Getting the terms associated with a post in WordPress using get_the_terms

The get_the_terms function in WordPress retrieves the terms of a specific taxonomy associated with a post. This can be useful for displaying the categories or tags of a post, or for creating custom templates that display posts based on their assigned terms.

By using get_the_terms, developers can easily access and display the terms associated with a post without having to manually query the database or write complex custom code.

Parameters Accepted by get_the_terms Function

The get_the_terms function accepts the following parameters:

  • $post (intWP_Post), required. Description: Post ID or object.
  • $taxonomy (string), required. Description: Taxonomy name.

Value Returned by get_the_terms Function

The get_the_terms function returns the following:

WP_Term[]|false|WP_Error Array of WP_Term objects on success, false if there are no terms or the post does not exist, WP_Error on failure.

Examples

How to get the terms of a post using get_the_terms function

Below is a code snippet that demonstrates how to use the get_the_terms function to retrieve the terms (categories or tags) associated with a specific post.

$post_id = 123; // Replace with the ID of the post
$taxonomy = 'category'; // Replace with the taxonomy you want to retrieve terms from

$terms = get_the_terms( $post_id, $taxonomy );

if ( $terms && ! is_wp_error( $terms ) ) {
 foreach ( $terms as $term ) {
 echo $term->name . ', ';
 }
}

This code snippet first sets the $post_id to the ID of the post and the $taxonomy to the taxonomy (e.g., category or tag) from which you want to retrieve terms. It then uses the get_the_terms function to retrieve the terms associated with the post. If terms are found, it loops through each term and prints its name.

How to get the terms of a custom post type using get_the_terms function

Below is a code snippet that demonstrates how to use the get_the_terms function to retrieve the terms associated with a custom post type.

$post_id = 456; // Replace with the ID of the custom post type
$taxonomy = 'genre'; // Replace with the custom taxonomy you want to retrieve terms from

$terms = get_the_terms( $post_id, $taxonomy );

if ( $terms && ! is_wp_error( $terms ) ) {
 foreach ( $terms as $term ) {
 echo $term->name . ', ';
 }
}

This code snippet is similar to the previous one, but it demonstrates how to retrieve terms from a custom post type and its associated custom taxonomy.

How to check if a post has terms using get_the_terms function

Below is a code snippet that demonstrates how to use the get_the_terms function to check if a post has any associated terms.

$post_id = 789; // Replace with the ID of the post
$taxonomy = 'category'; // Replace with the taxonomy you want to check for terms

$terms = get_the_terms( $post_id, $taxonomy );

if ( $terms && ! is_wp_error( $terms ) ) {
 // Post has terms
 echo 'This post has terms.';
} else {
 // Post has no terms
 echo 'This post has no terms.';
}

This code snippet first retrieves the terms associated with a post using the get_the_terms function. It then checks if terms are found and prints a message accordingly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the get_the_terms function is an essential feature for retrieving the terms of a specific taxonomy associated with a post. It provides developers with a convenient way to access and manipulate the terms of a post without having to write complex custom queries.

By using the get_the_terms function, developers can easily retrieve and display the terms associated with a post, allowing for more dynamic and customizable content. Its flexibility and ease of use make it a valuable asset for WordPress developers.

The get_the_terms function is a valuable addition to the WordPress developer’s toolkit, providing a simple and efficient way to work with post terms.

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