---
title: "Product Notes Developer Reference: Shortcode, Functions and Hooks"
description: "The [alg_wc_product_notes] shortcode, PHP functions, filters, actions and meta keys in Product Notes for WooCommerce."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-notes-developer-reference/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: Developers
---

# Product Notes Developer Reference: Shortcode, Functions and Hooks

This developer reference covers the shortcode, PHP functions, filters, actions and data keys in [Product Notes Tab & Private Admin Notes for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/product-notes-for-woocommerce/). Use them to display notes in custom templates or change who can see them. Plugin settings are at **WPFactory > Product Notes** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Product Notes**).

## Shortcode: [alg_wc_product_notes]

Outputs the notes of a product. Available in the free and Pro versions.

```
[alg_wc_product_notes]
[alg_wc_product_notes private_or_public="public" product_id="123" glue=" | "]
```

| Attribute | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `private_or_public` | `public` | `public` or `private` |
| `product_id` | `0` | Product or variation ID. `0` uses the current product |
| `glue` | `<br>` | Text placed between multiple notes |
| `content` | `%product_notes%` | Wrapper; `%product_notes%` is replaced with the notes |
| `do_shortcode` | `false` | Run shortcodes inside notes |
| `do_esc_html` | `true` | Escape HTML in notes |
| `do_wpautop` | `true` | Convert line breaks to paragraphs |
| `make_clickable` | `true` | Turn plain URLs into links |

**Note:** the shortcode does not check the viewer's role. With `private_or_public="private"` it shows private notes to anyone who can see the page. The output is passed through `wp_kses_post()`.

## PHP functions

| Function | Returns |
| --- | --- |
| `alg_wc_pn_get_product_notes( $private_or_public, $product_id = 0, $args = array() )` | Formatted notes as an HTML string. `$args` accepts the same keys as the shortcode attributes except `private_or_public` and `product_id`. No visibility check |
| `alg_wc_pn_has_product_notes( $private_or_public, $product_id = 0 )` | `true` if the product has at least one non-empty note of that type |
| `alg_wc_pn_get_enabled_sections()` | Array of enabled note types, for example `array( 'private', 'public' )` |
| `alg_wc_pn_is_any_section_enabled()` | `true` if at least one section is enabled |

Example: print public notes in a custom single product template.

```
if ( function_exists( 'alg_wc_pn_has_product_notes' ) && alg_wc_pn_has_product_notes( 'public', get_the_ID() ) ) {
    echo wp_kses_post( alg_wc_pn_get_product_notes( 'public', get_the_ID() ) );
}
```

## Filters

| Filter | Arguments | Use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `alg_wc_pn_do_display` | `$display`, `$private_or_public` | Whether notes are shown on the storefront (product tab, product meta, single and shop positions, variation description, cart, checkout). Default: private notes for `manage_woocommerce` users only; public notes for everyone, or logged-in users when Logged users only is on |
| `alg_wc_pn_get_product_notes` | `$notes` (array), `$private_or_public`, `$product_id` | Raw stored notes for a product before values are extracted |
| `alg_wc_pn_get_product_note_values` | `$values` (array of strings), `$private_or_public`, `$product_id` | Non-empty note texts used for all output |
| `alg_wc_pn_product_tab` | `$notes` (HTML), `$private_or_public`, `$product_id` | Final HTML of the product tab content |
| `alg_wc_pn_display_in_wpo_wcpdf` (Pro) | `$display`, `$private_or_public`, `$template_type`, `$item`, `$order` | Return `false` to skip notes for a PDF document or item |

Example: also show private notes on the storefront to users who can edit products.

```
add_filter( 'alg_wc_pn_do_display', function ( $display, $private_or_public ) {
    if ( 'private' === $private_or_public && current_user_can( 'edit_products' ) ) {
        return true;
    }
    return $display;
}, 10, 2 );
```

## Actions

| Action | Arguments | Fires |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `alg_wc_pn_core_loaded` | `$core` | After the core class has loaded its components |
| `alg_wc_product_note_settings_after_save` | None | After the plugin settings are saved (tools run on this hook) |

## Data keys

| Key | Stored on | Format |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `_alg_wc_internal_product_note` | Product and variation post meta | Array of notes; each note is an array with `time` (timestamp), `author` (user ID) and `value` (text) |
| `_alg_wc_public_product_note` | Product and variation post meta | Same format as above |
| `alg_wc_internal_product_note_tab_title`, `alg_wc_public_product_note_tab_title` | Product post meta | Per-product tab title (when Tab title per product is on) |
| `_alg_wc_internal_product_note`, `_alg_wc_public_product_note` (Pro) | Order item meta | String; notes joined with `;` (when Save in order items meta is on) |

Private notes use the internal ID `alg_wc_internal_product_note` and public notes `alg_wc_public_product_note`. The same IDs name the product list columns, export columns and import mapping options in Pro.

Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [Product Notes support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/product-notes-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Product Notes Settings Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-notes-settings-reference/)
- [Product Notes Troubleshooting](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-notes-troubleshooting/)
- [Product Notes Free vs Pro](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-notes-free-vs-pro/)
- [How to Search, Export and Bulk Edit WooCommerce Product Notes](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-notes-search-export-bulk-edit/)
- [How to Show Product Notes in WooCommerce Orders and Emails](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-notes-orders-emails/)