Loops
What is the Main Query? The main query in WordPress refers to the default WordPress query that runs on archive and homepage pages. It retrieves posts from the database and displays them according to the site’s settings and configurations. When you load a page in WordPress, the main query executes behind the scenes to fetch…
Purpose and Limitations of Each Function WP_Query: Fetching Content with Maximum Flexibility WP_Query is the most advanced WordPress function for retrieving content from the database. It enables complete control over all aspects of the database query, including filtering by custom fields, taxonomies, post types, post status, post authors, and more. WP_Query also supports complex sorting…
Why Resetting the Loop Matters The main loop in WordPress controls the default flow and display of post content on archive and homepage pages. This central looping mechanism relies on WordPress’ global $wp_query object to connect the database, templates, and content rendering. Using the query_posts() function breaks the main loop by overwriting the default $wp_query…
Why query_posts() is Dangerous for Your Site The query_posts() function has been part of WordPress since the early days. This simple-to-use function allows you to modify the main query that displays posts on an archive or home page. However, query_posts() has some major downsides: Overwrites the main query One of the biggest issues with query_posts()…
The Core Problem With Nested Loops In WordPress, the global $post variable contains details about the current post in the main query loop. When you create secondary loops within your template, errors can occur if those loops interfere with the main $post variable. For example, if you execute a custom query loop to display related…
The Problem: Displaying a Page’s Child Pages A common need when building a WordPress site is to display the child pages of a specific parent page. For example, you may have a “Services” page, and want to show links to subpages like “Web Design,” “SEO,” and “Software Development.” Or an “Our Team” page with child…
What is a Meta Query in WordPress? A meta query in WordPress allows developers to filter WordPress content based on custom fields and metadata associated with posts, pages, or other WordPress objects. Meta queries are a powerful way to query content beyond the default content fields like title and content. For example, a meta query…
The Problem of Default Pagination on Archives The default WordPress pagination for archive pages like category, tag, author, or date archives often does not meet the needs of site owners and readers. Issues with the built-in pagination include: Only showing the next/previous links, with no page numbers Not matching the visual style of the site…
The Challenge of Styling Every Nth Post When designing a WordPress site, developers often want to style specific posts differently than others. A common requirement is to highlight every 3rd or 5th post uniquely to make it stand out on archive and blog pages. This can be achieved by leveraging the CSS :nth-child pseudo-class selector…
Custom fields in WordPress allow you to store extra data associated with posts, pages, or custom post types. This additional metadata enables you to track, organize, and display content in ways that go beyond the standard WordPress fields. However, custom fields have one major limitation – the inability to control the order in which they…
