Grid Builder WP

Purpose & User Intent: The Grid Builder WP tool generates configurable, data-driven grid layouts for WordPress sites. It targets web developers, theme designers, and content managers who need reusable grid patterns for posts, portfolios, products, or testimonials without writing template code. Used during theme development, page building, or site redesigns, it translates data sources into renderable grid code and templates for consistent front-end presentation.
Core Logic & Features: Core capabilities include data_source (WP_Query-like parameters) to fetch items; layout_style (grid or masonry); responsive column counts per breakpoint; gutter and alignment controls; data-driven item templates; output options including HTML/CSS snippets and WordPress shortcode. Required features: data_source definition, item_limit, breakpoint configuration, and at least one layout_style. Optional/advanced features: custom card templates, filtering and sorting, pagination, lazy loading, dynamic data sources, and shortcode customization. Outputs consist of grid_code (HTML snippet), css (styles), and shortcode (WordPress-ready). The tool emphasizes data-driven rendering, not frontend styling specifics, and produces consistent grid scaffolds for deployment across pages.
Algorithms & Calculations: For each breakpoint, the tool computes grid-template-columns as repeat(n, 1fr) with n derived from the breakpoint configuration. Example: 0–599px -> 2 columns, 600–899px -> 3 columns, 900px+ -> 4 columns. It generates accompanying gutter rules, optional masonry behavior, and card-aware template hooks. It assembles a final HTML grid, a CSS block with unique classes, and a shortcode to fetch and render WP data at runtime. Data ordering, filtering, and pagination map to WP_Query parameters during generation.
Error & Edge Cases: Invalid data_source or unsupported post_type triggers fallback to an empty grid with no runtime errors. Negative or zero item_limit, non-numeric breakpoints, or conflicting layout_style and data constraints raise explicit validation errors during generation. If external data is unavailable, the tool returns an empty grid skeleton and logs non-fatal warnings for developer review.
Industry/Region & Localization: Outputs use standard WordPress i18n conventions for translations and use CSS units in px/rem. Breakpoint and gutter values follow common web design practices, ensuring cross-region usability without currency or locale-sensitive data.
Assumptions & Exclusions: Assumes a WordPress environment with necessary permissions and theme support for rendering generated shortcodes or templates. Front-end styling terms and UI behavior are out of scope; this focuses on data-driven grid generation, output formats, and deployment-ready code.