---
title: Shortcodes Available in Custom Checkout Fields
description: "The three shortcodes you can use in WooCommerce custom checkout field options: current date and time, language text, and conditions."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/using-the-shortcode/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: Shortcodes
---

# Shortcodes Available in Custom Checkout Fields

[Custom Checkout Fields for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/custom-checkout-fields-for-woocommerce/) registers three shortcodes you use *inside* field options such as the label, default value, placeholder, and datepicker min/max date. They do not create fields on their own. They output a value that the field option then uses.

**Important:** these shortcodes are meant for the plugin's own settings fields, not for placement in page or template files. To add an actual field to checkout, set a field's **Type** on its tab, as described in [How to add a custom field to WooCommerce checkout](https://wpfactory.com/docs/).

### Which field options run shortcodes

These field options pass their content through the shortcode engine, so you can use the shortcodes below in them: Label, Placeholder, Default value, Description, Fee title, checkbox Value for ON / Value for OFF, and datepicker Min date / Max date.

### 1. Current date and time

`[alg_wc_ccf_datetime]` outputs the current date and time as text. It does not create a date field. Use it to pre-fill or display a live value.

| Attribute | Effect | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `format` | A PHP date format string | Your WordPress date format |

Example: set a field's **Default value** to `[alg_wc_ccf_datetime format="Y-m-d"]` to pre-fill today's date as `2026-07-21`.

### 2. Language-specific text

`[alg_wc_ccf_translate]` shows different text depending on the active language (it reads WPML's `ICL_LANGUAGE_CODE`). It has two forms.

Enclosing form, one block per language set:

```
[alg_wc_ccf_translate lang="EN,DE"]Text for English and German[/alg_wc_ccf_translate]
[alg_wc_ccf_translate not_lang="EN,DE"]Text for other languages[/alg_wc_ccf_translate]
```

Self-contained form, both texts in one tag:

```
[alg_wc_ccf_translate lang="EN,DE" lang_text="Text for English and German" not_lang_text="Text for other languages"]
```

Use `lang` for an inclusion list and `not_lang` for an exclusion list. Language codes are comma-separated and case-insensitive.

### 3. Conditional value

`[alg_wc_ccf_if]` returns one value or another based on a comparison. Inside it, wrap nested shortcodes in curly braces so they resolve correctly.

```
[alg_wc_ccf_if value1="{alg_wc_ccf_datetime format='Gi'}" operator="greater" value2="1300" then="1" else="0"]
```

| Attribute | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `value1`, `value2` | The two values to compare |
| `operator` | `equal`, `not_equal`, `less`, `less_or_equal`, `greater`, `greater_or_equal` |
| `then` | Returned when the comparison is true (or use the enclosed content) |
| `else` | Returned when the comparison is false |

The example above returns `1` after 1:00 PM and `0` before it, which you could feed into a datepicker Min date to shift ordering cut-offs by time of day.

### Need a hand?

Our team answers every ticket on the [Custom Checkout Fields support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/custom-checkout-fields-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Where Custom Checkout Field Data Is Stored (Order Meta Reference)](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-checkout-field-order-meta/)
- [Custom Checkout Fields in Emails and Order Pages: Templates and Placeholders](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-checkout-fields-email-templates/)
- [General Troubleshooting for Custom Checkout Fields](https://wpfactory.com/docs/general-troubleshooting-checkout/)
- [What You Get with Custom Checkout Fields Pro](https://wpfactory.com/docs/pro-feature-breakdown/)
- [Adding a Checkout Fee Based on a Custom Field](https://wpfactory.com/docs/custom-field-charges/)