Retrieving category and tag information in WordPress using get_terms

The WordPress get_terms function retrieves the terms in a taxonomy or list of taxonomies. This can be useful for displaying a list of categories or tags on a website, or for creating a custom navigation menu based on taxonomy terms.

It allows developers to retrieve and manipulate taxonomy terms in a flexible and customizable way, making it easier to work with and display hierarchical and non-hierarchical taxonomies on a WordPress site.

Parameters Accepted by the WordPress get_terms Function

The get_terms function accepts the following parameters:

  • $args (array|string), optional. Default value: array(). Description: Array or string of arguments. See WP_Term_Query::__construct() for information on accepted arguments.
  • $deprecated (array|string), optional. Default value: ''. Description: Argument array, when using the legacy function parameter format. If present, this parameter will be interpreted as $args, and the first function parameter will be parsed as a taxonomy or array of taxonomies.

Value Returned by the WordPress get_terms Function

The get_terms function returns the following:

WP_Term[]|int[]|string[]|string|WP_Error – Array of terms, a count thereof as a numeric string, or WP_Error if any of the taxonomies do not exist. See the function description for more information.

Examples

How to get all terms from a specific taxonomy

$terms = get_terms( 'category' );
foreach ( $terms as $term ) {
 echo $term->name;
}

This code snippet uses the get_terms function to retrieve all the terms from the ‘category’ taxonomy. It then iterates through each term and echoes out its name.

How to get all terms with specific arguments

$args = array(
 'taxonomy' => 'post_tag',
 'hide_empty' => false,
);
$terms = get_terms( $args );
foreach ( $terms as $term ) {
 echo $term->name;
}

This code snippet demonstrates how to use the get_terms function with specific arguments. In this example, it retrieves all the terms from the ‘post_tag’ taxonomy while including empty terms. It then iterates through each term and echoes out its name.

How to check if a specific term exists

$term = get_term_by( 'slug', 'news', 'category' );
if ( $term ) {
 echo 'Term exists!';
} else {
 echo 'Term does not exist!';
}

This code snippet shows how to use the get_term_by function to check if a specific term with the slug ‘news’ exists in the ‘category’ taxonomy. It then uses an if statement to echo out whether the term exists or not.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the get_terms function is a valuable utility for retrieving taxonomy terms in WordPress. Its flexibility and range of parameters make it a versatile function for developers to use in their projects. By understanding how to use this function effectively, developers can enhance the functionality and usability of their WordPress sites. Whether it’s for displaying a list of terms, or for more advanced taxonomy queries, get_terms provides the necessary tools for achieving these tasks.

Related WordPress Functions

in WordPress Functions