Table of contents

How get_posts works Common parameters for get_posts A basic example Advanced usage scenarios get_posts vs. WP_Query Best practices Getting started

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WordPress Guide → Development → get_posts

WordPress get_posts and how to use it (with examples)

The get_posts function in WordPress is a versatile tool that allows developers to retrieve posts, pages, and custom post types based on specific criteria. This function is particularly useful when you need to display a customized list of content without altering the main query.

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How get_posts works

At its core, get_posts utilizes the WP_Query class to fetch data from the WordPress database. By passing an array of parameters to get_posts, you can filter and sort posts to match your desired criteria. The function then returns an array of WP_Post objects, each representing an individual post. citeturn0search0

Common parameters for get_posts

To effectively use get_posts, it’s essential to understand its parameters:

numberposts: Specifies the number of posts to retrieve. The default is 5.
category: Filters posts by category ID or a comma-separated list of IDs.
include: An array of post IDs to include in the results.
exclude: An array of post IDs to exclude from the results.
post_type: Defines the type of content to retrieve, such as ‘post’, ‘page’, or any custom post type.
post_status: Retrieves posts based on their status, like ‘publish’, ‘draft’, or ‘private’.
orderby: Determines the field to sort the results by, such as ‘date’, ‘title’, or ‘rand’ for random order.
order: Sets the sorting direction, either ‘ASC’ for ascending or ‘DESC’ for descending.

For a comprehensive list of parameters, refer to the WordPress Developer Reference.

Using get_posts: A basic example

Here’s a straightforward example of how to use get_posts to retrieve the latest 10 published posts:

$args = array(
    ‘numberposts’ => 10,
    ‘post_status’ => ‘publish’,
);
$recent_posts = get_posts($args);
foreach ($recent_posts as $post) {
    setup_postdata($post);
    echo ‘<h2>’ . get_the_title() . ‘</h2>’;
    echo ‘<p>’ . get_the_excerpt() . ‘</p>’;
}
wp_reset_postdata();

This script fetches the 10 most recent published posts and displays their titles and excerpts. The setup_postdata($post) function sets up global post data, allowing template tags like get_the_title() and get_the_excerpt() to work seamlessly. After the loop, it’s crucial to call wp_reset_postdata() to restore the global $post variable to its original state.

Advanced usage scenarios

Beyond basic retrievals, get_posts can handle more complex queries:

Retrieving posts by a specific author

To get posts from a particular author, use the ‘author’ parameter with the author’s ID:

   $args = array(
      ‘author’ => 1, // Replace with the desired author ID
      ‘post_status’ => ‘publish’,
  );
  $author_posts = get_posts($args);

Fetching posts within a date range

To retrieve posts published within a specific timeframe, utilize the ‘date_query’ parameter:

  $args = array(
      ‘date_query’ => array(
          array(
              ‘after’ => ‘January 1, 2023’,
              ‘before’ => ‘December 31, 2023’,
              ‘inclusive’ => true,
          ),
      ),
      ‘post_status’ => ‘publish’,
  );
  $date_posts = get_posts($args);

Retrieving custom post types

To fetch posts from a custom post type, specify the ‘post_type’ parameter:

  $args = array(
      ‘post_type’ => ‘product’, // Replace with your custom post type
      ‘post_status’ => ‘publish’,
  );
  $custom_posts = get_posts($args);

get_posts vs. WP_Query

While both get_posts and WP_Query are used to retrieve posts, they have distinct differences:

get_posts: Returns an array of posts and doesn’t modify the global $wp_query object. It’s ideal for secondary loops where you don’t want to interfere with the main query.
WP_Query: Provides a more robust set of functionalities and is better suited for complex queries. However, it can alter the main query if not used carefully.

Best practices

When using get_posts, keep the following best practices in mind:

limit the number of posts retrieved: Fetching a large number of posts can impact performance. Always specify the ‘numberposts’ parameter to control the number of posts returned.
use caching: Implement caching mechanisms to store query results, reducing the load on the database for repeated queries.
reset post data: After running a custom query, always use wp_reset_postdata() to ensure subsequent queries or template tags function correctly.

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