Duplicate Title Checker

The Duplicate Title Checker function provides real-time validation on Voxel post creation forms to warn users when they’re about to submit a post with a title that already exists. Prevent duplicate listings and maintain content quality.

Overview

As users type a title on your post submission forms, this function checks in real-time whether that title (or a similar one) already exists. Users see immediate feedback, helping them choose unique titles before submitting.

Key Features

• Real-time duplicate detection as user types
• Case-insensitive matching
• Works on Voxel frontend submission forms
• Optional submission blocking
• Customizable error/success messages
• Shows links to existing posts
• Debounced AJAX for performance
• Supports all post types

Setup Instructions

Step 1: Enable the Function

1. Navigate to Voxel Toolkit → Functions in your WordPress admin
2. Find Duplicate Title Checker in the list
3. Toggle the switch to enable the function
4. Click Save Changes

Step 2: Configure Settings

1. Choose whether to block duplicate submissions
2. Customize the error message
3. Customize the success message
4. Click Save Changes

Configuration Options

Setting	Description	Default
Block Duplicate Submissions	Prevent users from submitting posts with duplicate titles	Off (warning only)
Error Message	Message shown when duplicate is found	“Title is taken. Please choose another.”
Success Message	Message shown when title is available	“Title is available.”

How It Works

Detection Process

1. User starts typing in the title field
2. After a short delay (debounce), AJAX request is sent
3. Server checks for exact and case-insensitive matches
4. Results are returned with match details
5. User sees warning or success message

Matching Logic

• First checks for exact title matches
• Then checks case-insensitive matches
• Only checks within the same post type
• Excludes current post when editing
• Checks published, draft, pending, and private posts
• Minimum 3 characters before checking

User Experience

Warning Mode (Default)

When a duplicate is found:

• Warning message appears below title field
• Shows number of matching posts
• Displays links to existing posts (up to 3)
• User can still submit if they choose

Block Mode

When blocking is enabled and a duplicate is found:

• Error message appears below title field
• Submit/publish button is disabled
• User must choose a different title
• Button re-enables when title becomes unique

Use Cases

Business Directories

Prevent duplicate business listings by warning when a business name already exists.

Event Listings

Avoid duplicate event entries by checking event names before submission.

Job Boards

Warn employers if a job with the same title has already been posted.

Product Catalogs

Ensure product names are unique across your marketplace.

Troubleshooting

Checker Not Appearing

• Verify the function is enabled
• Check that you’re on a Voxel post creation/edit page
• Ensure JavaScript is enabled in browser
• Check browser console for errors

Not Detecting Duplicates

• Title must be at least 3 characters
• Only checks within same post type
• Only checks published, draft, pending, private posts
• Wait for typing to stop (debounce delay)

False Positives

• Consider using warning mode instead of blocking
• Similar titles may trigger if checking is too strict
• Only exact matches are flagged (case-insensitive)