About this plugin
Live Data Display is a powerful WordPress plugin that loads JSON feeds via HTTP and displays live-updating values on your site — with no page reload required.
Perfect for live tickers, stock prices, sports results, weather data, sensor readings, and any other real-time data source.
Key Features:
- Multiple independent slots: Configure as many data slots as you need, each with its own API URL, refresh interval, and display target.
- Shortcode and Gutenberg block: Place data anywhere with [araa slot="slot_1"] or the built-in block.
- Auto-refresh: Each slot refreshes independently at a configurable interval (minimum 500 ms).
- Server-side initial value: For slots with a refresh interval ≥ 10 s the initial value is pre-rendered server-side and cached, so visitors see data immediately — no flash of empty content.
- Proxy for cross-origin APIs: Optional server-side proxy (admin-ajax or REST API) fetches external URLs from the server, bypassing browser CORS restrictions.
- Customisable GET parameters: Use #GET_key# placeholders in the API URL to pass the current page’s GET parameters to the remote API.
- Prefix / Suffix: Wrap every displayed value with configurable text (e.g. currency symbol, unit).
- Error text: Show a custom fallback message when the API request fails or the JSON path is not found.
- Page-visibility aware: Slots pause polling while the browser tab is hidden and resume immediately when it becomes visible again.
- Active / Inactive toggle: Enable or disable individual slots without deleting their configuration.
- Built-in demo APIs: The plugin ships with six ready-to-use REST API endpoints that can serve as live data sources straight away — no external service needed. Each endpoint must be individually enabled under Settings → Live Data Display → API:
- /wp-json/araa/v1/api/time — current server time, date, weekday, and timezone
- /wp-json/araa/v1/api/countdown — seconds/days until a target date (?to=YYYY-MM-DD; defaults to next New Year)
- /wp-json/araa/v1/api/random — random integer within a configurable range (?min=1&max=100 )
- Clean uninstall: All plugin data is removed on deletion (optional: keep settings).
How It Works:
- Add a slot: Go to Settings → Live Data Display and create a slot.
- Enter the API URL: Paste the JSON feed URL. Use #GET_key# for dynamic GET parameters.
- Set the JSON path: Enter the dot-separated path to the value you need (e.g. items.0.score ).
- Choose a proxy method (only needed for external/cross-origin URLs): admin-ajax or REST API proxy.
- Set the refresh interval: How often (in milliseconds) should the value be updated?
- Place the output: Use the shortcode [araa slot="slot_1"], the Gutenberg block, or a custom CSS/jQuery selector.
- Optional: Add prefix, suffix, placeholder, error text, and an initial-hide selector.
- Optional — enable REST API: To expose slot values via the plugin’s own REST API endpoints, go to Settings → Live Data Display → API and activate the feature. The endpoints are disabled by default.