How to a post’s category list in WordPress using get_the_category_list

The get_the_category_list function in WordPress retrieves the categories of a post as a formatted string. This can be useful for displaying the categories of a post in a user-friendly manner, such as in a sidebar widget or at the bottom of a post. It allows for easy customization and styling of the category list to fit the design of the website.

Parameters accepted by get_the_category_list function

  • $separator (string, optional. Default value: ”) – Separator between the categories. By default, the links are placed in an unordered list. An empty string will result in the default behavior.
  • $parents (string, optional. Default value: ”) – How to display the parents. Accepts ‘multiple’, ‘single’, or empty.
  • $post_id (int, optional. Default value: false) – ID of the post to retrieve categories for. Defaults to the current post.

Value returned by get_the_category_list function

The function returns a string which represents the category list for a post.

Examples

How to get the category list for a post

Use the get_the_category_list function to retrieve the categories associated with a specific post.

$post_categories = get_the_category_list( ', ', '', get_the_ID() );
echo $post_categories;

How to display the category list for a post with a custom separator

Use the get_the_category_list function to retrieve the categories associated with a specific post and customize the separator.

$post_categories = get_the_category_list( ' | ', '', get_the_ID() );
echo $post_categories;

How to check if a post has categories before displaying the category list

Use the get_the_category_list function within an if statement to check if a post has categories before displaying the category list.

$post_categories = get_the_category_list( ', ', '', get_the_ID() );
if ( $post_categories ) {
 echo $post_categories;
} else {
 echo 'No categories found.';
}

Conclusion

In conclusion, the get_the_category_list function is an essential tool for WordPress developers to easily display a list of categories for a post. Its flexibility and ease of use make it a valuable addition to any developer’s toolkit. By understanding how to use this function effectively, developers can enhance the user experience and organization of their WordPress websites. With its ability to customize the output and handle various parameters, get_the_category_list is a versatile function that can be used in a wide range of scenarios. Overall, this function is a valuable asset for developers looking to streamline the display of post categories in their WordPress projects.

Related WordPress Functions