Updated [Bread Crumbs Shortcode - 2026]

functions.php

<?php

/**
 * Breadcrumb Shortcode for WordPress
 * Paste into your theme's functions.php
 *
 * Usage in page/post editor:  [breadcrumb]
 * Custom options:              [breadcrumb home="HOME" sep="»" class="my-bc"]
 */


if ( ! function_exists( 'custom_breadcrumb_shortcode' ) ) :

add_shortcode( 'breadcrumb', 'custom_breadcrumb_shortcode' );

function custom_breadcrumb_shortcode( $atts ) {

    $atts = shortcode_atts([
        'home'  => 'HOME',
        'sep'   => '»',
        'class' => 'breadcrumb-nav',
    ], $atts, 'breadcrumb' );

    $items = [];

    $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( $atts['home'] ), 'url' => home_url('/'), 'active' => false ];

    if ( is_singular() ) {
        $post_type = get_post_type();

        if ( 'page' === $post_type ) {
            foreach ( array_reverse( get_post_ancestors( get_the_ID() ) ) as $pid ) {
                $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( get_the_title( $pid ) ), 'url' => get_permalink( $pid ), 'active' => false ];
            }
        }

        if ( 'post' === $post_type ) {
            $cats = get_the_category();
            if ( $cats ) {
                $chain = [];
                $c = $cats[0];
                while ( $c ) { array_unshift( $chain, $c ); $c = $c->parent ? get_category( $c->parent ) : null; }
                foreach ( $chain as $c ) {
                    $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( $c->name ), 'url' => get_category_link( $c->term_id ), 'active' => false ];
                }
            }
        }

        if ( 'post' !== $post_type && 'page' !== $post_type ) {
            $pto = get_post_type_object( $post_type );
            if ( $pto && $pto->has_archive ) {
                $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( $pto->labels->name ), 'url' => get_post_type_archive_link( $post_type ), 'active' => false ];
            }
        }

        $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( get_the_title() ), 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];

    } elseif ( is_category() ) {
        $cat = get_queried_object();
        foreach ( array_reverse( get_ancestors( $cat->term_id, 'category' ) ) as $aid ) {
            $a = get_category( $aid );
            $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( $a->name ), 'url' => get_category_link( $aid ), 'active' => false ];
        }
        $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( $cat->name ), 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];

    } elseif ( is_tax() ) {
        $term = get_queried_object();
        $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( get_taxonomy( $term->taxonomy )->labels->name ), 'url' => '', 'active' => false ];
        $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( $term->name ), 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];

    } elseif ( is_post_type_archive() ) {
        $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( post_type_archive_title( '', false ) ), 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];

    } elseif ( is_tag() ) {
        $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( single_tag_title( '', false ) ), 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];

    } elseif ( is_author() ) {
        $items[] = [ 'label' => 'AUTHOR: ' . strtoupper( get_the_author() ), 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];

    } elseif ( is_date() ) {
        $items[] = [ 'label' => strtoupper( get_the_date('F Y') ), 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];

    } elseif ( is_search() ) {
        $items[] = [ 'label' => 'SEARCH: ' . strtoupper( get_search_query() ), 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];

    } elseif ( is_404() ) {
        $items[] = [ 'label' => '404 NOT FOUND', 'url' => '', 'active' => true ];
    }

    $sep  = '<span class="bc-sep">' . esc_html( $atts['sep'] ) . '</span>';
    $html = '<nav class="' . esc_attr( $atts['class'] ) . '" aria-label="Breadcrumb">';
    $html .= '<ol>';

    $total = count( $items );
    foreach ( $items as $i => $item ) {
        $is_last = ( $i === $total - 1 );
        $html   .= '<li class="bc-item">';
        if ( ! $item['active'] && ! empty( $item['url'] ) ) {
            $html .= '<a class="bc-link" href="' . esc_url( $item['url'] ) . '">' . esc_html( $item['label'] ) . '</a>';
        } else {
            $html .= '<span class="bc-link active" aria-current="page">' . esc_html( $item['label'] ) . '</span>';
        }
        if ( ! $is_last ) $html .= $sep;
        $html .= '</li>';
    }

    $html .= '</ol></nav>';

    return $html;
}

endif;