Title: Walker_Nav_Menu_Edit::start_el
Published: April 25, 2014
Last modified: April 28, 2025

---

# Walker_Nav_Menu_Edit::start_el( string $output, WP_Post $data_object, int $depth, stdClass $args = null, int $current_object_id )

## In this article

 * [Description](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#description)
    - [See also](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#see-also)
 * [Parameters](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#parameters)
 * [Source](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#source)
 * [Hooks](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#hooks)
 * [Related](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#related)
 * [Changelog](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#changelog)

[ Back to top](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

Start the element output.

## 󠀁[Description](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#description)󠁿

### 󠀁[See also](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#see-also)󠁿

 * [Walker_Nav_Menu::start_el()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/Walker_Nav_Menu/start_el/)

## 󠀁[Parameters](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#parameters)󠁿

 `$output`stringrequired

Used to append additional content (passed by reference).

`$data_object`[WP_Post](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/wp_post/)
required

Menu item data object.

`$depth`intrequired

Depth of menu item. Used for padding.

`$args`stdClassoptional

Not used.

Default:`null`

`$current_object_id`intoptional

ID of the current menu item. Default 0.

## 󠀁[Source](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#source)󠁿

    ```php
    	public function start_el( &$output, $data_object, $depth = 0, $args = null, $current_object_id = 0 ) {
    		global $_wp_nav_menu_max_depth;

    		// Restores the more descriptive, specific name for use within this method.
    		$menu_item = $data_object;

    		$_wp_nav_menu_max_depth = $depth > $_wp_nav_menu_max_depth ? $depth : $_wp_nav_menu_max_depth;

    		ob_start();
    		$item_id      = esc_attr( $menu_item->ID );
    		$removed_args = array(
    			'action',
    			'customlink-tab',
    			'edit-menu-item',
    			'menu-item',
    			'page-tab',
    			'_wpnonce',
    		);

    		$original_title = false;

    		if ( 'taxonomy' === $menu_item->type ) {
    			$original_object = get_term( (int) $menu_item->object_id, $menu_item->object );
    			if ( $original_object && ! is_wp_error( $original_object ) ) {
    				$original_title = $original_object->name;
    			}
    		} elseif ( 'post_type' === $menu_item->type ) {
    			$original_object = get_post( $menu_item->object_id );
    			if ( $original_object ) {
    				$original_title = get_the_title( $original_object->ID );
    			}
    		} elseif ( 'post_type_archive' === $menu_item->type ) {
    			$original_object = get_post_type_object( $menu_item->object );
    			if ( $original_object ) {
    				$original_title = $original_object->labels->archives;
    			}
    		}

    		$classes = array(
    			'menu-item menu-item-depth-' . $depth,
    			'menu-item-' . esc_attr( $menu_item->object ),
    			'menu-item-edit-' . ( ( isset( $_GET['edit-menu-item'] ) && $item_id === $_GET['edit-menu-item'] ) ? 'active' : 'inactive' ),
    		);

    		$title = $menu_item->title;

    		if ( ! empty( $menu_item->_invalid ) ) {
    			$classes[] = 'menu-item-invalid';
    			/* translators: %s: Title of an invalid menu item. */
    			$title = sprintf( __( '%s (Invalid)' ), $menu_item->title );
    		} elseif ( isset( $menu_item->post_status ) && 'draft' === $menu_item->post_status ) {
    			$classes[] = 'pending';
    			/* translators: %s: Title of a menu item in draft status. */
    			$title = sprintf( __( '%s (Pending)' ), $menu_item->title );
    		}

    		$title = ( ! isset( $menu_item->label ) || '' === $menu_item->label ) ? $title : $menu_item->label;

    		$submenu_text = '';
    		if ( 0 === $depth ) {
    			$submenu_text = 'style="display: none;"';
    		}

    		?>
    		<li id="menu-item-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" class="<?php echo implode( ' ', $classes ); ?>">
    			<div class="menu-item-bar">
    				<div class="menu-item-handle">
    					<label class="item-title" for="menu-item-checkbox-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    						<input id="menu-item-checkbox-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" type="checkbox" class="menu-item-checkbox" data-menu-item-id="<?php echo $item_id; ?>" disabled="disabled" />
    						<span class="menu-item-title"><?php echo esc_html( $title ); ?></span>
    						<span class="is-submenu" <?php echo $submenu_text; ?>><?php _e( 'sub item' ); ?></span>
    					</label>
    					<span class="item-controls">
    						<span class="item-type"><?php echo esc_html( $menu_item->type_label ); ?></span>
    						<span class="item-order hide-if-js">
    							<?php
    							printf(
    								'<a href="%s" class="item-move-up" aria-label="%s">&#8593;</a>',
    								wp_nonce_url(
    									add_query_arg(
    										array(
    											'action'    => 'move-up-menu-item',
    											'menu-item' => $item_id,
    										),
    										remove_query_arg( $removed_args, admin_url( 'nav-menus.php' ) )
    									),
    									'move-menu_item'
    								),
    								esc_attr__( 'Move up' )
    							);
    							?>
    							|
    							<?php
    							printf(
    								'<a href="%s" class="item-move-down" aria-label="%s">&#8595;</a>',
    								wp_nonce_url(
    									add_query_arg(
    										array(
    											'action'    => 'move-down-menu-item',
    											'menu-item' => $item_id,
    										),
    										remove_query_arg( $removed_args, admin_url( 'nav-menus.php' ) )
    									),
    									'move-menu_item'
    								),
    								esc_attr__( 'Move down' )
    							);
    							?>
    						</span>
    						<?php
    						if ( isset( $_GET['edit-menu-item'] ) && $item_id === $_GET['edit-menu-item'] ) {
    							$edit_url = admin_url( 'nav-menus.php' );
    						} else {
    							$edit_url = add_query_arg(
    								array(
    									'edit-menu-item' => $item_id,
    								),
    								remove_query_arg( $removed_args, admin_url( 'nav-menus.php#menu-item-settings-' . $item_id ) )
    							);
    						}

    						printf(
    							'<a class="item-edit" id="edit-%s" href="%s" aria-label="%s"><span class="screen-reader-text">%s</span></a>',
    							$item_id,
    							esc_url( $edit_url ),
    							esc_attr__( 'Edit menu item' ),
    							/* translators: Hidden accessibility text. */
    							__( 'Edit' )
    						);
    						?>
    					</span>
    				</div>
    			</div>

    			<div class="menu-item-settings wp-clearfix" id="menu-item-settings-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    				<?php if ( 'custom' === $menu_item->type ) : ?>
    					<p class="field-url description description-wide">
    						<label for="edit-menu-item-url-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    							<?php _e( 'URL' ); ?><br />
    							<input type="text" id="edit-menu-item-url-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" class="widefat code edit-menu-item-url" name="menu-item-url[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_url( $menu_item->url ); ?>" />
    						</label>
    					</p>
    				<?php endif; ?>
    				<p class="description description-wide">
    					<label for="edit-menu-item-title-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    						<?php _e( 'Navigation Label' ); ?><br />
    						<input type="text" id="edit-menu-item-title-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" class="widefat edit-menu-item-title" name="menu-item-title[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $menu_item->title ); ?>" />
    					</label>
    				</p>
    				<p class="field-title-attribute field-attr-title description description-wide">
    					<label for="edit-menu-item-attr-title-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    						<?php _e( 'Title Attribute' ); ?><br />
    						<input type="text" id="edit-menu-item-attr-title-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" class="widefat edit-menu-item-attr-title" name="menu-item-attr-title[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $menu_item->post_excerpt ); ?>" />
    					</label>
    				</p>
    				<p class="field-link-target description">
    					<label for="edit-menu-item-target-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    						<input type="checkbox" id="edit-menu-item-target-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" value="_blank" name="menu-item-target[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]"<?php checked( $menu_item->target, '_blank' ); ?> />
    						<?php _e( 'Open link in a new tab' ); ?>
    					</label>
    				</p>
    				<div class="description-group">
    					<p class="field-css-classes description description-thin">
    						<label for="edit-menu-item-classes-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    							<?php _e( 'CSS Classes (optional)' ); ?><br />
    							<input type="text" id="edit-menu-item-classes-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" class="widefat code edit-menu-item-classes" name="menu-item-classes[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( implode( ' ', $menu_item->classes ) ); ?>" />
    						</label>
    					</p>
    					<p class="field-xfn description description-thin">
    						<label for="edit-menu-item-xfn-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    							<?php _e( 'Link Relationship (XFN)' ); ?><br />
    							<input type="text" id="edit-menu-item-xfn-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" class="widefat code edit-menu-item-xfn" name="menu-item-xfn[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $menu_item->xfn ); ?>" />
    						</label>
    					</p>
    				</div>
    				<p class="field-description description description-wide">
    					<label for="edit-menu-item-description-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    						<?php _e( 'Description' ); ?><br />
    						<textarea id="edit-menu-item-description-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" class="widefat edit-menu-item-description" rows="3" cols="20" name="menu-item-description[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]"><?php echo esc_html( $menu_item->description ); // textarea_escaped ?></textarea>
    						<span class="description"><?php _e( 'The description will be displayed in the menu if the active theme supports it.' ); ?></span>
    					</label>
    				</p>

    				<?php
    				/**
    				 * Update parent and order of menu item using select inputs.
    				 *
    				 * @since 6.7.0
    				 */
    				?>

    				<div class="field-move-combo description-group">
    					<p class="description description-wide">
    						<label for="edit-menu-item-parent-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    							<?php _e( 'Menu Parent' ); ?>
    						</label>
    						<select class="edit-menu-item-parent widefat" id="edit-menu-item-parent-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" name="menu-item-parent[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]">
    						</select>
    					</p>
    					<p class="description description-wide">
    						<label for="edit-menu-item-order-<?php echo $item_id; ?>">
    							<?php _e( 'Menu Order' ); ?>
    						</label>
    						<select class="edit-menu-item-order widefat" id="edit-menu-item-order-<?php echo $item_id; ?>" name="menu-item-order[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]">
    						</select>
    					</p>
    				</div>

    				<?php
    				/**
    				 * Fires just before the move buttons of a nav menu item in the menu editor.
    				 *
    				 * @since 5.4.0
    				 *
    				 * @param string        $item_id           Menu item ID as a numeric string.
    				 * @param WP_Post       $menu_item         Menu item data object.
    				 * @param int           $depth             Depth of menu item. Used for padding.
    				 * @param stdClass|null $args              An object of menu item arguments.
    				 * @param int           $current_object_id Nav menu ID.
    				 */
    				do_action( 'wp_nav_menu_item_custom_fields', $item_id, $menu_item, $depth, $args, $current_object_id );
    				?>

    				<fieldset class="field-move hide-if-no-js description description-wide">
    					<span class="field-move-visual-label" aria-hidden="true"><?php _e( 'Move' ); ?></span>
    					<button type="button" class="button-link menus-move menus-move-up" data-dir="up"><?php _e( 'Up one' ); ?></button>
    					<button type="button" class="button-link menus-move menus-move-down" data-dir="down"><?php _e( 'Down one' ); ?></button>
    					<button type="button" class="button-link menus-move menus-move-left" data-dir="left"></button>
    					<button type="button" class="button-link menus-move menus-move-right" data-dir="right"></button>
    					<button type="button" class="button-link menus-move menus-move-top" data-dir="top"><?php _e( 'To the top' ); ?></button>
    				</fieldset>

    				<div class="menu-item-actions description-wide submitbox">
    					<?php if ( 'custom' !== $menu_item->type && false !== $original_title ) : ?>
    						<p class="link-to-original">
    							<?php
    							/* translators: %s: Link to menu item's original object. */
    							printf( __( 'Original: %s' ), '<a href="' . esc_url( $menu_item->url ) . '">' . esc_html( $original_title ) . '</a>' );
    							?>
    						</p>
    					<?php endif; ?>

    					<?php
    					printf(
    						'<a class="item-delete submitdelete deletion" id="delete-%s" href="%s">%s</a>',
    						$item_id,
    						wp_nonce_url(
    							add_query_arg(
    								array(
    									'action'    => 'delete-menu-item',
    									'menu-item' => $item_id,
    								),
    								admin_url( 'nav-menus.php' )
    							),
    							'delete-menu_item_' . $item_id
    						),
    						__( 'Remove' )
    					);
    					?>
    					<span class="meta-sep hide-if-no-js"> | </span>
    					<?php
    					printf(
    						'<a class="item-cancel submitcancel hide-if-no-js" id="cancel-%s" href="%s#menu-item-settings-%s">%s</a>',
    						$item_id,
    						esc_url(
    							add_query_arg(
    								array(
    									'edit-menu-item' => $item_id,
    									'cancel'         => time(),
    								),
    								admin_url( 'nav-menus.php' )
    							)
    						),
    						$item_id,
    						__( 'Cancel' )
    					);
    					?>
    				</div>

    				<input class="menu-item-data-db-id" type="hidden" name="menu-item-db-id[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo $item_id; ?>" />
    				<input class="menu-item-data-object-id" type="hidden" name="menu-item-object-id[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $menu_item->object_id ); ?>" />
    				<input class="menu-item-data-object" type="hidden" name="menu-item-object[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $menu_item->object ); ?>" />
    				<input class="menu-item-data-parent-id" type="hidden" name="menu-item-parent-id[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $menu_item->menu_item_parent ); ?>" />
    				<input class="menu-item-data-position" type="hidden" name="menu-item-position[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $menu_item->menu_order ); ?>" />
    				<input class="menu-item-data-type" type="hidden" name="menu-item-type[<?php echo $item_id; ?>]" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $menu_item->type ); ?>" />
    			</div><!-- .menu-item-settings-->
    			<ul class="menu-item-transport"></ul>
    		<?php
    		$output .= ob_get_clean();
    	}
    ```

[View all references](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/files/wp-admin/includes/class-walker-nav-menu-edit.php/)
[View on Trac](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/6.9.4/src/wp-admin/includes/class-walker-nav-menu-edit.php#L60)
[View on GitHub](https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/blob/6.9.4/src/wp-admin/includes/class-walker-nav-menu-edit.php#L60-L349)

## 󠀁[Hooks](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#hooks)󠁿

 [do_action( ‘wp_nav_menu_item_custom_fields’, string $item_id, WP_Post $menu_item, int $depth, stdClass|null $args, int $current_object_id )](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/hooks/wp_nav_menu_item_custom_fields/)

Fires just before the move buttons of a nav menu item in the menu editor.

## 󠀁[Related](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#related)󠁿

| Uses | Description | 
| [esc_attr__()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/esc_attr__/)`wp-includes/l10n.php` |

Retrieves the translation of $text and escapes it for safe use in an attribute.

  | 
| [checked()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/checked/)`wp-includes/general-template.php` |

Outputs the HTML checked attribute.

  | 
| [remove_query_arg()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/remove_query_arg/)`wp-includes/functions.php` |

Removes an item or items from a query string.

  | 
| [get_the_title()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_the_title/)`wp-includes/post-template.php` |

Retrieves the post title.

  | 
| [__()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/__/)`wp-includes/l10n.php` |

Retrieves the translation of $text.

  | 
| [_e()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/_e/)`wp-includes/l10n.php` |

Displays translated text.

  | 
| [esc_attr()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/esc_attr/)`wp-includes/formatting.php` |

Escaping for HTML attributes.

  | 
| [esc_html()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/esc_html/)`wp-includes/formatting.php` |

Escaping for HTML blocks.

  | 
| [esc_url()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/esc_url/)`wp-includes/formatting.php` |

Checks and cleans a URL.

  | 
| [wp_nonce_url()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/wp_nonce_url/)`wp-includes/functions.php` |

Retrieves URL with nonce added to URL query.

  | 
| [add_query_arg()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/add_query_arg/)`wp-includes/functions.php` |

Retrieves a modified URL query string.

  | 
| [get_term()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_term/)`wp-includes/taxonomy.php` |

Gets all term data from database by term ID.

  | 
| [admin_url()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/admin_url/)`wp-includes/link-template.php` |

Retrieves the URL to the admin area for the current site.

  | 
| [do_action()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/do_action/)`wp-includes/plugin.php` |

Calls the callback functions that have been added to an action hook.

  | 
| [get_post()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_post/)`wp-includes/post.php` |

Retrieves post data given a post ID or post object.

  | 
| [get_post_type_object()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_post_type_object/)`wp-includes/post.php` |

Retrieves a post type object by name.

  | 
| [is_wp_error()](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/is_wp_error/)`wp-includes/load.php` |

Checks whether the given variable is a WordPress Error.

  |

[Show 13 more](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#)
[Show less](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#)

## 󠀁[Changelog](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/walker_nav_menu_edit/start_el/?output_format=md#changelog)󠁿

| Version | Description | 
| [5.9.0](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/since/5.9.0/) | Renamed `$item` to `$data_object` and `$id` to `$current_object_id` to match parent class for PHP 8 named parameter support. | 
| [3.0.0](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/since/3.0.0/) | Introduced. |

## User Contributed Notes

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