The readme.txt file is the most important documentation for your WordPress plugin. WordPress.org uses it to generate your plugin’s page on the directory. It’s also used by the WordPress plugin installer to display information about your plugin. A well-written readme.txt improves your plugin’s discoverability and conversion rate.<\/p>
This guide covers how to write a perfect WordPress plugin readme.txt.<\/p>
The readme header contains metadata that WordPress.org uses to display your plugin. Required fields include Plugin Name, Plugin URI, Description, Author, Author URI, Version, and Requires at least. Optional fields include Tested up to, Requires PHP, Stable tag, License, License URI, and Tags. Fill these fields accurately \u2014 they affect your plugin’s discoverability.<\/p>
Keep the description under 150 characters for optimal display on directory listing pages.<\/p>
The Description section is your plugin’s sales pitch. Explain what your plugin does, who it’s for, and why it’s better than alternatives. Use clear, benefit-oriented language. Include key features as a bullet list. Keep paragraphs short and scannable. Focus on the problem your plugin solves, not just the features it has.<\/p>
Use the Description section to include screenshots with the screenshot tags.<\/p>
The Installation section explains how to install and configure your plugin. Write clear, numbered steps. Include minimum system requirements. Explain any configuration steps required after activation. Link to your full documentation for detailed setup instructions. Test your installation instructions on a clean WordPress installation.<\/p>
Keep installation instructions simple \u2014 most plugins need only standard WordPress installation steps.<\/p>
The FAQ section answers common questions users have about your plugin. Address the most frequently asked support questions proactively. Use the FAQPage schema structure for each question and answer. Keep answers concise but complete. Update the FAQ based on actual support tickets to address real user questions.<\/p>
A comprehensive FAQ reduces support tickets and improves user satisfaction.<\/p>
The Changelog section documents your plugin’s version history. List each version with its release date and changes. Use bullet points to describe changes. Categorize changes as New, Fix, Update, or Security. Keep the changelog readable \u2014 users scan for relevant changes. Include only the most recent versions (5-10) to keep the readme manageable.<\/p>
The changelog helps users decide whether to update and shows your plugin is actively maintained.<\/p>
A well-written readme.txt improves your plugin’s discoverability and conversion. Complete all header fields accurately, write a compelling description, provide clear installation instructions, answer common questions in the FAQ, and maintain an up-to-date changelog. Your readme is often the first thing potential users see \u2014 make it count.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How to write a WordPress plugin readme.txt file that meets WordPress.org standards, improves discoverability, and effectively communicates your plugin’s value.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ai_primary_source":"","visibility_scope":"","ai_summary":"","ai_intent":"","ai_related_resources":"","ai_priority":0,"ai_entity_type":"","ai_is_based_on":"","ai_citations":"","ai_mentions":"","ai_speakable_selector":"","ai_chunk_hints":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6],"tags":[44,27,26,35],"ai_visibility":[],"class_list":["post-654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-web-development","category-wordpress","tag-api-first","tag-developer-to-founder","tag-plugin-business","tag-saas"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":7}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=654"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":869,"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654\/revisions\/869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=654"},{"taxonomy":"ai_visibility","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aarkly.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ai_visibility?post=654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}