How to Search for Elements in a WordPress Website

Posted on by Prakash Tiwari
elements

If you manage a WordPress website, you may need to find specific elements like text, images, buttons, or code. Searching for elements helps when you want to edit content, update styles, fix errors, or improve SEO.

WordPress has no built-in search tool for finding specific elements inside code or page layouts. But you can still search for elements manually with browser tools, plugins, or WordPress files. 

This guide will teach you to find any element on your WordPress website.

Method 1: Use the WordPress Search Bar for Text Elements

The WordPress search feature can find specific text, headings, or images.

Steps to Search for Text or Images in WordPress

  1. Log in to WordPress
    • Go to yourwebsite.com/wp-admin.
  2. Use the Search Box
    • Click Posts > All Posts or Pages > All Pages.
    • Type the text, title, or keyword in the Search Box (top right).
  3. Click on the Result
    • Edit the page or post where the element appears.

This method works well for text-based elements like paragraphs, headings, and image captions.

Method 2: Search for Elements Using Browser Developer Tools

If you need to find buttons, links, images, or CSS styles, browser Developer Tools help.

Steps to Use Developer Tools to Find Elements

  1. Open Your Website in a Browser
    • Use Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
  2. Right-click on the Element
    • Select Inspect (in Chrome) or Inspect Element (in Firefox).
  3. Check the HTML and CSS Code
    • The Elements panel will highlight the code for the selected element.
    • Hover over different lines of code to see which part of the page changes.
  4. Find Classes, IDs, or Styles
    • Look for class names, ID attributes, or CSS rules linked to the element.
  5. Copy or Modify the Code
    • Use this information to edit the element in your theme or CSS file.

Example: If you want to change a button color, search for its class name (like .btn-primary) and edit its CSS.

Method 3: Use WordPress Plugins to Search for Elements

If you want an easier way to search for elements, WordPress plugins help.

Best Plugins for Searching Elements

  1. Better Search Replace – Searches for text, links, or code inside the database.
  2. String Locator – Finds elements in theme files and plugin files.
  3. WP File Manager – Helps search and edit files directly in WordPress.
  4. Search & Replace – Finds and replaces content site-wide.

How to Use the String Locator Plugin

  1. Install the Plugin
    • Go to Plugins > Add New.
    • Search for String Locator.
    • Click Install Now and Activate.
  2. Search for an Element
    • Go to Tools > String Locator.
    • Type the keyword, CSS class, or element name.
    • Click Search.
  3. Edit or Replace the Element
    • Click on the result to edit or replace the code inside the theme or plugin files.

This method is excellent for finding elements inside WordPress themes or plugins.

Method 4: Search for Elements in WordPress Theme Files

If an element is inside your theme’s PHP, HTML, or CSS files, you need to search inside Theme Editor.

Steps to Search for Elements in WordPress Theme Files

  1. Go to Appearance > Theme File Editor
  2. Open the Right File
    • Select the file where the element might be (e.g., header.php, footer.php, style.css).
  3. Use the Search Function
    • Press Ctrl + F (Windows) or Command + F (Mac).
    • Type the text, class name, or ID of the element.
  4. Edit or Copy the Code
    • Modify the file carefully and save changes.

This method helps customize WordPress themes.

Method 5: Search for Elements in the WordPress Database

An element not found in posts, pages, or theme files may be inside the database.

Steps to Search for Elements in the WordPress Database

  1. Log in to Your Hosting Panel
    • Open cPanel or phpMyAdmin.
  2. Open the Database
    • Click on your WordPress database (usually named wp_database).
  3. Use the Search Function
    • Click Search in phpMyAdmin.
    • Type the text or element name.
  4. Edit or Replace the Data
    • If needed, edit the element directly inside the database.

Warning: Always back up your database before making changes!

Method 6: Search for Elements in WordPress Widgets

If you need to find elements in sidebar, footer, or header widgets, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Appearance > Widgets.
  2. Check the Sidebar and Footer Widgets.
  3. Use the Search Box to Find Widgets.
  4. Edit or Remove the Element.

This method is excellent for modifying sidebar content, ads, or social media widgets.

Conclusion

Searching for elements in WordPress is simple when you use the right tools. Whether you need to find text, images, buttons, CSS code, or database content, these methods will help:

Using these methods, you can easily find and edit any element in WordPress.