HookTrace – Trace Hooks with Precision

HookTrace is a developer observability tool that records and visualizes the runtime execution order of WordPress hooks, filters, and plugin initialization for a single page request.

For Developers Only

This plugin is designed exclusively for development and staging environments. It helps developers understand:

• Which hooks fired, in what order

• Which callbacks executed on each hook

• Callback priority and execution time

• Source plugin, theme, or core location

• Exact file and line number

• Plugin and theme load timeline

Key Features:

• Hook List Tracking – Records all hooks that fire during a page request with type and source information

• Detailed Callback Inspection – When a hook is selected, displays comprehensive callback information including priority, execution order, duration, file path, and source

• Modern Modal UI – Beautiful, searchable interface with filtering capabilities

• Zero Performance Impact – In-memory storage only, no database writes

• Early Boot Support – MU-plugin bootstrap captures hooks from the very beginning

Requirements:

• WP_DEBUG must be set to true in wp-config.php

• User must have manage_options capability (administrator)

• PHP 8.0 or higher

Safety Features:

• Automatically disables when WP_DEBUG is false

• Never runs for non-admin users

• Never modifies WordPress behavior

• Observational only – no code execution changes