How to customize plugin in wordpress for mail sending

Customizing a plugin in WordPress for mail sending involves modifying the plugin's code to suit your specific needs. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Prerequisites:

1. Familiarity with PHP and WordPress development.
2. A basic understanding of WordPress plugins and their structure.
3. A copy of the plugin you want to customize (e.g., Contact Form 7, Gravity Forms, etc.).

Step 1: Identify the plugin's code structure

Open the plugin's folder and explore its contents. You'll typically find the following files:

• plugin.php: The main plugin file that loads the plugin's functionality.
• functions.php: A file containing various functions used by the plugin.
• templates: A folder containing HTML templates used by the plugin.

Step 2: Identify the mail sending function

In the functions.php file, search for functions related to mail sending. These functions are usually prefixed with wp_mail or send_email. Identify the function that sends the email and note its location in the code.

Step 3: Modify the mail sending function

Open the functions.php file and locate the mail sending function. You can modify this function to customize the email sending process. For example, you might want to:

• Change the email subject or body.
• Add or remove email attachments.
• Use a different email service (e.g., Mailgun, Sendgrid, etc.).
• Implement email validation or filtering.

Here's an example of how you might modify the wp_mail function to add a custom email subject:

function custom_wp_mail($args) {
    $args['subject'] = 'Custom Email Subject';
    return wp_mail($args);
}

Step 4: Update the plugin's code

After modifying the mail sending function, update the plugin's code by saving the changes to the functions.php file.

Step 5: Test the modified plugin

Activate the modified plugin and test the email sending functionality. Verify that the changes you made are reflected in the email sent.

Additional tips:

• When modifying a plugin, it's essential to keep a backup of the original code in case you need to revert changes.
• Be cautious when modifying plugin code, as changes can affect the plugin's functionality or compatibility with other plugins.
• If you're not comfortable modifying code, consider hiring a WordPress developer or using a plugin that provides more customization options.

Some popular plugins for mail sending in WordPress include:

• Contact Form 7: A popular contact form plugin with built-in email sending functionality.
• Gravity Forms: A powerful form builder plugin with email sending capabilities.
• MailPoet: A newsletter and email marketing plugin with customizable email sending options.

Remember to always follow best practices for WordPress development and testing when customizing a plugin.