---
title: Developer Hooks, Filters and URL Reference
description: "Developer reference for WooCommerce order status rules: matching, orders query, options-list and priority filters."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/order-status-rules-developer-hooks-filters/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: Developers
---

# Developer Hooks, Filters and URL Reference

[Scheduled & Automatic Order Status Controller for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-rules-for-woocommerce/) exposes filters and actions so you can adjust rule matching, the values used in conditions, and the orders query in code, without editing plugin files. All hooks use the `alg_wc_order_status_rules_` prefix. The order status change history is stored in the order meta key `_alg_wc_order_status_change_history`.

### Value and matching filters

| Filter | Filtered value | Arguments |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_do_apply_rule` | Whether a rule applies to an order (boolean) | `$result, $order, $rule_id, $args` |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_order_amount` | Order amount used in min/max amount checks | `$amount, $options, $rule_id, $order, $condition_id` |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_order_quantity` | Order item count used in min/max quantity checks | `$quantity, $options, $rule_id, $order` |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_check_dates_order_date` | Order date used in the created-before/after checks | `$date_created, $options, $rule_id, $order` |

#### Force a rule to apply (or skip) in code

```
add_filter( 'alg_wc_order_status_rules_do_apply_rule', function ( $result, $order, $rule_id, $args ) {
    // Never auto-cancel orders paid with a specific gateway, for rule #1.
    if ( 1 === (int) $rule_id && 'my_gateway' === $order->get_payment_method() ) {
        return false;
    }
    return $result;
}, 10, 4 );
```

### Orders query filters

These affect periodical processing, URL processing and the "Run all rules now" tool.

- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_wc_get_orders_args` - arguments `$args, $core`. Filters the `wc_get_orders()` query array (status, orderby, order, type, limit).
- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_wc_get_orders` - arguments `$order_ids, $core`. Filters the resulting list of order IDs before processing.

### Options-list filters

These extend the option choices shown in the Advanced settings. Each is passed its default option array.

- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_hooks` - the "Process rules on" choices.
- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_status_change_hooks` - the "Save status change on" choices.
- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_status_functions` - the "Statuses" source functions.

### Priority filters

- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_hooks_priority` - arguments `$priority, $hook`. Default `10`. Sets the priority the rule-processing callback attaches at.
- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_status_change_hooks_priority` - arguments `$priority, $hook`. Default `1`. Sets the priority the history-tracking callback attaches at.

### Pro / internal filters

- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_rules_total` - arguments `$value`. The number of rules. The Pro plugin hooks this to allow more than one; on the free plugin it stays at `1`.
- `alg_wc_order_status_rules_settings` - internal gate used to make the "Total rules" field editable in Pro. Not intended for store customization.

### Actions

| Action | Fires when | Arguments |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_before_rule_applied` | Just before a matching rule changes the status | `$order, $rule_id, $args, $core` |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_after_rule_applied` | Just after a matching rule changes the status | `$order, $rule_id, $args, $core` |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_after_save_settings` | After the plugin settings are saved | (none) |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_shop_order_screen` | On the admin order edit screen, when that hook is selected in "Process rules on" | `$order_id` |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_shop_subscription_screen` | On the admin subscription edit screen, when that hook is selected | `$order_id` |
| `alg_wc_order_status_rules_process_rules` | The scheduled event (WP Cron and Action Scheduler use this) | (scheduler args) |

#### Run custom code after a rule changes a status

```
add_action( 'alg_wc_order_status_rules_after_rule_applied', function ( $order, $rule_id, $args, $core ) {
    // Notify an external system that order #{$order->get_id()} was updated by rule #{$rule_id}.
}, 10, 4 );
```

### Processing rules via URL

When **Allow rules processing via URL** is enabled in the **Advanced** section, visiting a front-end URL with the `alg_wc_order_status_rules_process_rules` query parameter processes all rules. This is an alternative to WP Cron when you use a real server cron job.

```
https://example.com/?alg_wc_order_status_rules_process_rules
```

Add the optional `alg_wc_order_status_rules_process_rules_redirect` parameter to redirect after processing:

```
https://example.com/?alg_wc_order_status_rules_process_rules&alg_wc_order_status_rules_process_rules_redirect=https://example.com/wp-admin/
```

**Note:** the URL trigger is not authenticated. Treat it as a semi-public endpoint and avoid exposing it where it could be called repeatedly by untrusted visitors.

### Deprecated hook

The settings-saved action was renamed in version 2.0.0. Use `alg_wc_order_status_rules_after_save_settings`. The old name `alg_wc_order_status_after_save_settings` (without `rules`) no longer fires.

### Need help?

If you are extending [Order Status Rules](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-rules-for-woocommerce/) and a hook does not behave as expected, contact our team on the [support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/order-status-rules-for-woocommerce/) with the hook name and a short code sample.

Related articles

- [Order Status Rule Conditions Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/order-status-rule-conditions-reference/)
- [Order Status History Placeholders Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/order-status-history-placeholders-reference/)