Hook Explorer Visual by Volade
See every hook without leaving wp-admin.
Hook Explorer Visual by Volade maps $wp_filter, resolves callbacks, shows priority lanes, watch mode and JSON export — four dev presets, zero mandatory SaaS.
3-step workflow
- 1Open the hook map — filter init or wp_enqueue_scripts
- 2Inspect callbacks and priorities — spot the plugin conflict
- 3Export JSON for the next developer
WordPress debug reality
2,000+ hooks, zero native overview
Developers pay for Query Monitor Pro or lose hours in $wp_filter — or export a JSON map in one click.
~$39+/yr
QM add-ons / debug tools
Hook map, priorities, watch log, 4 presets and free JSON export — without Query Monitor for the essentials.
Live
$wp_filter map
4
Dev presets
Watch
Real-time log
JSON
Free export
At a glance
Debugging hook conflicts still means var_dump($wp_filter) or a non-exportable Query Monitor panel. Hook Explorer Visual by Volade v1.0.0 maps $wp_filter, resolves callbacks, watch mode, four dev presets and JSON export without mandatory SaaS.
Screenshots
Full-page real admin UI — presets, diagnostics and detailed settings.
2026 pricing comparison
Pay to see hooks, or start at $0
Query Monitor is excellent — but exportable hook maps and dedicated watch mode often require a full debug stack.
Free core · JSON export · dev presets
~$39+
Debug stack / yr
$0
Hook Explorer Volade
Why debugging WordPress hooks is still painful
Query Monitor, Debug Bar and var_dump($wp_filter) — each covers only one slice of the same problem.
The hook debug problem
You know a hook is overloaded — not who registered it or at which priority.
Themes and plugins stack on the same hooks. Without an exportable map, every handoff starts from zero.
- Query Monitor: hooks panel in dev — no exportable agency handoff map
- What The Hook: current hook only — not global $wp_filter view
- Debug Bar: limited hook extensions — aging UI
- var_dump($wp_filter): unreadable, undocumented, lost on migration
- Plugin docs: rarely up to date on actually registered hooks
The Volade answer
Map, watch, export — inside wp-admin.
Hook Explorer inventories active hooks, resolves callbacks (class::method or Closure), logs watched hooks and exports everything as JSON.
- Searchable map of all registered hooks
- Per-hook detail: priorities and resolved callbacks
- Watch mode — log listed hooks on a page load
- Hide wp_/admin_ hooks to focus on plugins
- 4 presets: theme, plugin audit, performance, agency
- Free JSON export — map, watch log, health
- wp hev hooks | preset | export — scriptable
4 dev presets
Theme, plugin audit, performance or agency handoff — ready-made watch lists.
Theme developer
Watch wp_enqueue_scripts, the_content, template_redirect.
ThemePlugin audit
init, admin_menu, rest_api_init — duplicates visible.
PluginsPerformance
wp_head, wp_footer, shutdown — heavy front hooks.
PerfAgency handoff
save_post + full map JSON export.
Doc4 observation layers
Global map, callback detail, watch log and JSON export.
Hooks sorted by callback count.
Priorities and resolved callbacks.
Log of monitored hooks.
JSON for handoff or CI.
Data comes from $wp_filter at scan time — reflects active plugins.
Same WordPress, hooks visible
wp_enqueue_scripts with 18 callbacks — priorities and sources in one view.
Priority 10
MyTheme::enqueue_styles — your theme.
Priority 20
WooCommerce::frontend_scripts.
Priority 99
OptimizationPlugin::defer_js — likely conflict.
Export
hooks-map.json for staging.
Hook detail
wp_enqueue_scripts — theme vs optimization conflict
See which plugin enqueues at priority 99 before your theme — export the map for the team.
Real scenarios
What changes after activation.
Enqueue conflict
Before: Broken CSS — 2h searching the theme
After: wp_enqueue_scripts map → priority 99 plugin found
−2h
Agency handoff
Before: “There's a custom hook” with no docs
After: JSON export save_post + callbacks
Clear docs
Plugin audit
Before: 3 plugins on init — which one?
After: Plugin audit preset + watch log
Conflict visible
Staging vs prod
Before: Different hooks undocumented
After: wp hev export on both → diff
Parity
What Query Monitor does not document for handoff
Searchable $wp_filter map, priority lanes, watch mode and JSON export — in wp-admin, no account.
$wp_filter map
All registered hooks, filterable.
Resolved callbacks
class::method or Closure@file:line.
Priority lanes
See 10, 20, 99 on the same hook.
Watch mode
Log when a monitored hook fires.
4 presets
Theme, plugin, perf, agency.
Hide core
Focus on third-party code.
JSON export
Map + watch log + health.
REST hev/v1
API for connected Volade accounts.
Complements Query Monitor: QM shows live execution, HEV maps and exports $wp_filter for agency documentation.
What teams pay to see hooks today
Public pricing July 2026 — Query Monitor is free but advanced hook workflows often need other tools.
Query Monitor
$0 (+ add-ons)
Excellent hooks panel in dev — no handoff JSON export or dedicated watch presets.
What The Hook
$0
Shows current hook only — not full searchable $wp_filter map.
Debug Bar
$0
Basic hook extensions — dated UI, no batch watch.
Premium debug suites
~$39+/yr
Monitoring stacks — outside exportable hook cartography.
Hook Explorer Visual by Volade
$0
Searchable map, priority detail, watch log, 4 presets, JSON export.
WordPress hook debug landscape 2026
QM, What The Hook, Debug Bar and manual dumps — HEV targets map + export + watch.
Query Monitor
WordPress debug reference — hooks panel in dev.
Limit: No handoff JSON export or dedicated watch presets in a hooks-focused plugin.
What The Hook
Shows the current request hook.
Limit: No searchable global $wp_filter map.
Debug Bar
Classic debug bar with extensions.
Limit: Dated UI, secondary hooks, no structured export.
Show Current Template
Template + partial front hooks.
Limit: Front-oriented, not full admin audit.
Manual var_dump
Dump $wp_filter in functions.php.
Limit: Unmaintainable, unreadable, no watch mode.
Do nothing
Debug blind.
Limit: Hours lost on every hook conflict.
Comparison table — 5 approaches
Hook Explorer vs Query Monitor, What The Hook, Debug Bar and manual dump.
| Feature | HEV Volade | Query Monitor | What The Hook | Debug Bar | Manual dump |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Searchable $wp_filter map | ~ | ~ | ~ | ||
| Resolved callbacks | ~ | ~ | |||
| Priority lanes | ~ | ||||
| Dedicated watch mode | ~ | ||||
| Free JSON export | |||||
| 4 dev presets | |||||
| Dedicated wp-admin UI | ~ | ~ | ~ | ||
| No account (core) | |||||
| WP-CLI | ~ | ~ | |||
| Annual cost (typical) | $0 | $0–39 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
QM remains essential for live dev — HEV complements with exportable map and watch presets.
Three tiers, one plugin
Hook map, watch mode, presets and JSON export free without account. Volade account for REST. V+ for multisite live trace.
No account
- Hook map
- Callback detail
- Watch mode
- 4 presets
- JSON export
- Site Health
Volade account
- REST hev/v1
- Watch list sync
- Scheduled export
V+ Premium
- Multisite live trace
- wp hev bulk
- Agency rollup
WP-CLI and hev/v1 REST to audit hooks between staging and production.
WP-CLI
status, hooks, preset and export from SSH.
wp hev status wp hev preset theme_dev wp hev export --file=hooks-map.json
Multisite
Per-site map; network rollup on V+.
- Per-blog scan
- Consolidated JSON export
- Harmonized presets
Download
Install the ZIP, open Hook Explorer, inspect wp_enqueue_scripts in under two minutes.
ZIP with Volade SDK — Volade → Hook Explorer (or Tools → Hook Explorer).
- 1Plugins → Add New → Upload → ZIP → Activate
- 2Volade → Hook Explorer
- 3Search a hook → inspect callbacks → export JSON
First hook inspection in under 2 minutes
FAQ
Query Monitor, watch mode, performance, multisite and Volade account.
No — it complements it. QM for live execution, HEV to map and export $wp_filter.
Free vs V+ Premium
The extension works without an account. V+ unlocks premium on this extension and the full catalog.
| Feature | Free | V+ |
|---|---|---|
| $wp_filter map & callback détail | ||
| Watch mode & priority lanes | ||
| 4 dev presets & free JSON export | ||
| Programmatic hev/v1/* REST API | ||
| Live trace & watch list sync | ||
| Agency multisite rollup |
Reviews, discussions & updates
Share your experience with Hook Explorer Visual by Volade and follow the latest releases.
Ready to see your WordPress hooks?
Download Hook Explorer Visual by Volade v1.0.0 — theme preset in one click, no signup.
Download v1.0.0