Bricks Elements Skill

This skill covers creating custom elements for Bricks Builder.

Element Architecture

All elements extend the abstract \Bricks\Element class and live in includes/elements/.

Element Class Structure

<?php
namespace Bricks;

if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) exit;

class Element_My_Custom extends Element {
    // Required properties
    public $category = 'general';     // Element category in panel
    public $name     = 'my-custom';   // Unique element identifier
    public $icon     = 'ti-star';     // Themify icon class

    // Optional properties
    public $tag          = 'div';         // Default HTML tag
    public $scripts      = [];            // JS dependencies
    public $css_selector = '';            // Default CSS selector for controls
    public $draggable    = true;          // Allow dragging in builder
    public $deprecated   = false;         // Hide from panel if true
    public $nestable     = false;         // Allow child elements

    public function get_label() {
        return esc_html__( 'My Custom Element', 'bricks' );
    }

    public function get_keywords() {
        return [ 'custom', 'my', 'element' ];
    }

    public function set_control_groups() {
        // Define control groups
    }

    public function set_controls() {
        // Define controls
    }

    public function render() {
        // Frontend output
    }

    public static function render_builder() {
        // Builder preview (Vue template)
    }
}

Registering Custom Elements

Method 1: Filter Hook (Recommended)

add_filter( 'bricks/builder/elements', function( $element_names ) {
    $element_names[] = 'my-custom';
    return $element_names;
} );

// Load element class
add_action( 'init', function() {
    require_once 'path/to/element-my-custom.php';
}, 11 );

Method 2: Element Class Registration

add_action( 'init', function() {
    \Bricks\Elements::register_element( 'path/to/element-my-custom.php' );
}, 11 );

Element Categories

Built-in categories:

• basic - Basic elements (heading, text, button, image, video)
• general - General elements (divider, icon-box, accordion, tabs, form, etc.)
• media - Media elements (image-gallery, audio, carousel, slider)
• wordpress - WordPress elements (posts, terms, navigation)
• single - Single post elements (post-title, post-content, post-meta)
• woocommerce - WooCommerce elements (if active)

Custom Category

add_filter( 'bricks/builder/element_categories', function( $categories ) {
    $categories['my-category'] = [
        'title' => 'My Custom',
        'icon'  => 'ti-package',
    ];
    return $categories;
} );

Control Types

Basic Controls

public function set_controls() {
    // Text input
    $this->controls['title'] = [
        'tab'         => 'content',
        'label'       => esc_html__( 'Title', 'bricks' ),
        'type'        => 'text',
        'default'     => 'Hello World',
        'placeholder' => 'Enter title...',
    ];

    // Textarea
    $this->controls['description'] = [
        'tab'   => 'content',
        'label' => esc_html__( 'Description', 'bricks' ),
        'type'  => 'textarea',
    ];

    // Number
    $this->controls['count'] = [
        'tab'         => 'content',
        'label'       => esc_html__( 'Count', 'bricks' ),
        'type'        => 'number',
        'min'         => 1,
        'max'         => 100,
        'step'        => 1,
        'default'     => 5,
        'placeholder' => 5,
    ];

    // Number with units (for CSS)
    $this->controls['spacing'] = [
        'tab'   => 'content',
        'label' => esc_html__( 'Spacing', 'bricks' ),
        'type'  => 'number',
        'units' => true, // Enables px, %, em, rem, vw, vh
        'css'   => [
            [
                'property' => 'margin-bottom',
                'selector' => '.item',
            ],
        ],
    ];

    // Checkbox
    $this->controls['showIcon'] = [
        'tab'   => 'content',
        'label' => esc_html__( 'Show icon', 'bricks' ),
        'type'  => 'checkbox',
    ];

    // Select dropdown
    $this->controls['layout'] = [
        'tab'         => 'content',
        'label'       => esc_html__( 'Layout', 'bricks' ),
        'type'        => 'select',
        'options'     => [
            'grid'    => esc_html__( 'Grid', 'bricks' ),
            'list'    => esc_html__( 'List', 'bricks' ),
            'masonry' => 'Masonry',
        ],
        'inline'      => true,
        'placeholder' => esc_html__( 'Grid', 'bricks' ),
    ];

    // Color picker
    $this->controls['primaryColor'] = [
        'tab'   => 'content',
        'label' => esc_html__( 'Primary color', 'bricks' ),
        'type'  => 'color',
        'css'   => [
            [
                'property' => 'color',
                'selector' => '.title',
            ],
        ],
    ];
}

Media Controls

// Image
$this->controls['image'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Image', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'image',
];

// Image gallery
$this->controls['gallery'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Gallery', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'image-gallery',
];

// Icon
$this->controls['icon'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Icon', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'icon',
];

// Video
$this->controls['video'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Video', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'video',
];

// SVG
$this->controls['svg'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'SVG', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'svg',
];

Advanced Controls

// Link
$this->controls['link'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Link', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'link',
];

// Typography (font-family, size, weight, style, line-height, etc.)
$this->controls['typography'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Typography', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'typography',
    'css'   => [
        [
            'property' => 'font',
            'selector' => '.text',
        ],
    ],
];

// Spacing (margin/padding)
$this->controls['itemPadding'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Padding', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'spacing',
    'css'   => [
        [
            'property' => 'padding',
            'selector' => '.item',
        ],
    ],
];

// Border
$this->controls['border'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Border', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'border',
    'css'   => [
        [
            'property' => 'border',
            'selector' => '.item',
        ],
    ],
];

// Box shadow
$this->controls['boxShadow'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Box shadow', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'box-shadow',
    'css'   => [
        [
            'property' => 'box-shadow',
            'selector' => '.item',
        ],
    ],
];

// Background
$this->controls['background'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Background', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'background',
    'css'   => [
        [
            'property' => 'background',
            'selector' => '.wrapper',
        ],
    ],
];

// Query (for loop elements)
$this->controls['query'] = [
    'tab'     => 'content',
    'label'   => esc_html__( 'Query', 'bricks' ),
    'type'    => 'query',
    'popup'   => true,
    'inline'  => true,
];

Control Groups

public function set_control_groups() {
    $this->control_groups['settings'] = [
        'title' => esc_html__( 'Settings', 'bricks' ),
        'tab'   => 'content',
    ];

    $this->control_groups['styling'] = [
        'title' => esc_html__( 'Styling', 'bricks' ),
        'tab'   => 'content',
    ];
}

public function set_controls() {
    $this->controls['option1'] = [
        'tab'   => 'content',
        'group' => 'settings', // Assign to group
        'label' => esc_html__( 'Option 1', 'bricks' ),
        'type'  => 'text',
    ];
}

Conditional Controls

// Show control based on another control's value
$this->controls['customTag'] = [
    'tab'      => 'content',
    'label'    => esc_html__( 'Custom tag', 'bricks' ),
    'type'     => 'text',
    'required' => [ 'tag', '=', 'custom' ], // Only show when tag == 'custom'
];

// Multiple conditions (AND)
$this->controls['advancedOption'] = [
    'tab'      => 'content',
    'label'    => esc_html__( 'Advanced', 'bricks' ),
    'type'     => 'text',
    'required' => [
        [ 'showAdvanced', '=', true ],
        [ 'mode', '!=', 'simple' ],
    ],
];

Separator Control

$this->controls['iconSeparator'] = [
    'tab'   => 'content',
    'label' => esc_html__( 'Icon', 'bricks' ),
    'type'  => 'separator',
];

Repeater Control

$this->controls['items'] = [
    'tab'           => 'content',
    'label'         => esc_html__( 'Items', 'bricks' ),
    'type'          => 'repeater',
    'titleProperty' => 'title', // Property to show in repeater title
    'fields'        => [
        'title' => [
            'label' => esc_html__( 'Title', 'bricks' ),
            'type'  => 'text',
        ],
        'content' => [
            'label' => esc_html__( 'Content', 'bricks' ),
            'type'  => 'textarea',
        ],
        'icon' => [
            'label' => esc_html__( 'Icon', 'bricks' ),
            'type'  => 'icon',
        ],
    ],
    'default'       => [
        [ 'title' => 'Item 1', 'content' => 'Content 1' ],
        [ 'title' => 'Item 2', 'content' => 'Content 2' ],
    ],
];

Rendering Elements

Basic Render Method

public function render() {
    $settings = $this->settings;

    // Set attributes
    $this->set_attribute( '_root', 'class', 'my-custom-element' );

    if ( ! empty( $settings['layout'] ) ) {
        $this->set_attribute( '_root', 'class', 'layout-' . $settings['layout'] );
    }

    // Build output
    $output = "<{$this->tag} {$this->render_attributes( '_root' )}>";

    if ( isset( $settings['title'] ) ) {
        $output .= '<h3 class="title">' . esc_html( $settings['title'] ) . '</h3>';
    }

    $output .= "</{$this->tag}>";

    echo $output;
}

Working with Dynamic Data

public function render() {
    $settings = $this->settings;

    // Render dynamic data tags
    $title = isset( $settings['title'] )
        ? $this->render_dynamic_data( $settings['title'] )
        : '';

    // Use bricks_render_dynamic_data() for external rendering
    $content = bricks_render_dynamic_data( $settings['content'], get_the_ID(), 'text' );

    echo "<div>{$title}</div>";
}

Working with Links

public function render() {
    $settings = $this->settings;

    if ( ! empty( $settings['link'] ) ) {
        $this->set_link_attributes( 'link', $settings['link'] );
        echo "<a {$this->render_attributes( 'link' )}>Link Text</a>";
    }
}

Rendering Icons

public function render() {
    $settings = $this->settings;

    if ( ! empty( $settings['icon'] ) ) {
        $icon_html = self::render_icon( $settings['icon'] );
        echo $icon_html;
    }
}

Rendering Images

public function render() {
    $settings = $this->settings;

    if ( ! empty( $settings['image'] ) ) {
        $image_html = $this->render_image( $settings['image'], [
            'size' => 'large',
            'class' => 'my-image',
        ] );
        echo $image_html;
    }
}

Builder Preview (Vue Template)

public static function render_builder() { ?>
    <script type="text/x-template" id="tmpl-bricks-element-my-custom">
        <div :class="['my-custom-element', settings.layout ? `layout-${settings.layout}` : null]">
            <contenteditable
                tag="h3"
                class="title"
                :name="name"
                controlKey="title"
                :settings="settings"
            />
            <div v-if="settings.showContent" class="content">
                {{ settings.content }}
            </div>
            <icon-svg v-if="settings.icon?.icon" :iconSettings="settings.icon"/>
        </div>
    </script>
    <?php
}

Nestable Elements

For elements that can contain child elements:

class Element_My_Container extends Element {
    public $nestable = true;
    public $vue_component = 'bricks-nestable';

    public function get_nestable_children() {
        return [
            [
                'name'     => 'div',
                'settings' => [
                    '_padding' => [ 'top' => '20px', 'bottom' => '20px' ],
                ],
            ],
        ];
    }

    public function render() {
        $output = "<{$this->tag} {$this->render_attributes( '_root' )}>";

        // Render child elements
        $output .= \Bricks\Frontend::render_children( $this );

        $output .= "</{$this->tag}>";

        echo $output;
    }
}

Query Loop Elements

For elements that loop through posts/terms/users:

class Element_My_Posts extends Custom_Render_Element {
    public $category = 'wordpress';
    public $name     = 'my-posts';

    public function render() {
        $settings = $this->settings;

        // Setup query
        $query = new \Bricks\Query( $this->element );

        // Render loop
        $output = '<div class="posts-wrapper">';

        $query->render( function( $query_obj ) use ( $settings ) {
            $post_id = get_the_ID();
            echo '<div class="post-item">';
            echo '<h3>' . get_the_title( $post_id ) . '</h3>';
            echo '</div>';
        } );

        $output .= '</div>';

        // Destroy query (important!)
        $query->destroy();

        echo $output;
    }
}

Enqueuing Scripts

class Element_My_Slider extends Element {
    public $scripts = [ 'bricksSplide' ]; // Built-in script

    public function enqueue_scripts() {
        // Enqueue custom scripts
        wp_enqueue_script(
            'my-slider',
            plugin_dir_url( __FILE__ ) . 'js/slider.js',
            [ 'jquery' ],
            '1.0.0',
            true
        );

        wp_enqueue_style(
            'my-slider',
            plugin_dir_url( __FILE__ ) . 'css/slider.css',
            [],
            '1.0.0'
        );
    }
}

Element Hooks

Filters

// Modify element controls
add_filter( 'bricks/elements/my-custom/controls', function( $controls ) {
    $controls['newOption'] = [
        'tab'   => 'content',
        'label' => 'New Option',
        'type'  => 'text',
    ];
    return $controls;
} );

// Modify element control groups
add_filter( 'bricks/elements/my-custom/control_groups', function( $groups ) {
    $groups['extra'] = [
        'title' => 'Extra Settings',
        'tab'   => 'content',
    ];
    return $groups;
} );

// Modify element scripts
add_filter( 'bricks/elements/my-custom/scripts', function( $scripts ) {
    $scripts[] = 'bricksIsotope';
    return $scripts;
} );

// Modify rendered element output
add_filter( 'bricks/frontend/render_element', function( $html, $element ) {
    if ( $element->name === 'my-custom' ) {
        $html = '<div class="wrapper">' . $html . '</div>';
    }
    return $html;
}, 10, 2 );

Complete Element Example

<?php
namespace Bricks;

if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) exit;

class Element_Feature_Box extends Element {
    public $category = 'general';
    public $name     = 'feature-box';
    public $icon     = 'ti-layout-cta-center';
    public $tag      = 'div';

    public function get_label() {
        return esc_html__( 'Feature Box', 'bricks' );
    }

    public function get_keywords() {
        return [ 'feature', 'box', 'card', 'icon' ];
    }

    public function set_control_groups() {
        $this->control_groups['icon'] = [
            'title' => esc_html__( 'Icon', 'bricks' ),
            'tab'   => 'content',
        ];
    }

    public function set_controls() {
        // Title
        $this->controls['title'] = [
            'tab'     => 'content',
            'label'   => esc_html__( 'Title', 'bricks' ),
            'type'    => 'text',
            'default' => 'Feature Title',
        ];

        // Description
        $this->controls['description'] = [
            'tab'     => 'content',
            'label'   => esc_html__( 'Description', 'bricks' ),
            'type'    => 'textarea',
            'default' => 'Feature description goes here.',
        ];

        // Link
        $this->controls['link'] = [
            'tab'   => 'content',
            'label' => esc_html__( 'Link', 'bricks' ),
            'type'  => 'link',
        ];

        // Icon group
        $this->controls['icon'] = [
            'tab'   => 'content',
            'group' => 'icon',
            'label' => esc_html__( 'Icon', 'bricks' ),
            'type'  => 'icon',
        ];

        $this->controls['iconSize'] = [
            'tab'   => 'content',
            'group' => 'icon',
            'label' => esc_html__( 'Size', 'bricks' ),
            'type'  => 'number',
            'units' => true,
            'css'   => [
                [
                    'property' => 'font-size',
                    'selector' => '.icon',
                ],
            ],
        ];

        $this->controls['iconColor'] = [
            'tab'   => 'content',
            'group' => 'icon',
            'label' => esc_html__( 'Color', 'bricks' ),
            'type'  => 'color',
            'css'   => [
                [
                    'property' => 'color',
                    'selector' => '.icon',
                ],
            ],
        ];
    }

    public function render() {
        $settings = $this->settings;

        $this->set_attribute( '_root', 'class', 'feature-box' );

        $output = "<{$this->tag} {$this->render_attributes( '_root' )}>";

        // Icon
        if ( ! empty( $settings['icon'] ) ) {
            $output .= '<div class="icon">' . self::render_icon( $settings['icon'] ) . '</div>';
        }

        // Title
        if ( ! empty( $settings['title'] ) ) {
            $title = $this->render_dynamic_data( $settings['title'] );
            $output .= '<h3 class="title">' . $title . '</h3>';
        }

        // Description
        if ( ! empty( $settings['description'] ) ) {
            $desc = $this->render_dynamic_data( $settings['description'] );
            $output .= '<p class="description">' . $desc . '</p>';
        }

        // Link
        if ( ! empty( $settings['link'] ) ) {
            $this->set_link_attributes( 'link', $settings['link'] );
            $output .= "<a {$this->render_attributes( 'link' )} class=\"feature-link\">Learn More</a>";
        }

        $output .= "</{$this->tag}>";

        echo $output;
    }

    public static function render_builder() { ?>
        <script type="text/x-template" id="tmpl-bricks-element-feature-box">
            <div class="feature-box">
                <div v-if="settings.icon?.icon" class="icon">
                    <icon-svg :iconSettings="settings.icon"/>
                </div>
                <contenteditable
                    tag="h3"
                    class="title"
                    :name="name"
                    controlKey="title"
                    :settings="settings"
                />
                <contenteditable
                    tag="p"
                    class="description"
                    :name="name"
                    controlKey="description"
                    :settings="settings"
                />
            </div>
        </script>
        <?php
    }
}

Best Practices

1. Namespace: Always use namespace Bricks;
2. Unique names: Element $name must be unique across all elements
3. Escape output: Use esc_html(), esc_attr(), wp_kses_post() appropriately
4. Dynamic data: Use $this->render_dynamic_data() for user content
5. Attributes: Use $this->set_attribute() and $this->render_attributes()
6. CSS: Use the css property in controls for automatic style generation
7. Builder preview: Provide render_builder() for better editing experience
8. Keywords: Add relevant keywords for element search