Elaborate the term hooks and uses in WordPress.

In WordPress, hooks are a fundamental concept that allows developers to modify or extend the functionality of a theme or plugin without directly editing its code. Hooks act as entry points where custom code can be executed at specific points during the execution of WordPress.

WordPress provides two types of hooks: action hooks and filter hooks.

1.Action Hooks:Action hooks allow you to add your own custom code that gets executed at specific points in WordPress. They enable you to perform actions or add functionality at those specific moments.

Action hooks are represented by functions like do_action() and do_action_ref_array().

To add your own custom code to an action hook, you use the add_action() function, specifying the hook name and the callback function that should be executed.

2.Filter Hooks:Filter hooks allow you to modify the data that is being processed or output by WordPress. They provide a way to intercept and modify values before they are displayed or stored.

Filter hooks are represented by functions like apply_filters() and apply_filters_ref_array().

To add your own custom code to a filter hook, you use the add_filter() function, specifying the hook name and the callback function that should be applied to modify the data.

Hooks can be found throughout the WordPress core, themes, and plugins, allowing you to customize various aspects of WordPress behavior. Some common uses of hooks include:

3.Modifying Content:You can use hooks to modify the content of posts, pages, or custom post types before they are displayed. For example, you can add a custom message at the end of every post.

4.Adding Custom Functionality:Hooks allow you to add custom functionality without modifying the core files. You can add new features, integrate with third-party services, or perform additional actions at specific events like user registration or post publication.

5.Customizing Themes:Hooks are extensively used in themes to modify the layout, appearance, and behavior. You can add or remove elements from the header, footer, sidebars, or other template files using action hooks. Filter hooks allow you to modify data such as titles, excerpts, or widget outputs.

6.Extending Plugins:Plugins often provide hooks to allow customization. You can hook into these points to modify plugin behavior, add new functionality, or integrate with other plugins.

By leveraging hooks, you can maintain the flexibility and upgradability of WordPress, as your customizations are kept separate from the core code. It also promotes code reusability and allows for easier collaboration with other developers, as they can modify or extend your code by using hooks.