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Want your website to cater more precisely to your visitors? With WordPress, that becomes a reality with the get_terms() function. It lets you tailor your content based on categories and tags, or even custom taxonomies you’ve created. The get_terms() function is the solution to leverage the full potential of taxonomies.
So how do you use the get_terms() function in WordPress? Well, we will explore how the WordPress experts use this function to customize the content delivery effectively. But let’s begin by learning what exactly get_terms() function is.
What is the get_terms() Function in WordPress?
The get_terms() function in WordPress is a tool for retrieving information about terms within taxonomies. They are essentially classification systems used to organize your content. Common examples include categories and tags, but WordPress also allows you to create custom taxonomies.
Here is what get_terms() function does:
- Retrieves terms: It fetches terms associated with a specific taxonomy or a list of taxonomies on your website.
- Accepts arguments: You can customize the function’s behavior using various arguments passed as an array. It allows you to filter the results based on your needs.
- Returns data: The function returns an array containing information about the terms, depending on the arguments used.
The get_terms() is just a function that allows you to manipulate and display information in your WordPress themes or plugins.
Why Use the get_terms() Function in WordPress?
Using the get_terms() function in WordPress offers developers several advantages. Here are some key reasons to use this function:
- Dynamic content: By using get_terms(), you can create dynamic content that adapts based on the taxonomy of a post or page. For instance, you could display a list of related posts with the same category tags.
- Custom functionalities: You can control the number of terms returned, hide empty terms, and even filter terms by specific names. This level of customization helps create better user experiences and manage data effectively.
- Theme development: This function is useful for theme development tasks. It allows you to build custom navigation menus or sidebars that are categorized based on taxonomies.
- Data manipulation: It provides a way to manipulate and display term information in various formats. You can choose to show just the term names and IDs or even create custom term lists.
- Flexibility in Retrieving Terms: It provides a range of options for retrieving taxonomy terms. It lets you filter and sort terms based on criteria such as name, count, or custom fields. This makes it easy to get the terms you need for your specific use case.
Using the get_terms function unlocks the power of taxonomies in WordPress. That makes it a preferable option for WordPress development experts to manage and manipulate taxonomies effectively.
Want dynamic customization on your WordPress website?
How to Use the get_terms() Function in WordPress?
Using the get_terms() function in WordPress allows you to retrieve and work with taxonomy terms efficiently. Here is a stepwise guide on how to use this function, including examples for common use cases. But before we begin with the steps, let’s check on the basic syntax of the function:
get_terms( $taxonomy, $args );
In the above code, the two arguments are as follows:
- $taxonomy (string|array): The taxonomy name or an array of taxonomy names.
- $args (array|string): An array or string of arguments to filter the results.
Now we know the structure of the function, let’s jump into the process of using it.
Step 1: Include the get_terms() Function
Ensure you have access to the WordPress development environment. Include the get_terms() function in a theme or plugin file.
Step 2: Identify the Taxonomy
You may determine the specific taxonomy from which you want to retrieve terms. Common taxonomies include categories and tags, but WordPress also allows for custom taxonomies.
Step 3: Define Arguments
While get_terms() can function with just the taxonomy name, it’s also customizable through arguments. These arguments are passed within an array and control how the function retrieves terms.
For example, we want to order the tags by name in ascending order and only retrieve tags assigned to at least one post. Here’s the argument array:
$args = array(
'taxonomy' => 'post_tag',
'orderby' => 'name',
'order' => 'ASC',
'hide_empty' => false,
);
Here, the code defines arguments to retrieve all tags in alphabetical order (A), including those with no posts.
Step 4: Include the Code
Place your get_terms() code snippet within your theme’s template files or within your theme’s functions.php file. Here is a sample code:
<?php
$terms = get_terms($args);
if ($terms) {
echo '<h2>Tags:</h2>';
echo '<ul>';
foreach ($terms as $term) {
echo '<li><a href="' . get_term_link($term) . '">' . $term->name . '</a></li>';
}
echo '</ul>';
} else {
echo 'No tags found';
}
?>
This code retrieves tags (taxonomy) and displays them as a linked list, handling cases with no tags.
Step 5: Process the Results
The get_terms() function returns an array containing information about the terms. You can loop this array and use the data to display term names, create links, or build dynamic layouts.
Step 6: Handle Empty Results
Always check for errors when using get_terms(). The function can return a WP_Error object if something goes wrong.
By following the above steps, you can utilize get_terms() to work with taxonomies in your WordPress projects. If the process seems complex, you can consider hiring WordPress developers. With that, let’s explore the practical application of the function in the next section.
Practical Application of get_terms() Function in WordPress
Implementing the get_terms() function in WordPress involves retrieving and displaying taxonomy terms. Here are some practical applications of the function:
Example 1: Displaying All Categories on a Page
Here’s the code to retrieve and display all categories on a page:
<?php
$terms = get_terms( array(
'taxonomy' => 'category', // Replace with your taxonomy name if different
'fields' => 'names', // Get only category names
) );
if ( ! empty( $terms ) ) {
echo '<h2>Categories</h2>';
echo '<ul>';
foreach ( $terms as $term ) {
echo '<li>' . $term . '</li>';
}
echo '</ul>';
} else {
echo 'No categories found.';
}
?>
We use get_terms() with the taxonomy argument set to ‘category’ (replace with your actual taxonomy if different). The fields argument is set to ‘names’ to retrieve only the category names. We loop through the retrieved terms and display them in an unordered list.
Example 2: Fetching Subcategories of a Specific Category
To fetch subcategories of a specific category, you need to specify the parent category ID in the get_terms() arguments. Here’s an example:
<?php
$parent_category_id = 12; // Replace with the ID of your parent category
$terms = get_terms( array(
'taxonomy' => 'category', // Replace with your taxonomy name if different
'parent' => $parent_category_id,
'fields' => 'all', // Get all term data (can be names or IDs)
) );
if ( ! empty( $terms ) ) {
echo '<h2>Subcategories of ' . get_cat_name( $parent_category_id ) . '</h2>';
echo '<ul>';
foreach ( $terms as $term ) {
echo '<li>' . $term->name . '</li>';
}
echo '</ul>';
} else {
echo 'No subcategories found.';
}
?>
Here, we define the parent_category_id variable with the ID of your parent category. The get_terms() function uses the parent argument to retrieve only child terms. We use get_cat_name() to retrieve the name of the parent category for display. The fields argument is set to ‘all’ by default, but you can adjust it based on your needs.
Example 3: Fetching Terms from a Custom Taxonomy
Here’s how to fetch terms from a custom taxonomy you created:
<?php
$custom_taxonomy = 'color'; // Replace with your custom taxonomy slug
$terms = get_terms( array(
'taxonomy' => $custom_taxonomy,
'fields' => 'names', // Get only term names (adjust if needed)
) );
if ( ! empty( $terms ) ) {
echo '<h2>' . ucfirst( $custom_taxonomy ) . ' Terms</h2>'; // Capitalize taxonomy name
echo '<ul>';
foreach ( $terms as $term ) {
echo '<li>' . $term . '</li>';
}
echo '</ul>';
} else {
echo 'No terms found for ' . $custom_taxonomy;
}
?>
In the above code, replace ‘color’ with the actual slug of your custom taxonomy. The code retrieves terms using the custom_taxonomy variable. Plus, we use first () to capitalize the first letter of the custom taxonomy name for display.
These are some of the examples that can help you understand how to use the get_terms() function. If you want to implement complex arguments for retrieving data, get help from a professional WordPress development company.
FAQs on Using the get_terms() Function in WordPress
Conclusion
The get_terms() function is crucial if you are working with taxonomies. It allows you to fetch data efficiently based on IDs, names, and more. Utilizing the function can streamline term management and optimize content organization on your WordPress site.
Implementing a basic retrieval is simple, but writing code with complex arguments could be overwhelming. However, it could significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of taxonomy management. To get help with the same, hire our WordPress developers. They follow the best practices to create a structured approach for content organization.
