# Bricks Templates > Create and work with Bricks templates programmatically. - Skill: `wpgaurav/bricks-templates` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add wpgaurav/bricks-templates` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/wpgaurav/bricks-templates/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: wpgaurav (https://skillmd.com/u/wpgaurav) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/wpgaurav/bricks-templates --- # Bricks Templates Skill This skill covers creating and working with Bricks templates programmatically. ## Template Types Bricks supports these template types (stored in `_bricks_template_type` meta): | Type | Purpose | Meta Key for Content | |------|---------|---------------------| | `header` | Site header | `_bricks_page_header_2` | | `footer` | Site footer | `_bricks_page_footer_2` | | `content` | Single post/page content | `_bricks_page_content_2` | | `section` | Reusable section | `_bricks_page_content_2` | | `archive` | Archive pages | `_bricks_page_content_2` | | `search` | Search results | `_bricks_page_content_2` | | `error` | 404 error page | `_bricks_page_content_2` | | `popup` | Popup/modal | `_bricks_page_content_2` | | `password_protection` | Password protected content | `_bricks_page_content_2` | ## Post Type & Taxonomies ```php // Post type slug BRICKS_DB_TEMPLATE_SLUG = 'bricks_template' // Taxonomies BRICKS_DB_TEMPLATE_TAX_TAG = 'template_tag' BRICKS_DB_TEMPLATE_TAX_BUNDLE = 'template_bundle' ``` ## Creating Templates Programmatically ### Basic Template Creation ```php /** * Create a Bricks template programmatically */ function create_bricks_template( $title, $type, $elements = [] ) { // Create the template post $template_id = wp_insert_post( [ 'post_title' => $title, 'post_type' => BRICKS_DB_TEMPLATE_SLUG, 'post_status' => 'publish', ] ); if ( is_wp_error( $template_id ) ) { return $template_id; } // Set template type update_post_meta( $template_id, BRICKS_DB_TEMPLATE_TYPE, $type ); // Set template content based on type $meta_key = BRICKS_DB_PAGE_CONTENT; if ( $type === 'header' ) { $meta_key = BRICKS_DB_PAGE_HEADER; } elseif ( $type === 'footer' ) { $meta_key = BRICKS_DB_PAGE_FOOTER; } if ( ! empty( $elements ) ) { update_post_meta( $template_id, $meta_key, $elements ); } return $template_id; } ``` ### Element Data Structure Templates store elements as arrays with this structure: ```php $elements = [ [ 'id' => 'abc123', // 6-character alphanumeric ID 'name' => 'section', 'parent' => 0, // 0 for root, or parent element ID 'children' => [ 'def456' ], // Child element IDs 'settings' => [ // Element-specific settings ], ], [ 'id' => 'def456', 'name' => 'heading', 'parent' => 'abc123', 'children' => [], 'settings' => [ 'text' => 'Hello World', 'tag' => 'h1', ], ], ]; ``` ### Example: Create Header Template ```php function create_header_template() { $elements = [ [ 'id' => Bricks\Helpers::generate_random_id( false ), 'name' => 'section', 'parent' => 0, 'children' => [], 'settings' => [ 'tag' => 'header', '_padding' => [ 'top' => '20px', 'right' => '40px', 'bottom' => '20px', 'left' => '40px', ], ], ], ]; return create_bricks_template( 'My Header', 'header', $elements ); } ``` ## Template Conditions Templates use conditions to determine when they apply. Set via `_bricks_template_settings` meta: ```php $template_settings = [ 'templateConditions' => [ [ 'main' => 'postType', 'sub' => 'post', 'compare' => '==', ], ], ]; update_post_meta( $template_id, BRICKS_DB_TEMPLATE_SETTINGS, $template_settings ); ``` ### Condition Types | Main | Sub Options | Description | |------|-------------|-------------| | `entireWebsite` | - | Applies everywhere | | `frontpage` | - | Front page only | | `postType` | `post`, `page`, `{cpt}` | Specific post type | | `archiveType` | `author`, `date`, `post_tag`, `category` | Archive pages | | `searchResults` | - | Search results page | | `error` | - | 404 page | ## Rendering Templates ### Using Shortcode ```php // In PHP echo do_shortcode( '[bricks_template id="123"]' ); // In Bricks element // Use the Template element and select the template ``` ### Programmatic Rendering ```php // Get template elements $elements = get_post_meta( $template_id, BRICKS_DB_PAGE_CONTENT, true ); // Render elements if ( ! empty( $elements ) && is_array( $elements ) ) { echo \Bricks\Frontend::render_data( $elements ); } ``` ## Template API Endpoints REST API namespace: `bricks/v1/` | Endpoint | Method | Purpose | |----------|--------|---------| | `/get-templates/` | GET | Get all templates | | `/get-templates/{id}` | GET | Get specific template | | `/get-templates-data/` | GET | Get templates with metadata | | `/get-template-authors/` | GET | Get template authors | | `/get-template-bundles/` | GET | Get template bundles | | `/get-template-tags/` | GET | Get template tags | ## Template Helpers ```php // Get template type $type = \Bricks\Templates::get_template_type( $template_id ); // Get templates by type $templates = \Bricks\Templates::get_templates_by_type( 'section' ); // Get templates list for select control $list = \Bricks\Templates::get_templates_list( ['section', 'content'] ); // Check if post is a Bricks template $is_template = \Bricks\Helpers::is_bricks_template( $post_id ); ``` ## Remote Templates Enable remote template access in settings, then query from other sites: ```php // Settings to enable // Bricks > Settings > Templates // - Enable "My Templates Access" // - Optionally set whitelist URLs // - Optionally set password ``` ## Import/Export Templates can be exported as JSON: ```php // Export structure $export = [ 'content' => $elements, 'templateType' => $type, 'globalClasses' => $classes, 'globalElements' => $global_elements, ]; ``` ## Hooks for Templates ### Filters ```php // Modify templates data from API add_filter( 'bricks/api/get_templates_data', function( $templates_data ) { // Modify templates data return $templates_data; } ); // Control template access add_filter( 'bricks/get_templates', function( $templates, $args ) { // Filter templates based on $args['site'], $args['licenseKey'], etc. return $templates; }, 10, 2 ); ``` ### Actions ```php // After template import add_action( 'bricks/template/after_import', function( $template_id, $data ) { // Process imported template }, 10, 2 ); ``` ## Best Practices 1. **Generate unique IDs**: Always use `\Bricks\Helpers::generate_random_id( false )` for element IDs 2. **Validate element structure**: Ensure parent/children relationships are correct 3. **Set proper conditions**: Templates without conditions won't apply 4. **Use appropriate meta keys**: Header/footer use different meta keys than content 5. **Regenerate CSS**: After programmatic changes, CSS may need regeneration