Adding aria-label to WordPress standard search form via Genesis

[ilkweb]

Hi there,
I'm using Genesis and the default WordPress search forms. I need to add an aria-label.

Does anyone know the simple solution to this?

I have in front of me the searchform.php file which I think I'll need to copy/paste from the genesis folder to the child theme folder with some modifications.

Here's the code from that file.

<?php
/**
 * Genesis Framework.
 *
 * WARNING: This file is part of the core Genesis Framework. DO NOT edit this file under any circumstances.
 * Please do all modifications in the form of a child theme.
 *
 * @package StudioPress\Genesis
 * @author  StudioPress
 * @license GPL-2.0-or-later
 * @link    https://my.studiopress.com/themes/genesis/
 */

// phpcs:disable WordPress.NamingConventions.PrefixAllGlobals.NonPrefixedVariableFound -- These aren't global variables

/** This filter is documented in wp-includes/general-template.php */
$search_query = apply_filters( 'the_search_query', get_search_query() ); // phpcs:ignore WordPress.NamingConventions.PrefixAllGlobals.NonPrefixedHooknameFound -- Duplicated WordPress filter

/**
 * Search form text.
 *
 * A bit of text that describes the search form or provides instruction for use.
 * It might be used as the input placeholder, or the form label (if a11y is on, and no label is provided).
 *
 * @since 1.0.0
 *
 * @param string The search text.
 */
$search_text = apply_filters( 'genesis_search_text', __( 'Search this website', 'genesis' ) );

/**
 * Search form label.
 *
 * @since ???
 *
 * @param string The search form label.
 */
$search_label = apply_filters( 'genesis_search_form_label', '' );

/**
 * Search button text.
 *
 * The text used on the search form submit button.
 *
 * @since ???
 *
 * @param string The search button text.
 */
$search_button_text = apply_filters( 'genesis_search_button_text', esc_attr__( 'Search', 'genesis' ) );

$strings = [
	'label'        => $search_label,
	'placeholder'  => empty( $search_query ) ? $search_text : '',
	'input_value'  => $search_query,
	'submit_value' => $search_button_text,
];

if ( empty( $search_label ) && genesis_a11y( 'search-form' ) ) {
	$strings['label'] = $search_text;
}

$form = new Genesis_Search_Form( $strings );

// Used for filter param 2.
$search_query_or_text = $search_query ?: $search_text;

/**
 * Allow the form output to be filtered.
 *
 * @since 1.0.0
 *
 * @param string The form markup.
 * @param string <code>$search_query</code>, if one exists. Otherwise <code>$search_text</code>.
 * @param string Submit button value.
 * @param string Form label value.
 */
$searchform = apply_filters( 'genesis_search_form', $form->get_form(), $search_query_or_text, $strings['submit_value'], $strings['label'] );

echo $searchform; // phpcs:ignore WordPress.Security.EscapeOutput.OutputNotEscaped -- Need this to output raw html.
// phpcs:enable WordPress.NamingConventions.PrefixAllGlobals.NonPrefixedVariableFound

Someone on the Genesis Slack group suggested using the genesis_search_form filter.

There are many elements on a WordPress installation that don't have labels (like font icons behaving as images) but which can be marked up using <span> HTML to apply those labels.

The search form is a little different in this case, unless anyone can recommend a third party WordPress plugin where a <label> (and not just a placeholder which I don't think is machine-readable for assistive technology) is readily editable from the dashboard.

[Anita]

Closing since you are receiving help in Genesis Slack.

---

Love coffee, chocolate and my Bella!

[Author]

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