Add Meta Description Tags to WordPress Pages Easily

Code

<?php
// Add meta description to WordPress pages

// Hook into 'wp_head' to add meta description
add_action('wp_head', 'wp_dudecom_add_meta_description');

/**
 * Function to add a meta description to WordPress pages
 */
function wp_dudecom_add_meta_description() {
    if (is_singular()) {
        global $post;
        
        // Sanitize and retrieve the meta description
        $meta_description = get_post_meta($post->ID, '_wp_dudecom_meta_description', true);
        $meta_description = esc_attr($meta_description);

        // Output the meta description if it exists
        if (!empty($meta_description)) {
            echo '<meta name="description" content="' . $meta_description . '" />';
        }
    }
}

// Add a meta box to the post editing screen
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'wp_dudecom_add_meta_box');

/**
 * Function to add a custom meta box for meta description
 */
function wp_dudecom_add_meta_box() {
    add_meta_box(
        'wp_dudecom_meta_description_box',
        'Meta Description',
        'wp_dudecom_meta_box_callback',
        ['post', 'page'],
        'side',
        'default'
    );
}

/**
 * Callback function to display the meta box
 *
 * @param WP_Post $post The post object
 */
function wp_dudecom_meta_box_callback($post) {
    // Add a nonce field for security
    wp_nonce_field('wp_dudecom_save_meta_description', 'wp_dudecom_meta_description_nonce');

    // Retrieve existing meta description
    $meta_description = get_post_meta($post->ID, '_wp_dudecom_meta_description', true);

    // Display the form field
    echo '<label for="wp_dudecom_meta_description">Enter Meta Description:</label>';
    echo '<textarea id="wp_dudecom_meta_description" name="wp_dudecom_meta_description" rows="4" style="width:100%;">' . esc_textarea($meta_description) . '</textarea>';
}

/**
 * Save the meta description when the post is saved
 *
 * @param int $post_id The ID of the post being saved
 */
function wp_dudecom_save_meta_description($post_id) {
    // Check if nonce is set
    if (!isset($_POST['wp_dudecom_meta_description_nonce'])) {
        return;
    }

    // Verify the nonce
    if (!wp_verify_nonce($_POST['wp_dudecom_meta_description_nonce'], 'wp_dudecom_save_meta_description')) {
        return;
    }

    // Check if the user has permission to edit the post
    if (!current_user_can('edit_post', $post_id)) {
        return;
    }

    // Sanitize and save the meta description
    if (isset($_POST['wp_dudecom_meta_description'])) {
        $meta_description = sanitize_text_field($_POST['wp_dudecom_meta_description']);
        update_post_meta($post_id, '_wp_dudecom_meta_description', $meta_description);
    }
}

// Hook into 'save_post' to save the meta description
add_action('save_post', 'wp_dudecom_save_meta_description');
?>