How to Execute php in WordPress Text Widget without a Plugin

Default text widget in WordPress doesn’t posses the capability of executing PHP code. If you want to execute php code in WordPress text widget without any plugin, follow this simple trick. Many plugins are available to execute php in sidebar widgets, but instead of using a plugin this functionality can be easily achieved by adding this code.

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Execute php in WordPress text widget without a Plugin

You need to edit this file in theme folder…

functions.php

Also, it is advised to backup your theme.

Login to WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance menu.
Open, Editor and edit functions.php file in your theme.
Simply copy this code and paste it in functions.php and update file.
You have successfully added code and its time to test drive it.
Go to Widget Section, add some php code to text widget and check it.

function php_execute($html){
if(strpos($html,"<"."?php")!==false){
ob_start();
eval("?".">".$html);
$html=ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean();
}
return $html;
}
add_filter('widget_text','php_execute',100);

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Execute php in WordPress text widget for Thesis Theme

You need to edit this file in theme folder…

custom_functions.php

Also, it is advised to backup your theme.

If you are using Thesis theme, then follow these steps

Login to WordPress dashboard and navigate to Thesis Options.
Go to Custom file Editor and open custom_functions.php file.
Add the below code to it and save the file.
Voila, you are done with editing part, go to widgets section and check the text widget using some php code.

function php_execute_thesis($html){
if(strpos($html,"<"."?php")!==false){
ob_start();
eval("?".">".$html);
$html=ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean();
}
return $html;
}
add_filter('widget_text','php_execute_thesis',100);