### [How to Create a Smart Tag for the Current Time](https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-create-a-smart-tag-for-the-current-time/)

**Published:** March 24, 2021
**Author:** Editorial Team

**Excerpt:** In this tutorial, we'll show you how to create a Smart Tag for the current time in the WPForms form builder.

**Content:**

## Introduction

Would you like to display the current time on your form? Using WPForms Smart Tags you can create a smart tag that would display the time on your forms. With a small PHP snippet, this tutorial will walk you through each step of the way!

## Adding the Smart Tag for the current time

In order to use a [Smart Tag](https://wpforms.com/docs/how-to-use-smart-tags-in-wpforms/ "How to Use Smart Tags in WPForms"), we’ll need to add the code snippet first to create it.

If you need any help in how to add a code snippet to your site, [please review this tutorial](https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-add-custom-php-or-javascript-for-wpforms/ "How to Add Custom PHP or JavaScript for WPForms").

```

/**
 * Create a custom Smart Tag 
 *
 * @link https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-create-a-smart-tag-for-the-current-time
 */

function wpf_dev_register_smarttag( $tags ) {
 
    // Key is the tag, item is the tag name.
    $tags[ 'current_time' ] = 'Current Time';
	
    return $tags;
}
 
add_filter( 'wpforms_smart_tags', 'wpf_dev_register_smarttag' );

/**
 * Process the Smart Tag.
 *
 * @link https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-create-a-smart-tag-for-the-current-time
 */

function wpf_dev_process_smarttag( $content, $tag ) {
 
    // Only run if it is our desired tag.
    if ( 'current_time' === $tag ) {
		
        date_default_timezone_set( 'US/Eastern' );
		
        $link = date( 'h:i:s A' );
		
        // Replace the tag with our link.
        $content = str_replace( '{current_time}', $link, $content );
    }
 
    return $content;
}
 
add_filter( 'wpforms_smart_tag_process', 'wpf_dev_process_smarttag', 10, 2 );
```

Let’s take a closer look at each one of these functions.

#### Creating the Smart Tag

Before we can define what the Smart Tag is, we first need to create it.

The **wpf\_dev\_process\_smarttag** function will set up the Smart Tag by creating it and naming it. This means we will be able to call upon this Smart Tag in the form builder.

#### Defining the Smart Tag

Once the function to create the tag is called for, we just need to define what that tag will be used for. In this case, we’re going to be defining the time zone and then setting the time format.

If you need some help with setting the time zone and the format, please see the [PHP Documentation for assistance](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.date-default-timezone-set.php "PHP.net Documentation Guide").

As you can see with the **wpf\_dev\_process\_smarttag** function, we’re setting the time zone to **US/Eastern** and the time format of **‘h:i:s A’**, will be displayed as **03:12:46 PM**.

And after saving the code, you’ll now be able to use this new custom Smart Tag in your form builder.

## Creating the form

Now it’s time to create our form. If you need help in creating a form, [please see this article](https://wpforms.com/docs/creating-first-form/ "Creating Your First Form").

We’re just going to add some fields and specifically add a **Single Line Text** field that will have the **Default Value** set as our new Smart Tag.

To add a **Default Value**, select the **Single Line Text** form field and click on the Advanced tab. Once there, click the **Show Smart Tags** and scroll until you find the Smart Tag we just added.

![Once the code has been added to your site, a Current Time Smart Tag can be used in your form builder](https://wpforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/wpforms-current-time-smart-tag.jpg)

If you need further help in how to set a **Default Value** for a **Single Line Text** field, [please check out this documentation](https://wpforms.com/docs/how-to-add-default-values-for-form-fields/#standard "How to Add Default Values for Form Fields").

And that’s it! You’ve now created a new Smart Tag for the **Current Time**. Would you like to process Smart Tags inside field labels? Take a look at our tutorial on [How to Process Smart Tags in Field Labels](https://wpforms.com/developers/how-to-process-smart-tags-in-field-labels/ "How to Process Smart Tags in Field Labels").

## Related

Filter References:

- [wpforms\_smart\_tags](https://wpforms.com/developers/wpforms_smart_tags/ "Using the wpforms_smart_tags filter")
- [wpforms\_smart\_tag\_process](https://wpforms.com/developers/wpforms_smart_tag_process/ "Using the wpforms_smart_tag_process filter")

**Categories:** Tutorials

**Tags:** PHP

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