Advanced Email Filter for Elementor Forms

As a developer passionate about solving real-world problems with WordPress, I’m excited to showcase Advanced Email Filter for Elementor Forms—a plugin I built to address a critical pain point for Elementor Pro users: spam submissions. This project demonstrates my ability to extend third-party platforms (like Elementor) with custom solutions, prioritize scalable architecture, and deliver user-centric features.

Why Advanced Email Filtering Matters

Spam submissions waste time, skew analytics, and expose your site to security risks. Traditional email validation checks syntax (e.g., user@domain.com), but advanced filtering goes further by:

• Blocking disposable or suspicious domains (e.g., @spamdomain.ru).
• Whitelisting trusted domains or users (e.g., @yourcompany.com).
• Applying granular rules per form for flexibility.

The Advanced Email Filter for Elementor Forms plugin offers these capabilities seamlessly within Elementor Pro, making it a must-have for businesses, membership sites, or anyone prioritizing data quality.

Key Features

1. Global Blocklist/Whitelist Management
   Block or allow emails across all forms using wildcard-supported patterns. For example:
   • Block @spamdomain.com, *.ru (any Russian domain), or fake-user@.
   • Whitelist @trusted-partner.org or admin@ to ensure critical emails are never blocked.
2. Per-Form Filtering Rules
   Customize rules for individual forms. A contact form might whitelist @client-domain.com, while a registration form could block free email providers.
3. Wildcard Support
   Use * to match patterns dynamically:
   • *.xyz blocks all emails from .xyz domains.
   • sales-*@ allows addresses like sales-team@ or sales-manager@.
4. Priority Logic
   Whitelist entries override blocklists. For example, if @yourcompany.com is whitelisted globally, even a form-specific block won’t affect it.
5. Developer-Friendly Hooks
   Customize validation messages or logic using WordPress hooks.

How to Install the Plugin

1. Download & Upload
   Navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin in WordPress. Upload the plugin ZIP file and activate it.
2. Verify Requirements
   Ensure Elementor Pro is installed and active. The plugin won’t function without it.

Configuring Global Settings

1. Go to Email Filter > Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Global Blocklist: Enter comma-separated patterns to block universally.
   Example: @temp-mail.org, *.click, hacker@.
3. Global Whitelist: Define allowed patterns that bypass blocklists.
   Example: @yourdomain.com, support@, *.trusted.net.

Setting Up Per-Form Rules

1. Edit your Elementor form and open the form widget settings.
2. Navigate to the Email Filtering section.
3. Form Blocklist: Add patterns specific to this form.
   Example: Block @freemail.com on a VIP registration form.
4. Form Whitelist: Restrict the form to certain emails.
   Example: Only allow @partner-company.com on a collaboration inquiry form.

Example Use Cases

• Block Disposable Emails: Add @tempmail.com, *.ru to your global blocklist.
• Client-Specific Forms: Whitelist @clientdomain.com on a project submission form.
• Internal Tools: Use a global whitelist like @yourcompany.com for HR forms.

FAQs

Q: Do I need Elementor Pro?
Yes. The plugin extends Elementor Pro’s form features.

Q: How do global and form rules interact?
Both apply cumulatively. For example, if an email matches a global blocklist or a form blocklist, it’s blocked. Whitelists always override blocklists.

Q: Can I use wildcards in the middle of a domain?
Yes! sales*@domain.com allows sales-team@, sales2024@, etc.

Customization for Developers

Modify validation messages or logic using WordPress hooks. For example:

// Modify validation error message
add_filter('aefe_validation_error', function($message, $email) {
    return sprintf(__('Error: %s is blocked', 'text-domain'), $email);
}, 10, 2);

Conclusion

The Advanced Email Filter for Elementor Forms plugin empowers you to take control of form submissions with precision. Whether you’re blocking spam domains, safeguarding internal tools, or tailoring rules per form, this plugin offers unmatched flexibility. Its seamless integration with Elementor Pro and intuitive settings make it accessible for beginners while offering depth for power users.

Ready to eliminate spam and focus on genuine leads? Install the plugin today and experience the difference!