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Have you ever wondered how WordPress keeps track of its pages behind the scenes? The answer lies in a unique numerical identifier assigned to each page: the page ID. It’s like a secret code that WordPress uses to differentiate between different pages on your website.
Using page IDs, WordPress developers can target specific pages with custom code and even integrate third-party plugins seamlessly. In this blog post, we’ll explore different methods to find page IDs in WordPress, from simple to advanced techniques. With that, let’s begin by understanding what page ID is.
What is a Page ID in WordPress?
A page ID in WordPress is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each individual page on your website. WordPress uses these IDs internally to differentiate between pages and posts, categories and tags, and other types of content.
Key Points About Page ID
- Automatically Generated: The ID is automatically generated by WordPress when a page is created. It cannot be changed or deleted.
- Hidden from View: Page IDs are not displayed directly on the front-end of the website, but they can be found in certain places, like the URL in the WordPress admin area.
- Different from Post ID: Although similar, a page ID is distinct from a Post ID, Category ID, or Tag ID, which also serve the purpose of identifying content types.
In short, the page ID is an internal identifier that helps WordPress distinguish and manage different pages on your website.
Why Do You Need to Find the Page ID in WordPress?
Finding the page ID in WordPress is essential for various customization, development, and content management tasks. Although it’s not visible to your site’s visitors, the page ID is often required for advanced configurations in the backend. It serves as a reference point for various functions, such as:
- Customizing Page Styles: If you want to apply CSS styles or JavaScript code to a specific page, you can use the page ID to target that page.
- Using Shortcodes: Many shortcodes require the page ID as an argument to function properly. For example, you might use a shortcode to display a specific piece of content on a particular page.
- Integrating with Third-Party Plugins: Some plugins may require the page ID to work correctly with specific pages on your website.
- Redirecting Pages: If you need to redirect a page to a new URL, you’ll typically use the page ID as a reference in the redirect settings.
- Programming and Development: Many WordPress plugins, themes, and custom code snippets rely on page IDs to target specific pages. For example, you might use a page ID to display a custom widget or content on a particular page.
- Debugging and Troubleshooting: If you encounter issues with a specific page, knowing its page ID can help you pinpoint the problem and find solutions.
- Page Hierarchy: Some plugins or themes might use page IDs to determine the page’s position within the WordPress template hierarchy.
Finding the page ID in WordPress lets you control individual pages for styling them, applying plugins, redirects, and more. Now that you know their importance, let’s learn how WordPress development experts find them.
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How to Find Page ID in WordPress?
Finding page ID in WordPress is straightforward, though WordPress doesn’t display these IDs in the interface. Here are several methods to find them:
Using the WordPress Dashboard
The WordPress dashboard provides a straightforward way to find the page ID for any page. Here’s how you can find page ID and post ID within URLs from the WordPress admin dashboard:
Page ID
Step 1: Go to Pages > All Pages in your WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Hover your mouse over the title of the page you want to find the ID for.
Step 3: A small menu will appear. Click on View or Edit.
Step 4: Look at the URL in your browser’s address bar. The page ID is the number after post= in the URL. For example, if the URL is https://yourwebsite.com/your-page-name/?post=456, the page ID is 456.
Post ID
Step 1: Go to Posts -> All Posts in your WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Hover your mouse over the title of the post you want to find the ID for.
Step 3: A small menu will appear. Click on View or Edit.
Step 4: Look at the URL in your browser’s address bar. The page ID is the number after post= in the URL. For example, if the URL is https://yourwebsite.com/your-post-name/?post=123, the Post ID is 123.
By using the dashboard, you can easily find the page ID without making any changes to your WordPress site or installing additional tools.
Via the URL With the Plain Permalink Structure
If your WordPress site has the URL set to the plain permalink structure, this is a simple way to find page ID and post ID. Here’s how:
Page ID
Step 1: Go to the page you want to find the ID for.
Step 2: Look at the URL in your browser’s address bar. The page ID is the number after post= in the URL. For example, if the page URL is https://yourwebsite.com/about-us/?post=456, the page ID is 456.
Post ID
Step 1: Go to the post you want to find the ID for.
Step 2: Look at the URL in your browser’s address bar. The Post ID is the number after post= in the URL. For example, if the post URL is https://yourwebsite.com/my-post/?post=123, the Post ID is 123.
This method is especially useful for quickly identifying the ID when viewing the page live.
Using the WordPress Text Editor
One more manual way to find page ID in WordPress is through its text editor. Here is how you can find Id of page and post:
Page ID
Step 1: To find a WordPress page ID, navigate to Pages > All Pages.
Step 2: Click Edit on the desired page to open it in WordPress text editor.
Step 3: In the address bar, the URL will display the page ID, found between post= and & in the URL (e.g., post=123 means the ID is 123).
Post ID
Step 1: To find a WordPress page ID, navigate to Posts > All Posts.
Step 2: Click Edit on the desired post to open it in WordPress text editor.
Step 3: In the address bar, the URL will display the Post ID, found between post= and & in the URL (e.g., post=123 means the ID is 123).
Using the text editor provides a quick method to find the page ID while making page edits, as the ID appears directly in the URL.
These manual methods provide an easy way to retrieve Post ID and page ID without needing plugins or code. Now let’s check how professional WordPress developers check the page and post ID by installing the plugin.
Using Reveal IDs Plugin
You can install the Reveal IDs plugin, which displays IDs directly in your admin panel for posts, pages, and other content types. Here’s a how to install the plugin and use it to find post and page IDs:
Step 1: Install and activate the Reveal IDs plugin on your WordPress website.
Step 2: Navigate to Posts -> All Posts or Pages -> All Pages from your WordPress dashboard. You will see a separate new column displaying the post or page IDs.
If you need to know post IDs by default, using a plugin eliminates the effort of manual check. To get a custom site build that fits your needs you can also consider hiring WordPress developers. They can work through complex technicalities and custom coding to provide you with an optimal site.
Advanced Methods to find Page ID in WordPress
We have learnt to retrieve page Id manually and using a plugin, now let’s start with some advanced methods to do the same. These methods require some knowledge of working with code and database. Here how you can use each of them:
Using WordPress Functions
WordPress offers several built-in functions to retrieve post or page IDs programmatically. These functions are helpful for developers working on themes or plugins.
- get_the_ID(): This function returns the ID of the current post or page.
$page_id = get_the_ID();
echo $page_id;
- get_post(): You can use this function to retrieve the full post object and then access its ID.
$post = get_post();
echo $post->ID;
Using built-in WordPress functions is a quick way to programmatically fetch the ID of the current page or post within the WordPress loop.
Using the WordPress Posts Table
WordPress stores posts and pages in the wp_posts database table. You can retrieve the page ID by querying this table directly through custom code. Open your theme’s functions.php file with a text editor and copy and paste the following code snippet at the bottom line of it:
global $wpdb;
$page_id = $wpdb->get_var( $wpdb->prepare(
"SELECT ID FROM $wpdb->posts WHERE post_name = %s AND post_type = 'page'",
'your-page-slug'
));
echo $page_id;
Once you have saved the changes, navigate to Posts > All Post and you will be able to see a separate table for ID.
This method directly queries the database to fetch the page ID using SQL. It is specifically useful for custom development where you need more control over the data.
Using WordPress Database
You can access the WordPress database directly via phpMyAdmin or any other database management tool to find the page ID.
Step 1: Log in to phpMyAdmin from your hosting provider’s control panel.
Step 2: Select your WordPress database and open the wp_posts table in phpMyAdmin.
Step 3: Look for the row that corresponds to your page. The ID is listed in the ID column.
Step 4: You can also filter by the post title using SQL query:
SELECT ID FROM wp_posts WHERE post_title = 'Your Page Title' AND post_type = 'page';
Accessing the database directly is a good method for users familiar with database management. It enables them to find page IDs without needing the WordPress admin interface.
Using the WP_Query Loop
The WP_Query class allows developers to query WordPress posts and pages with custom parameters. It is useful for retrieving multiple page IDs programmatically. Here is a code to query all pages and return their IDs:
$args = array(
'post_type' => 'page',
'posts_per_page' => -1
);
$query = new WP_Query($args);
if ( $query->have_posts() ) {
while ( $query->have_posts() ) {
$query->the_post();
echo get_the_ID();
}
}
wp_reset_postdata();
Using WP_Query is ideal for fetching multiple page IDs when building custom loops or page lists. It offers flexibility in filtering and ordering the results.
Using the global $post Variable
The $post global variable stores the current post or page object. You can access the page ID through this variable in your theme or plugin. Here is the code you need to add in your theme’s single.php file.
global $post;
echo $post->ID;
Accessing the $post global variable is a quick and efficient way to retrieve the ID when working within a theme template.
Using the global $wpdb Variable
The $wpdb variable allows you to interact with the WordPress database directly. You can use it to write custom queries and retrieve the page ID. Here is how you can use $wpdb to query the wp_posts table and retrieve the page ID:
global $wpdb;
$page_id = $wpdb->get_var( "SELECT ID FROM $wpdb->posts WHERE post_title = 'Your Page Title' AND post_type = 'page'" );
echo $page_id;
Using the $wpdb variable gives you complete control over database queries in WordPress. That makes it a powerful method to retrieve page IDs and other custom data.
Each method to fetch page ID provides a different approach depending on your needs. You can choose which one suits your development requirements while building your site. If you want us to build a custom site that’s unique and robust, contact our WordPress development company.
FAQs About Finding Page ID in WordPress
Conclusion
Finding the page ID in WordPress is a simple yet crucial task for anyone looking to optimize their website’s functionality. By using page IDs, developers can target pages to customize themes and write custom code. To access page ID, you can use manual methods, plugins or advanced methods. Here is how you can choose among them:
- Manual Method: If you’re comfortable with basic WordPress navigation and want a straightforward approach.
- Using a Plugin: If you need to find page IDs frequently or want a more automated solution.
- Advanced Methods: If you’re a developer and want more customization and flexibility to access page ID.
Comparing each of the methods and aligning them with your needs you will be able to leverage it easily. If you need more efficient web solutions to build robust sites, hire WordPress developers.
