
| `size`      | a number                        | theme default |
| `radius`    | `rounded`, `square`, or a value | none          |
| `outline`   | `yes` / `no`                    | `no`          |
| `new_tab`   | `yes` / `no`                    | theme default |
| `no_follow` | `yes` / `no`                    | theme default |

Six color attributes take either `brand`, each network's own color, or any CSS color:

`color` · `color_hover` · `label_color` · `label_hover` · `background` · `background_hover`

```
[kalium_social_icons icon="yes" label="no" radius="rounded" background="brand"]
```

{% hint style="info" %}
**Nothing appears?** No accounts are set under **Customize -> General -> Social Icons**. The shortcode has no list of its own.

**A color attribute is ignored?** `background` and `outline` need a shape to work with. Set `radius` first.
{% endhint %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/JXNRnuAclvxlAQswipHY" %}
[Social Icons](/other/social-icons.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### `[lab_social_networks]`

The original social shortcode, kept working for sites built with earlier versions of the theme. **Existing uses keep working**, so there's no need to convert them. Use `[kalium_social_icons]` for anything new.

***

## Template parts and snippets

### `[kalium_section]`

Drops a Template Part of type **Section** into content, wherever you put the tag.

| Attribute          | Values                 | Default |
| ------------------ | ---------------------- | ------- |
| `id`               | The template part's ID | `0`     |
| `check_conditions` | `yes` / `no`           | `no`    |

```
[kalium_section id="482"]
```

Display conditions are skipped by default. You're placing it deliberately, so it appears where you put it. Set `check_conditions="yes"` to honor them anyway.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Nothing renders?** The ID must belong to a template part whose Type is **Section**. A Header, Footer, Page or Popup part returns nothing at all.
{% endhint %}

### `[kalium_snippet]`

Runs a Template Part of type **Snippet** inside content. The Template Parts list shows the ready-made tag in its **Shortcode** column.

| Attribute          | Values           | Default |
| ------------------ | ---------------- | ------- |
| `id`               | The snippet's ID | `0`     |
| `check_conditions` | `yes` / `no`     | `no`    |
| anything else      | Any text value   | None    |

```
[kalium_snippet id="512" title="Hello" count="3"]
```

Any extra attribute you add is handed to the snippet's code, which is how one snippet can produce different output in different places.

Only a **published** snippet runs. A disabled one returns nothing.

{% content-ref url="/pages/eH3odFVAjVe0zKkqyV37" %}
[Code Snippets](/template-parts/creating-template-parts/code-snippets.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

***

## Portfolio

### `[kalium_portfolio_share_buttons]`

The share buttons from a portfolio project, usable anywhere.

| Attribute | Default          |
| --------- | ---------------- |
| `id`      | The current post |

Which networks appear, and whether they show as text or icons, both come from **Customize -> Portfolio -> Project Page -> Social Sharing**.

### `[kalium_ajax_like_button]`

The like button with its count.

| Attribute | Default          |
| --------- | ---------------- |
| `id`      | The current post |

Likes are switched on per area, for the portfolio grid that's **Customize -> Portfolio -> Portfolio Page -> Like Feature**.

***

## Dates

### `[date]`

Prints today's date.

| Attribute | Default                                       |
| --------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `format`  | Your date format from **Settings -> General** |

```
[date format="Y"]
```

That prints just the year, handy in a copyright line.

{% hint style="info" %}
Kalium only registers `[date]` if no plugin has already claimed it. If the output looks unfamiliar, another plugin owns the tag.
{% endhint %}

***

## Video and audio

Kalium takes over WordPress's own `[video]` and `[audio]` shortcodes to use a better player and accept some extra attributes.

| Attribute     | Values                                                          | Applies to |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- |
| `playsinline` | `yes` / `no`, play inline on iPhone instead of going fullscreen | video      |
| `object_fit`  | `contain` / `cover`, how the video fills its box                | video      |
| `controls`    | `yes` / `no`, lets you hide the controls                        | both       |
| `poster`      | An attachment ID as well as a URL                               | both       |

`autoplay` also gains a third value:

**`autoplay="on-viewport"`** starts playback when the video scrolls into view rather than on page load. **This is the one to use**, browsers block most autoplay on load, but allow this.

```
[video src="film.mp4" autoplay="on-viewport" object_fit="cover" playsinline="yes"]
```

**Site-wide settings** live at **Customize -> General -> Media**: which player is used, whether videos autoplay and repeat, and whether YouTube links use YouTube's player or the theme's. An attribute on the shortcode always beats the site-wide setting.

{% hint style="info" %}
**A video won't autoplay.** Browsers block autoplay with sound. Kalium mutes autoplaying video for you, unless you've set `muted="false"` yourself, which stops it starting. Prefer `autoplay="on-viewport"`.

**Every video on the site autoplays.** That's **Customize -> General -> Media -> Autoplay Videos**, not the shortcode.

**The video looks different in the editor than on the site.** Expected, Kalium doesn't theme the editor's preview. Check the front end.

**`[audio]` is tiny.** Without a poster it defaults to a narrow bar. Set a `width`, or give it a `poster` image.
{% endhint %}

***

### When a shortcode doesn't work

**It prints as plain text.**\
The field doesn't process shortcodes. Move it to page content, a text widget, or a builder Text element.

**`[acf]` does nothing.**\
Kalium switches ACF's shortcode off deliberately. Use a builder element or a template part to show a custom field.

**Nothing appears where a shortcode should be.**\
For `[kalium_section]` and `[kalium_snippet]`, check the ID is right and the part is the correct Type and published. A PHP snippet that outputs nothing shows nothing. That's not an error.