Retrieving all post types in WordPress using get_post_types

The get_post_types function in WordPress retrieves all registered post types.

This function can be useful for developers who need to retrieve a list of all post types available in a WordPress installation. This can be helpful for various tasks such as creating custom queries, displaying post type options in a settings page, or manipulating post types in a plugin or theme.

Parameters Accepted by the WordPress get_post_types Function

The get_post_types function accepts the following parameters:

  • $args (array|string), optional. Default value: array(). Description: An array of key-value arguments to match against the post type objects.
  • $output (string), optional. Default value: ‘names’. Description: The type of output to return. Accepts post type ‘names’ or ‘objects’. Default ‘names’.
  • $operator (string), optional. Default value: ‘and’. Description: The logical operation to perform. ‘or’ means only one element from the array needs to match; ‘and’ means all elements must match; ‘not’ means no elements may match. Default ‘and’.

Value Returned by the WordPress get_post_types Function

The get_post_types function returns: string[]|WP_Post_Type[] An array of post type names or objects.

Examples

Example 1: How to get all registered post types

$post_types = get_post_types();
foreach ( $post_types as $post_type ) {
 echo $post_type . '<br>';
}

This code snippet uses the get_post_types function to retrieve all registered post types in WordPress. It then iterates through the array of post types and outputs each post type name.

Example 2: How to get only custom post types

$args = array(
 'public' => true,
 '_builtin' => false
);
$custom_post_types = get_post_types( $args, 'names' );
foreach ( $custom_post_types as $post_type ) {
 echo $post_type . '<br>';
}

This code snippet uses the get_post_types function with additional arguments to retrieve only custom post types (not built-in types like ‘post’ and ‘page’). It then iterates through the array of custom post types and outputs each post type name.

Example 3: How to check if a specific post type exists

if ( post_type_exists( 'book' ) ) {
 echo 'The post type "book" exists.';
} else {
 echo 'The post type "book" does not exist.';
}

This code snippet uses the post_type_exists function to check if a specific post type, in this case ‘book’, exists in the WordPress installation. It then outputs a message based on the result of the check.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the get_post_types function is a valuable feature for developers working with WordPress. It allows for easy retrieval of all registered post types, and provides flexibility in specifying which types to include or exclude. By utilizing this function, developers can streamline their code and improve the efficiency of their WordPress projects. With its simple syntax and wide range of parameters, get_post_types is a valuable asset for any WordPress developer.

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