Understanding Custom Post Types and Categories

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 50 views

Introduction

In Wordpress, custom post types are a powerful feature that allows developers to create custom content types beyond the standard post type. However, when it comes to displaying posts from a specific category, things can get a bit tricky. In this article, we will explore the common issues and solutions for displaying custom post type posts from a specific category in Wordpress.

Understanding Custom Post Types and Categories

Before we dive into the solutions, let's quickly review how custom post types and categories work in Wordpress. Custom post types are created using the register_post_type function, which allows you to define a new post type with its own set of metadata and fields. Categories, on the other hand, are used to group posts together based on their content.

Common Issues with Displaying Custom Post Type Posts from a Specific Category

When trying to display custom post type posts from a specific category, you may encounter the following issues:

Incorrect Query Parameters: When creating a custom query to display posts from a specific category, you may use the wrong query parameters or syntax.
Missing or Incorrect Category Slug: If you're using the category slug in your query, make sure it's correct and exists in your Wordpress installation.
Category Not Assigned to Custom Post Type: Ensure that the category you're trying to display posts from is assigned to the custom post type.

Solutions to Display Custom Post Type Posts from a Specific Category

Solution 1: Using the `WP_Query` Class

One of the most common ways to display custom post type posts from a specific category is by using the WP_Query class. Here's an example code snippet:

&lt;?php
$the_query = new WP_Query( [
    'post_type'      =&gt; 'your_custom_post_type',
    'posts_per_page' =&gt; -1,
    'tax_query' =&gt; [
        [
            'taxonomy' =&gt; 'category',
            'field'    =&gt; 'slug',
            'terms'    =&gt; 'your_category_slug',
        ],
    ],
] );

if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : ?>
    &lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;?php while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : $the_query->the_post(); ?>
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"&gt;<?php the_title(); ?>&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;?php endwhile; ?>
    &lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;?php endif; ?>
&lt;?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>

In this example, we're using the WP_Query class to create a custom query that displays posts from the your_custom_post_type post type and the your_category_slug category.

Solution 2: Using the `get_posts` Function

Another way to display custom post type posts from a specific category is by using the get_posts function. Here's an example code snippet:

&lt;?php
$posts = get_posts( [
    'post_type'      =&gt; 'your_custom_post_type',
    'posts_per_page' =&gt; -1,
    'tax_query' =&gt; [
        [
            'taxonomy' =&gt; 'category',
            'field'    =&gt; 'slug',
            'terms'    =&gt; 'your_category_slug',
        ],
    ],
] );

if ( $posts ) : ?>
    &lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;?php foreach ( $posts as $post ) : setup_postdata( $post ); ?>
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"&gt;<?php the_title(); ?>&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;?php endforeach; ?>
    &lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
&lt;?php endif; ?>

In this example, we're using the get_posts function to retrieve posts from the your_custom_post_type post type and the your_category_slug category.

Solution 3: Using the `pre_get_posts` Action Hook

If you want to display custom post type posts from a specific category globally, you can use the pre_get_posts action hook. Here's an example code snippet:

&lt;?php
function display_custom_post_type_posts_from_category( $query ) {
    if ( $query-&gt;is_main_query() && $query-&gt;is_post_type_archive( 'your_custom_post_type' ) ) {
        $query-&gt;set( 'tax_query', [
            [
                'taxonomy' =&gt; 'category',
                'field'    =&gt; 'slug',
                'terms'    =&gt; 'your_category_slug',
            ],
        ] );
    }
}
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'display_custom_post_type_posts_from_category' );

In this example, we're using the pre_get_posts action hook to modify the main query and display posts from the your_custom_post_type post type and the your_category_slug category.

Conclusion

Q: What are the common issues with displaying custom post type posts from a specific category?

A: The common issues with displaying custom post type posts from a specific category include incorrect query parameters, missing or incorrect category slug, and category not assigned to custom post type.

Q: How do I use the `WP_Query` class to display custom post type posts from a specific category?

A: To use the WP_Query class to display custom post type posts from a specific category, you can use the following code snippet:

&lt;?php
$the_query = new WP_Query( [
    'post_type'      =&gt; 'your_custom_post_type',
    'posts_per_page' =&gt; -1,
    'tax_query' =&gt; [
        [
            'taxonomy' =&gt; 'category',
            'field'    =&gt; 'slug',
            'terms'    =&gt; 'your_category_slug',
        ],
    ],
] );

if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : ?>
    &lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;?php while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : $the_query->the_post(); ?>
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"&gt;<?php the_title(); ?>&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;?php endwhile; ?>
    &lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;?php endif; ?>
&lt;?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>

Q: How do I use the `get_posts` function to display custom post type posts from a specific category?

A: To use the get_posts function to display custom post type posts from a specific category, you can use the following code snippet:

&lt;?php
$posts = get_posts( [
    'post_type'      =&gt; 'your_custom_post_type',
    'posts_per_page' =&gt; -1,
    'tax_query' =&gt; [
        [
            'taxonomy' =&gt; 'category',
            'field'    =&gt; 'slug',
            'terms'    =&gt; 'your_category_slug',
        ],
    ],
] );

if ( $posts ) : ?>
    &lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;?php foreach ( $posts as $post ) : setup_postdata( $post ); ?>
        &lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"&gt;<?php the_title(); ?>&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;?php endforeach; ?>
    &lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;?php wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
&lt;?php endif; ?>

Q: How do I use the `pre_get_posts` action hook to display custom post type posts from a specific category globally?

A: To use the pre_get_posts action hook to display custom post type posts from a specific category globally, you can use the following code snippet:

&lt;?php
function display_custom_post_type_posts_from_category( $query ) {
    if ( $query-&gt;is_main_query() && $query-&gt;is_post_type_archive( 'your_custom_post_type' ) ) {
        $query-&gt;set( 'tax_query', [
            [
                'taxonomy' =&gt; 'category',
                'field'    =&gt; 'slug',
                'terms'    =&gt; 'your_category_slug',
            ],
        ] );
    }
}
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'display_custom_post_type_posts_from_category' );

Q: What are the benefits of using the `WP_Query` class to display custom post type posts from a specific category?

A: The benefits of using the WP_Query class to display custom post type posts from a specific category include:

Flexibility: The WP_Query class provides a flexible way to query posts based on various criteria.
Performance: The WP_Query class is optimized for performance and can handle large datasets efficiently.
Customization: The WP_Query class allows you to customize the query parameters to suit your specific needs.

Q: What are the benefits of using the `get_posts` function to display custom post type posts from a specific category?

A: The benefits of using the get_posts function to display custom post type posts from a specific category include:

Simplicity: The get_posts function is a simple and straightforward way to retrieve posts based on various criteria.
Convenience: The get_posts function provides a convenient way to retrieve posts without having to create a custom query.
Readability: The get_posts function makes the code more readable by reducing the complexity of the query.

Q: What are the benefits of using the `pre_get_posts` action hook to display custom post type posts from a specific category globally?

A: The benefits of using the pre_get_posts action hook to display custom post type posts from a specific category globally include:

Global applicability: The pre_get_posts action hook allows you to apply the query modifications globally, making it a convenient solution for large-scale applications.
Efficiency: The pre_get_posts action hook is an efficient way to modify the query without having to create a custom query.
Readability: The pre_get_posts action hook makes the code more readable by reducing the complexity of the query.