WooCommerce: admin inline scripts

Use this when adding or reviewing small JavaScript glue in WooCommerce admin screens, settings pages, shipping modals, product edit screens, or order admin UI.

Misconception this skill corrects

"WooCommerce has wc_enqueue_js(), so use that for admin inline JS."

Do not use it. In WooCommerce 11.0.0 the function still exists, but it is deprecated since 10.4.0 with the replacement wp_add_inline_script(). It appends code to a global queue printed by wc_print_js() on wp_footer and admin_footer, wrapped in jQuery(function($) { ... }). That global footer queue is hard to scope, hard to dequeue, and not tied to a real script handle.

When to use this skill

Trigger when ANY of the following is true:

• Code contains wc_enqueue_js(), wc_print_js(), or woocommerce_queued_js.
• Code echoes <script> tags from WooCommerce admin PHP callbacks.
• A Woo settings field, shipping method modal, product data tab, order screen, or custom Woo admin page needs a small script or PHP-to-JS data.
• You need to attach inline data to Woo admin handles such as woocommerce_admin, wc-enhanced-select, wc-shipping-zones, or a plugin-owned admin script.

The rule

Use a registered/enqueued script handle and attach inline code to that handle:

add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', static function ( string $hook_suffix ): void {
    if ( 'woocommerce_page_wc-settings' !== $hook_suffix ) {
        return;
    }

    $tab = isset( $_GET['tab'] ) ? sanitize_key( wp_unslash( $_GET['tab'] ) ) : '';

    if ( 'shipping' !== $tab ) {
        return;
    }

    wp_enqueue_script(
        'myplugin-wc-admin',
        plugins_url( 'assets/admin.js', __FILE__ ),
        array( 'jquery', 'woocommerce_admin' ),
        '1.0.0',
        array( 'in_footer' => true )
    );

    $settings = array(
        'ajaxUrl' => admin_url( 'admin-ajax.php' ),
        'nonce'   => wp_create_nonce( 'myplugin_wc_admin' ),
    );

    wp_add_inline_script(
        'myplugin-wc-admin',
        'window.mypluginWcAdmin = ' . wp_json_encode( $settings ) . ';',
        'before'
    );
} );

Prefer a real JS file for behavior and wp_add_inline_script( $handle, ... , 'before' ) for boot data. Use an inline-only handle only for tiny legacy glue:

add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', static function (): void {
    wp_register_script(
        'myplugin-wc-inline',
        false,
        array( 'jquery' ),
        '1.0.0',
        array( 'in_footer' => true )
    );

    wp_enqueue_script( 'myplugin-wc-inline' );

    wp_add_inline_script(
        'myplugin-wc-inline',
        "jQuery(function($){ $('.myplugin-field').trigger('change'); });",
        'after'
    );
} );

Migration from wc_enqueue_js()

Old WooCommerce queued JS was automatically wrapped in jQuery-ready scope. wp_add_inline_script() does not add that wrapper. If the old code used $ or expected the DOM to be ready, wrap it yourself:

// WRONG: deprecated and global.
wc_enqueue_js( "$('.my-field').show();" );

// RIGHT: scoped to a handle and explicit about DOM-ready behavior.
wp_add_inline_script(
    'myplugin-wc-admin',
    "jQuery(function($){ $('.my-field').show(); });",
    'after'
);

If the script only passes data, do not use jQuery(function($){ ... }); attach a JSON-encoded object before the file:

wp_add_inline_script(
    'myplugin-wc-admin',
    'window.mypluginWcAdmin = ' . wp_json_encode( $settings ) . ';',
    'before'
);

Woo admin handles

Common handles from WooCommerce 11.0.0:

Screen need	Existing handle
General Woo admin UI helpers	woocommerce_admin
Woo AJAX product/search selects	wc-enhanced-select
Shipping zones list	wc-shipping-zones
Shipping zone methods screen	wc-shipping-zone-methods
Shipping classes	wc-shipping-classes

Attach behavior to your own handle unless you are only adding small configuration required before an existing Woo script runs. For custom admin pages outside Woo screens, enqueue the Woo handle you depend on explicitly.

WooCommerce 11.0 product editor boundary

WooCommerce 11.0 retires the in-core beta product editor. Do not target its removed slots, feature flags, React routes, or private data stores merely because old examples still exist. The stable core product-edit surface is the classic editor and its documented PHP hooks; separate experimental editor packages require their own explicit compatibility contract and version checks.

For new React admin UI, prefer a plugin-owned screen or a currently documented Woo extension point. Never enqueue scripts globally in the hope that a removed product-editor bundle supplies dependencies.

Guardrails

• Gate enqueues by $hook_suffix, screen, post type, or Woo settings tab. Do not load Woo admin glue across all admin pages.
• Do not pass <script> tags to wp_add_inline_script(); WordPress strips them and triggers doing-it-wrong.
• Do not string-concatenate untrusted PHP values into JavaScript. Use wp_json_encode().
• Do not put CSS in inline JavaScript. Use wp_add_inline_style() against an enqueued style handle.
• Do not rely on woocommerce_queued_js to modify other plugins' inline JS. Prefer your own handle and event-based integration.

Common mistakes

// WRONG: admin footer echo bypasses dependencies, translations, nonces, and screen scoping.
add_action( 'admin_footer', static function (): void {
    echo '<script>window.myplugin = "' . esc_js( $_GET['x'] ?? '' ) . '";</script>';
} );

// RIGHT: enqueue on the target screen and JSON-encode data.
add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', static function ( string $hook_suffix ): void {
    if ( 'woocommerce_page_wc-settings' !== $hook_suffix ) {
        return;
    }

    wp_register_script( 'myplugin-wc-admin', false, array(), '1.0.0', array( 'in_footer' => true ) );
    wp_enqueue_script( 'myplugin-wc-admin' );

    wp_add_inline_script(
        'myplugin-wc-admin',
        'window.myplugin = ' . wp_json_encode( array( 'x' => sanitize_text_field( wp_unslash( $_GET['x'] ?? '' ) ) ) ) . ';',
        'before'
    );
} );

Cross-references

• Use wc-product-search-select when the inline/admin script initializes Woo product search selects.
• Use wc-shipping-method when the JavaScript is supporting a custom shipping method settings UI.
• Use wp-admin-form-controls for generic WordPress admin controls such as datepicker, color picker, autocomplete, and pointers.

References

• Verified source paths:
  • wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/includes/wc-core-functions.php
  • wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/includes/wc-template-hooks.php
  • wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/includes/admin/class-wc-admin.php
  • wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/includes/admin/class-wc-admin-assets.php
  • wp-includes/functions.wp-scripts.php
  • wp-includes/class-wp-scripts.php