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HTML

Collapse Long Comments With a Read More Button

Shortens very long comments to a few lines with a soft fade and a Read more / Show less button. Works with classic themes and the Comments block, and leaves comments whole when JavaScript is off.

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Code

<style>
.wpide-comment-collapsed {
    max-height: var(--wpide-comment-height, 200px);
    overflow: hidden;
    -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, #000 60%, transparent);
    mask-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, #000 60%, transparent);
}
.wpide-comment-toggle {
    margin: .5em 0 0;
    padding: 0;
    border: 0;
    background: none;
    color: inherit;
    font: inherit;
    font-weight: 600;
    text-decoration: underline;
    cursor: pointer;
}
.wpide-comment-toggle:focus-visible {
    outline: 2px solid currentColor;
    outline-offset: 2px;
}
@media print {
    .wpide-comment-collapsed { max-height: none; -webkit-mask-image: none; mask-image: none; }
    .wpide-comment-toggle { display: none; }
}
</style>
<script>
(function () {
    var COLLAPSED_HEIGHT = 200; // Visible height of a collapsed comment, in pixels.
    var MIN_HIDDEN = 120;       // Only collapse when at least this much would be hidden.
    var MORE_TEXT = 'Read more';
    var LESS_TEXT = 'Show less';

    var bodies = document.querySelectorAll('.comment-content, .wp-block-comment-content');

    Array.prototype.forEach.call(bodies, function (body, index) {
        if (body.scrollHeight < COLLAPSED_HEIGHT + MIN_HIDDEN) {
            return;
        }

        if (!body.id) {
            body.id = 'wpide-comment-body-' + (index + 1);
        }

        body.style.setProperty('--wpide-comment-height', COLLAPSED_HEIGHT + 'px');

        var button = document.createElement('button');
        button.type = 'button';
        button.className = 'wpide-comment-toggle';
        button.setAttribute('aria-controls', body.id);

        var setOpen = function (open) {
            body.classList.toggle('wpide-comment-collapsed', !open);
            button.setAttribute('aria-expanded', open ? 'true' : 'false');
            button.textContent = open ? LESS_TEXT : MORE_TEXT;
        };

        button.addEventListener('click', function () {
            var open = body.classList.contains('wpide-comment-collapsed');
            setOpen(open);
            if (!open && body.getBoundingClientRect().top < 0) {
                body.scrollIntoView({ block: 'start' });
            }
        });

        // Keyboard users who tab into a link in the hidden part get the whole comment.
        body.addEventListener('focusin', function () {
            if (body.classList.contains('wpide-comment-collapsed')) {
                setOpen(true);
            }
        });

        body.parentNode.insertBefore(button, body.nextSibling);
        setOpen(false);
    });
})();
</script>

Notes

Change the heights and button texts at the top of the script. Screen readers still read the whole comment, the button reports whether it is expanded, and tabbing into a link in the hidden part opens the comment.

How to add this snippet

  1. Install WPIDE on your WordPress site (it is free) and open Code Snippets.
  2. Use snippet above adds it from the library in one click. Or copy the code into a new snippet with the same code type.
  3. It is added inactive: review the code and settings, then switch it on.

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