A plugin and module package for a simple online shop built on Joomla articles: "Add to cart" button, price from a custom field, cart stored in the browser, orders by email.
Content Cart turns regular Joomla articles (com_content) into products. The package contains a content plugin, which renders the "Add to cart" button and processes orders, and a cart module. Prices live in an article custom field, the cart is kept in the customer's browser, and orders are sent by email and can be saved as articles. No separate e-commerce component is needed.
Features
- "Add to cart" button in articles from selected categories: article page, category blog, category list, featured articles.
- Price taken from an article custom field; the currency is set in the options.
- The cart is stored in browser localStorage, so no login is needed; it is kept for 1–365 days (30 by default).
- Adding, removing and changing quantities via AJAX, without page reloads.
- Cart module with a product list that updates instantly.
- Order fields: name, email, phone, comment — each can be required, optional or hidden.
- Orders are emailed to the administrator (the sender address from the Joomla global configuration), and a customer who enters an email receives a confirmation with the same order details. Orders can be saved as articles in a chosen category; the cart is cleared after checkout.
- CSRF protection, server-side validation of price and quantity (1–999), email validation. Prices cannot be altered from the browser.
- Layout overrides in the template; built-in styles can be switched off in favour of custom CSS.
- Russian and English interface, including JavaScript messages.
Installation and setup
- Install the package via System → Install → Extensions.
- Enable the Content - Cart plugin in System → Plugins.
- Create a custom field for the price and enter its ID in the plugin options, along with the cart page menu item and the currency.
- Choose the article categories where the button appears (include or exclude the selected ones) and the views it is shown in.
- Optionally, choose a category for saving orders and configure the customer fields.
- Publish the Content - Cart module in a template position.
- Enter prices in the articles.
FAQ
The cart is there, but there is no "Add to cart" button
The button is not part of the module — it appears in the articles that act as products. Select its categories and views in the plugin options.
How can I add my own line to the order form, such as delivery terms?
By overriding the plugin layouts in the site template.
How do I show the cart with the item count next to the menu?
Style the cart module in the template and publish it in a position next to the menu.
How do I change the message shown after an order is placed?
Through language overrides in the Joomla Language Manager.
Compatibility and requirements
- Joomla 5 and 6, PHP 7.4 or later.
- A browser with localStorage and ES6 support.
- Version 2.0.0 was released for Joomla 4 and versions 1.x for Joomla 3.
