Setting Up Custom Post Type Archives In WordPress
Why You Need Custom Archives
Creating custom post type archives in WordPress allows you to better organize content that utilizes custom post types. By registering an archive, you enable control over how those custom posts are displayed and can improve site navigation.
Better Organization for Custom Post Types
WordPress comes with built-in archives for posts and pages that organize content by date and category automatically. However, custom posts types do not have archives by default. By registering an archive, you can group all posts of that custom type together in a single location.
This keeps content more organized for site visitors who want to browse or search all custom posts chronologically or alphabetically in one place. For example, a “Books” custom post type could have an archive called “All Books” listing each book custom post.
Control How Custom Posts are Displayed
In addition to organization, a custom archive template gives theme developers control over the markup and styling of the archive page’s output. This level of control isn’t available on the default custom post listing page.
For instance, posts on the default list may only show the title and publish date. With a custom template, you can customize the display to also include a post excerpt, featured image, custom meta fields, taxonomy terms, author details, and more.
Improve Site Navigation
A dedicated archive page for custom posts improves website navigation and the ability for visitors to browse content. Readers can click on a top-level “Books” link to view all books chronologically, rather than needing to search posts by categories or tags.
Archives also make it easier for developers to add menu items, breadcrumb trails, sidebars, and supplements to further enhance the browsing and discovery experience for that post type.
Registering Custom Post Type Archives
Displaying a custom post archive requires first registering the custom post type via functions.php and indicating archive support. This tells WordPress to automatically generate archive URLs and template files.
Function to Register Post Type
Use the register_post_type() function to define a custom post type. This accepts an array of parameters including the post type name, labels, supports, rest API details, and more.
Add ‘has_archive’ Parameter
To add archive support, include a ‘has_archive’ parameter and set to true. This generates an archive file as /{post-type}/ and archive slug like /{post-type}/.
Example Code:
register_post_type( 'books', array( 'has_archive' => true, ));
Now WordPress will create book archives at an URL like yoursite.com/books/ and look for an archive-books.php template file automatically.
Crafting the Archive Template File
Once post type archives are enabled, the next step is creating the corresponding template file for display styling.
Name Template to Match Slug
The archive template file should be named using the format archive-{post-type-slug}.php, where the slug matches what’s used when registering the custom post type.
Template Hierarchy for Archives
This custom archive template file will take precedence over other generic archive templates. But WordPress will fall back to secondary templates like archive.php if the custom one doesn’t exist.
Example Template Name
For a “books” post type, the template would be named archive-books.php. This loads automatically when site visitors browse to /books/ on the front-end of your WordPress site.
Customizing Archive Display
Inside the custom archive template, developers can include markup and styles for displaying associated post entries. This involves custom loops, desired HTML, and pagination.
Loop Through Custom Posts
Use a WP_Query loop or get_posts() to retrieve the published posts for that post type. Then iterate through the $posts array to display each one as needed, similar to the blog posts index.
Choose Desired Markup
Within the loop, add any HTML markup to style the output for each custom post. This might include the title, excerpt, featured images, custom fields, categories, tags, author byline, publish date, etc.
Additional Display Options
Other common additions include post pagination for splitting long lists of posts across multiple pages. Or adding sidebar widgets for related content, search boxes, or menus to improve site navigation at that location.
Troubleshooting Issues
Some common problems when working with custom archives include 404 errors, missing pages, or inconsistent styling. These issues can be debugged by checking permalink settings, the active theme, and WordPress settings.
Debug 404 Errors
If the custom archive returns 404 errors, check that pretty permalinks are enabled and the post type was registered correctly with ‘has_archive’ support. The .htaccess file may need refreshed too.
Check Permalinks Structure
Issues could arise if the site permalink structure was changed after posts were created. Try resetting the permalinks to default and updating the .htaccess file again.
Test With Default Theme
Switch the active WordPress theme to a default one like Twenty Twenty-One. If the archive works properly, then theme-specific functions may need added to the child theme/custom theme code.
Additional Customizations
Beyond basic post listings, developers can tap into WordPress features for extra custom post archive functionalities.
Sorting and Filters
Use plugins like A-Z Sorting to alphabetize posts or add filters by taxonomy terms like categories. This expands browse and search capabilities.
Custom Archive Titles
Dynamically change the main heading on an archive page using pre_get_posts. For example, displaying the year for annual reviews or categorizing books by genre.
Supplementary Content
Enhance post type archives by including supplemental content such as related posts sections, featured highlights, or lists of taxonomy terms. This provides added context.
