How to remove “Category:” in title from category pages in WordPress

How to Remove “Category:” in Title from  WordPress Category Page

When managing a WordPress website, especially one with a large number of categories, it’s common to encounter titles that include the prefix “Category:”. While this prefix helps organize content, it can make titles look cluttered and unprofessional. Removing “Category:” from category page titles can enhance the user experience and improve SEO. This article will guide you through the process of removing this prefix, providing step-by-step instructions, tips, and best practices to ensure a smooth transition.

Understanding the Importance of Clean Titles

Clean, concise titles are crucial for both user experience and SEO. When users browse your website, they should be able to quickly understand the content of each page. Titles that include unnecessary prefixes like “Category:” can confuse users and make navigation more difficult. From an SEO perspective, clean titles help search engines understand the content of your pages, potentially improving your search rankings.

Removing “Category:” from your titles can also make your URLs more user-friendly. Short, descriptive URLs are easier to share and remember, which can increase the likelihood of users returning to your site. Additionally, clean URLs are more likely to be clicked on in search engine results, further enhancing your SEO efforts.

Before making any changes to your website, it’s important to consider the potential impact on your existing content and SEO. Ensure that you have a backup of your website and that you understand the process of redirecting URLs to avoid any negative effects on your search rankings.

Step-by-Step Guide to Removing “Category:” from Titles

1. Backup Your Website: Before making any changes, ensure you have a complete backup of your website. This will allow you to restore your site if anything goes wrong during the process.

   Use a reliable backup plugin or contact your hosting provider to create a backup. Store the backup in a safe location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage service.

2. Access Your Theme’s Functions.php File: To remove “Category:” from your titles, you’ll need to edit your theme’s functions.php file. This file contains the code that controls various aspects of your theme, including how titles are displayed.

   Access your website’s files using an FTP client or the file manager in your hosting control panel. Navigate to the wp-content/themes/your-theme-name/ directory and locate the functions.php file.

3. Add Custom Code to functions.php: Open the functions.php file in a text editor and add the following code at the end of the file:

   
           function remove_category_prefix(\$title) {
               if (is_category()) {
                   \$title = single_cat_title('', false);
               }
               return \$title;
           }
           add_filter('wp_title', 'remove_category_prefix');

   This code checks if the current page is a category page and removes the “Category:” prefix from the title. Save the changes and upload the modified functions.php file back to your server.

4. Test Your Changes: After adding the custom code, visit a category page on your website to ensure that the “Category:” prefix has been removed from the title. Check both the page title in your browser tab and the title displayed on the page itself.

   If the prefix has been successfully removed, you can proceed to the next step. If not, double-check your code for any errors and ensure that you saved and uploaded the modified functions.php file correctly.

5. Update Your SEO Plugin (if applicable): If you are using an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO, you may need to update your settings to reflect the changes you made to your titles.

   Open your SEO plugin’s settings and look for options related to title formatting. Ensure that the plugin is not adding the “Category:” prefix to your titles. Save your changes and test your category pages again to confirm that the prefix has been removed.

Tips for Maintaining Clean Titles

• Consistent Naming Conventions: Establish consistent naming conventions for your categories to ensure that your titles remain clean and professional. Avoid using special characters or unnecessary words in your category names.

• Regular Audits: Periodically audit your category pages to ensure that titles remain clean and up-to-date. This can help you identify any issues early and maintain a high-quality user experience.

• User Feedback: Encourage user feedback on your category pages. Users may provide valuable insights into how they perceive your titles and suggest improvements.

• Monitor SEO Performance: Keep an eye on your SEO performance after making changes to your titles. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your search rankings and click-through rates.

Data Table: Comparison of Title Formats

+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+
| Title Format        | Example             | Impact on SEO       |
+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+
| With "Category:"    | Category: News      | Potentially negative|
+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+
| Without "Category:" | News                | Positive            |
+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+
| With Special Chars  | News - Updates      | Neutral             |
+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+
| Overly Long         | Breaking News Updates| Negative            |
+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+

This table compares different title formats and their potential impact on SEO. Removing “Category:” from your titles can have a positive impact on your search rankings, while overly long or cluttered titles may have a negative impact.

Conclusion

Removing “Category:” from your category page titles can significantly improve the user experience and enhance your SEO efforts. By following the step-by-step guide provided in this article, you can make this change with confidence. Remember to backup your website, test your changes, and monitor your SEO performance to ensure a successful transition. With clean, concise titles, your website will be more user-friendly and search engine-friendly, helping you attract and retain visitors.

 

Here are the codes to remove “Category:” in title from category pages. Put them in functions.php.

add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title', function ($title) {
if ( is_category() ) {
//being a category your new title should go here
$title = single_cat_title( '', false );
} elseif ( is_tag() ) {
$title = single_tag_title( '', false );
} elseif ( is_author() ) {
$title = '' . get_the_author() . '' ;
}
return $title;
});