Listing custom post types in WordPress involves a few steps, but it’s relatively straightforward. Here’s a general guide to help you get started:
1. Register Your Custom Post Type
First, make sure you have a custom post type registered. You can register a custom post type by adding code to your theme’s functions.php file or in a custom plugin. Here’s an example of how to register a custom post type called “Books”:
function create_book_post_type() {
register_post_type(‘book’,
array(
‘labels’ => array(
‘name’ => __(‘Books’),
‘singular_name’ => __(‘Book’),
),
‘public’ => true,
‘has_archive’ => true,
‘supports’ => array(‘title’, ‘editor’, ‘thumbnail’),
)
);
}
add_action(‘init’, ‘create_book_post_type’);
register_post_type(‘book’,
array(
‘labels’ => array(
‘name’ => __(‘Books’),
‘singular_name’ => __(‘Book’),
),
‘public’ => true,
‘has_archive’ => true,
‘supports’ => array(‘title’, ‘editor’, ‘thumbnail’),
)
);
}
add_action(‘init’, ‘create_book_post_type’);
2. Query and List Custom Post Types
To list custom post types on your website, you’ll use the WP_Query class. You can place this code in your theme’s template files, such as archive-book.php, single.php, or in a custom page template.
Here’s an example of how to query and list custom post types in a template file:
<?php
// Define the custom query arguments
$args = array(
‘post_type’ => ‘book’, // Replace ‘book’ with your custom post type
‘posts_per_page’ => 10, // Number of posts to display
);
// Create a new query
$custom_query = new WP_Query($args);
// Check if there are posts
if ($custom_query->have_posts()) :
// Start the Loop
while ($custom_query->have_posts()) : $custom_query->the_post(); ?>
<div class=”book-item”>
<h2><?php the_title(); ?></h2>
<div class=”book-content”>
<?php the_excerpt(); // Display post excerpt ?>
</div>
</div>
<?php endwhile;
// Restore original Post Data
wp_reset_postdata();
else :
echo ‘<p>No books found</p>’;
endif;
?>
3. Add an Archive Page (Optional)
If you want to have an archive page for your custom post type (e.g., /books/), you can create an archive-book.php template file in your theme. WordPress will automatically use this template to display the archive for your custom post type.
4. Customizing Your Display
You can further customize how your custom post type is displayed by modifying the loop, adding custom fields, or including additional template parts. For example, you might want to display custom fields or taxonomies associated with your custom post type.
5. Use Plugins (Optional)
If coding isn’t your thing, there are plugins available that can help you list and manage custom post types without writing code. Plugins like Custom Post Type UI and Advanced Custom Fields can simplify the process.
