Look at almost any blog, and you will find a narrow column beside the articles. That column is called the sidebar. It usually holds widgets like a search box, popular posts or a newsletter signup.
A good sidebar helps visitors find more of your content, while a messy one distracts them from what they came to read.
What is a sidebar in WordPress?
In simple terms, a sidebar is a vertical area on the left or right side of your main content. Most blogs place it on the right. Some themes offer two sidebars, one on each side, while minimal themes have none at all.
In WordPress, the word has a wider meaning too. Any widget area that a theme registers is technically called a sidebar, even if it sits in the footer. That is why the developer function for it is named register_sidebar().
What can you show in a sidebar?
- A short "About me" box with your photo.
- A search bar and a list of categories.
- Your popular or latest posts.
- An email signup form or a display ad.
I keep my own sidebar short: a search box, a few popular posts and nothing more. Readers find what they need quickly that way.
How to change or remove the sidebar
In a classic theme, you add sidebar content from Appearance → Widgets. Many themes also let you choose a right sidebar, left sidebar or no sidebar layout in the Customizer. For a cleaner look, follow our guide on how to remove the sidebar in WordPress.
Don't confuse it with the settings sidebar in the block editor. That panel on the right only shows options for your post and its blocks.
On phones, most responsive themes move the sidebar below the main content. If it drops below the content on desktop too, see our fix for the sidebar below content error.
A sidebar is simple, but it can quietly lead readers to more of your posts. Now you know how it works. What do you keep in yours? Let us know in the comment box below.