# 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-<id>` 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
