# Clickable Featured Image - Contributors: basicus - Donate link: https://devenia.com/ - Tags: featured image, clickable image, image link, lightbox, post thumbnail - Requires at least: 5.4 - Tested up to: 7.0 - Requires PHP: 7.4 - Stable tag: 1.1.0 - License: GPLv2 or later - License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html Make WordPress featured images clickable. Link post thumbnails to the full-size image, attachment page, or post permalink. == Description == Clickable Featured Image fixes a common WordPress problem: featured images often look clickable, but nothing happens when visitors click them. Activate the plugin and featured images become useful links: - On single posts and pages, featured images link to the full-size image file by default, which works well with common lightbox plugins. - On archive pages, category pages, search results, and Query Loop blocks, featured images link to the post by default. - If a theme or block already links the featured image, the plugin leaves it alone to avoid duplicate links. The default setup is still zero configuration, but version 1.1.0 adds a small Settings screen for sites that need more control. == Features == - Make post featured images clickable - Link single-post featured images to the full-size image file - Link archive and Query Loop featured images to the post permalink - Optional attachment-page or no-link behavior on single posts - Optional no-link behavior on archives - Enable only the post types you want - Works with the core Featured Image block and Query Loop block - Tested with GeneratePress, Twenty Twenty-Four, and common lightbox workflows - Lightweight: no front-end JavaScript unless Meow/Lightbox compatibility is needed == When to use it == Use this plugin when: - Your blog archive thumbnails should link to posts. - Your single-post featured image should open in a lightbox. - Your theme displays featured images but does not make them clickable. - You want a small plugin instead of a full gallery or lightbox suite. == Settings == Go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image. Available settings: - Single posts and pages: full-size image file, attachment page, or do not link. - Archives and query loops: post permalink or do not link. - Post types: choose which public post types with featured image support should be affected. Defaults match the original plugin behavior: single posts link to the full-size image and archive images link to the post. == Installation == 1. Install the plugin from Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin. 2. Activate the plugin. 3. Optional: go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image to adjust link behavior. == Frequently Asked Questions == = Does the plugin have a Settings page? = Yes. Go to Settings > Clickable Featured Image. The defaults work without configuration. = Will this plugin work with my lightbox plugin? = The default single-post behavior links the featured image to the full-size image file, which is the link format many lightbox plugins expect. It has been tested with "Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block" and Meow Lightbox style workflows. = Does this replace a lightbox plugin? = No. This plugin makes featured images clickable. If you want an overlay/modal lightbox, keep using your preferred lightbox plugin. = Will this plugin work with block themes and Query Loop blocks? = Yes. It checks the core Featured Image block and avoids wrapping images that are already linked by the block or theme. = Will this plugin work with any WordPress theme? = It should work with most themes that use standard WordPress featured image output. It has been tested with GeneratePress and Twenty Twenty-Four. = Can I disable it for pages or custom post types? = Yes. Version 1.1.0 adds post type checkboxes on the settings page. == Screenshots == 1. Featured image on a single post linking to the full-size image for lightbox use. 2. Featured images in an archive or Query Loop linking to their posts. 3. Settings screen for single-post behavior, archive behavior, and post types. == Changelog == = 1.1.0 = * Added: Settings screen for single-post link target, archive link target, and enabled post types. * Improved: WordPress.org description, screenshots, and positioning around clickable/linkable featured images. * Improved: Added Text Domain plugin header for translation tooling. = 1.0.13 = * Fixed: Archive featured images using medium sizes no longer inherit browser `sizes="auto"` behavior that can render later lazy-loaded images much larger than the theme-requested size. = 1.0.12 = * Fixed: Explicitly reserves the configured WordPress thumbnail dimensions for archive thumbnails, preventing lazy-loaded images from expanding to full archive width before load. = 1.0.11 = * Fixed: Archive image links no longer force featured images to full container width, preserving theme-requested thumbnail sizes in GeneratePress archives. = 1.0.9 = * Fixed: Let Meow Lightbox re-register singular featured images by using `wp-image-` classes instead of pre-setting `data-mwl-img-id` = 1.0.8 = * Fixed: Register singular featured-image containers with Meow Lightbox when themes render them outside `.entry-content` = 1.0.7 = * Fixed: Add `data-mwl-img-id` to singular featured images for Meow Lightbox compatibility = 1.0.6 = * Fixed: Prevent duplicate anchor tags on query loops when theme already wraps featured images = 1.0.5 = * Fixed: Added CSS to prevent layout spacing issues on archive pages with Twenty Twenty-Four theme = 1.0.4 = * Fixed: Avoid wrapping full block markup on archives by linking only the image/picture, reducing theme layout spacing issues = 1.0.3 = * Fixed: No longer breaks archive page links when theme already wraps images in links * Fixed: Added proper URL escaping for security * Tested compatibility with WordPress 6.9 * Updated minimum PHP requirement to 7.4 = 1.0.2 = Fixed a syntax error in the plugin code that caused a parse error. = 1.0.1 = Updated stable tag and function names to follow guidelines for the Clickable Featured Image WordPress Plugin. = 1.0 = Initial release == Upgrade Notice == = 1.1.0 = Adds a lightweight Settings screen while preserving the existing default behavior. = 1.0.13 = Keeps lazy-loaded archive images at the theme-requested medium size instead of letting browser auto-sizes expand them. = 1.0.12 = Prevents lazy-loaded archive thumbnails from expanding to full width before the image loads. = 1.0.11 = Fixes archive thumbnails being stretched to full width when themes request small featured-image sizes. = 1.0.9 = Fixes the remaining Meow integration bug by allowing the featured image to be queued dynamically instead of being skipped as already registered. = 1.0.8 = Completes the Meow Lightbox fix by registering featured-image header containers, so single-post featured images open correctly in the lightbox again. = 1.0.7 = Adds `data-mwl-img-id` to singular featured images for better Meow Lightbox compatibility. = 1.0.6 = Fixes duplicate link issue on query loops in Twenty Twenty-Four theme by detecting and skipping when theme already wraps images. = 1.0.5 = Fixes archive layout spacing issues on Twenty Twenty-Four theme by adding proper CSS for clickable featured images. = 1.0.4 = Fixes archive layout spacing issues in some themes by wrapping only the image/picture instead of the full block markup. = 1.0.3 = Fixes archive page compatibility issue. Now detects if theme already wraps images in links. Recommended update for all users. = 1.0.2 = Fixed a syntax error in the plugin code that caused a parse error. Please update to this version to ensure the plugin works correctly. = 1.0.1 = Updated stable tag and function names to follow guidelines for the Clickable Featured Image WordPress Plugin. Please update to this version to ensure compatibility with WordPress.org plugin directory. = 1.0 = Initial release