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