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Embed with Shortcode ​

The shortcode is the most common way to embed a FluentPlayer video. It works in posts, pages, widgets, and even in theme templates.

Basic Usage ​

Add the following shortcode to any post or page (recommended):

[fluentplayer id="129"]

Replace 129 with the ID of your media item. Once added, the player will appear exactly where you place the shortcode.

Find Your Shortcode ​

Every video you create is assigned a unique ID and a ready-to-use shortcode.

  1. Navigate to FluentPlayer → Media.
  2. Look at the Media List table.
  3. You will find the ID (e.g., #129) at the start of the row and the full ShortCode (e.g., [fluentplayer id='129']) in its own column.
  4. Copy the code exactly as shown.

Find your Shortcode

Shortcode Attributes ​

AttributeRequiredDescription
idYesThe media (post) ID. It supplies the player template and configuration (preset, controls, overlays, branding). By default it also provides the video source, but that source can be replaced dynamically — see Dynamic media source.
source_urlNoPlay a specific video URL instead of the media's saved source.
source_metaNoRead the video URL from a custom field on the current post.
source_posterNoUse a specific poster image URL instead of the media's saved poster.

The shortcode is intentionally simple — the preset, controls, and all other configuration come from the media item itself. This means you configure everything in one place (FluentPlayer → Media) and the shortcode just references it. The video source defaults to the one saved on the media item, but it can be replaced per page — see Dynamic media source below.

TIP

If you ever change the video source, poster, or preset for a media item, every page that uses the shortcode for that ID will update automatically. No need to edit every page.

Dynamic media source (advanced) ​

Normally the player uses the source saved on the media item. The optional source_url, source_meta, and source_poster attributes let one media item act as a reusable template whose video changes per page — useful when the same player configuration (preset, overlays, branding) should wrap different videos.

In this mode the id no longer determines which video plays; it only supplies the player template and configuration. The actual video source is resolved dynamically — either from the URL passed on the shortcode (source_url) or, most commonly, from a custom field (meta) on the current post (source_meta).

Source precedence (the first match wins):

  1. source_url — an explicit URL passed on the shortcode.
  2. source_meta — the value of a custom field on the current post (the post or page where the shortcode appears).
  3. The media item's saved source (the default when neither is provided).
text
[fluentplayer id="12" source_url="https://example.com/clip.mp4"]
[fluentplayer id="12" source_meta="video_url"]
[fluentplayer id="12" source_meta="video_url" source_poster="https://example.com/cover.jpg"]

A YouTube or Vimeo URL works as source_url too — the provider is detected automatically.

Example: play a video stored in a custom field ​

Say each post stores its video URL in a custom field named youtube_url and you want one consistent player for all of them:

  1. In FluentPlayer → Media, create one media item. Configure the preset, controls, overlays, and branding you want — this item is your reusable template. The source you set here is only a fallback; it does not need to match any specific post (you can leave it as a placeholder).
  2. Copy its ID (e.g. #12).
  3. In each post — or once in your theme template — add the shortcode with source_meta pointing at your field:
text
[fluentplayer id="12" source_meta="youtube_url"]

Every post now renders the same template but plays the URL from its own youtube_url field. You reuse the same id everywhere — you do not create a separate media item for each video. The id supplies the player template and configuration; the video source comes from the field.

Security note

source_meta reads from the current post's custom fields. Point it only at fields you control. Avoid exposing private or protected meta keys (those whose name begins with _) through a public shortcode, since the resolved URL is rendered into the page.

Developer note

By default source_meta is read from the current post. Developers can change which post is used with the fluent_player/dynamic_source_post_id filter. (There is no post_id shortcode attribute — use the filter for this.)

Legacy query-string embed ​

For backward compatibility, you can also load a media item by appending ?fluent_player_media_id=<ID> to a URL. This is a legacy mechanism — for new content, use the shortcode or the Gutenberg block instead.

Using the Shortcode in Different Areas ​

In a Post or Page (Block Editor)

  1. Go to Pages → Add New or edit an existing page.
  2. Click the + icon and search for the Shortcode block.
  3. Paste your code (e.g., [fluentplayer id="133"]) into the box.
  4. Click Publish or Update to see your video live.

Gutenberg Block

In a widget:

  1. Go to Appearance → Widgets.
  2. Add a Text or Custom HTML widget to your sidebar or footer.
  3. Type [fluentplayer id="133"] in the widget content.
  4. Save.

In a theme template (PHP):

If you are a developer, you can call the player directly in your code:

php
<?php echo do_shortcode('[fluentplayer id="133"]'); ?>

NOTE

If you enter an ID that doesn't exist, the player will simply not appear on the page. Always double check your Media List to ensure you are using the correct ID.

Common Questions ​

Can I put multiple videos on the same page?

Yes. Use a separate shortcode for each video:

[fluentplayer id="129"]

[fluentplayer id="133"]

Can I use the shortcode inside a tab or accordion?

Yes, as long as the tab or accordion plugin supports shortcodes (most do).

What happens if the media ID does not exist?

The shortcode outputs nothing the page will look as if the shortcode is not there. No error message is shown to visitors.

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