Do you need to add a new setting in your Joomla template? With a few lines of PHP and XML code you can add a text field to print custom text in your public site.

In this post, I'm going to share with you how to add a custom text field to a Joomla 3 template.

Before to start, be sure you're using a template that doesn't expect updates from the developer in future. If necessary, work the customizations in a duplicated one.

Step #1. Access Template Editor

1. Go to Extensions
2. Templates
3. Templates (on the left side)

• Your Template Details and Files

Step #2. Edit templateDetails.xml file

• Click templateDetails.xml
• Edit the code in the right side of the screen

To add a simple text field, use the code below inside the <fieldset> tag:

<field name="customfield"  type="text" default=""
    label="Custom Field Label"
    description="Custom Field Alt Label"
    filter="string" />

• Set a unique name value. In my example I use "customfield”.
• Type a clear label and description.
• Default is optional. Set a default value when the field is saved empty in step 4.
• Filter is optional. In this case, it prevents to save html tags.

• Save changes when you're done.

Step #3. Edit index.php file

I want to display my custom field next to "© 2015 Joomla!!" text in the footer:

Let's find that place in the template to print the value from our new field.

• Click index.php
• Edit the code in the right side

Look for the right place in index.php file, and type some PHP code:

<?php echo $this->params->get('customfield'); ?>

Replace 'customfield' with the name of your custom field from step 2.

• Save and close.

Step #4. Test the new field

• Go to Extensions > Templates > Styles > Your template style
• Look for the new param and type some text
• Save when you're done

Step #5.  End result

Go to your public site and see the new field in action: