Adding the correct copyright year in your website's footer is important for accuracy, professionalism, and trust. It helps visitors know your site is updated and active. An outdated year can give the impression that the site is neglected, which might harm your credibility. Keeping the year accurate also reflects that you are legally protecting your content ownership.
Automating this update saves time and prevents mistakes. Web designers with multiple clients benefit greatly by automating the copyright year. Instead of manually checking each client's site, automation ensures accuracy without added effort. This is especially useful if you manage website update contracts. The more clients you have, the more time you save by using an automated approach for this task.
For WordPress sites, you can use the following shortcode to automatically display the current year:
© <?php echo current_time('Y'); ?> Your Website NameThis function ensures that the year updates based on WordPress’s internal settings.
To include the WordPress shortcode:
{current_date:Y}
footer.php file.Install a plugin like "Auto Copyright Year Updater" to handle updates automatically.
Code Example
const year = new Date().getFullYear();
document.getElementById('copyright-year').textContent = year;
How to Use in HTML
<footer>
<p>© <span id="copyright-year"></span> Your Website Name</p>
</footer>
<script src="script.js"></script>
Pros and Cons
© <?php echo date("Y"); ?> Your Website Name
Benefits and Drawbacks
Use Wix's Velo API to dynamically update the footer.
Explore plugins or built-in tools that fit your CMS.
const Footer = () => {
const year = new Date().getFullYear();
return <footer>© {year} Your Website Name</footer>;
};
@Component({
selector: 'app-footer',
template: `<footer>© {{ year }} Your Website Name</footer>`
})
export class FooterComponent {
year: number = new Date().getFullYear();
}
<template>
<footer>© {{ year }} Your Website Name</footer>
</template>
<script>
export default {
data() {
return { year: new Date().getFullYear() };
}
};
</script>
An outdated copyright year can make your website look inactive. Keeping it current shows that the website is maintained.
A correct copyright year reflects ongoing ownership of your content.
Automating the update process removes the need for manual changes each year.
Place the copyright notice in the footer for easy visibility.
Include a range for older content:
htmlCopyEdit© 2015-<span id="copyright-year"></span> Your Website Name
Add a business name, rights statement, or links to policies as needed.
Check for typos or missing links to your scripts.
Ensure compatibility with other scripts on the website.
Clear your browser's cache to view recent changes.
