How to create WordPress custom post types

Method 2: Create a custom post type manually (register_post_type)

Manual registration gives you full control over how your CPT behaves. You write one function in PHP, and WordPress handles the rest. Beginners can follow this method too, as long as they move slowly and keep a backup.

Step-by-step: register a custom post type in functions.php

1. Open your theme’s functions.php file or your child theme’s functions file so your CPT remains safe during theme updates.
   
2. Add a basic register_post_type function. This tells WordPress the CPT name, labels, rewrite behavior, and supported features.
   
3. Choose which editor features you want to use, like the editor, title, thumbnails, custom fields, or revisions.
   
4. Set rewrite rules so your CPT uses clean URLs like /portfolio/project-name/.
   
5. Save the file, then go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save to flush rewrite rules. This ensures your new URLs work correctly.

Example code snippet

function mysite_register_portfolio() {
    $args = array(
        ‘label’ => ‘Portfolio’,
        ‘public’ => true,
        ‘menu_icon’ => ‘dashicons-portfolio’,
        ‘supports’ => array(‘title’,’editor’,’thumbnail’),
        ‘has_archive’ => true,
        ‘rewrite’ => array(‘slug’ => ‘portfolio’),
    );
    register_post_type(‘portfolio’, $args);
}
add_action(‘init’, ‘mysite_register_portfolio’);

Why you might prefer the manual method

The manual method gives developers full flexibility. You can version-control everything, customize capabilities, and fine-tune taxonomies in ways that plugins don’t always allow. It also removes plugin overhead, which improves performance.The manual method gives developers full flexibility. You can version-control everything, customize capabilities, and fine-tune taxonomies in ways that plugins don’t always allow. It also removes plugin overhead, which improves performance.