How to retrieve the post excerpt in WordPress using get_the_excerpt

The get_the_excerpt function in WordPress retrieves the excerpt of the current post. This can be useful for displaying a brief summary or teaser of the post content on archive pages, search results, or anywhere else where a condensed version of the post is needed.

By using get_the_excerpt, developers can easily access and display the excerpt without having to manually write custom code to retrieve and truncate the post content.

Parameters accepted by get_the_excerpt function

  • $post (intWP_Post), optional. Default value: null. Description: Post ID or WP_Post object. Default is global $post.

Value returned by get_the_excerpt function

The function returns a string which represents the post excerpt.

Examples

How to get the excerpt of a post

<?php
 $excerpt = get_the_excerpt();
 echo '<p>' . $excerpt . '</p>';
?>

This code snippet retrieves the excerpt of the current post using the get_the_excerpt function and then echoes it within a <p> tag.

How to get the excerpt of a specific post

<?php
 $post_id = 123; // Replace with the ID of the post
 $excerpt = get_the_excerpt($post_id);
 echo '<p>' . $excerpt . '</p>';
?>

This code snippet retrieves the excerpt of a specific post with ID 123 using the get_the_excerpt function and then echoes it within a <p> tag.

How to display a custom excerpt length

<?php
 $excerpt = get_the_excerpt();
 $custom_excerpt = wp_trim_words($excerpt, 20, '...'); // Display only 20 words with ellipsis
 echo '<p>' . $custom_excerpt . '</p>';
?>

This code snippet retrieves the excerpt of the current post using the get_the_excerpt function, trims it to 20 words with an ellipsis using the wp_trim_words function, and then echoes it within a <p> tag.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the get_the_excerpt function is a valuable component for customizing the length and content of excerpts in WordPress. By utilizing this function, developers can easily control the way content is displayed on their website, improving user experience and engagement. With its simple syntax and versatile parameters, get_the_excerpt offers a flexible solution for tailoring excerpts to meet specific design and content needs. Whether it’s adjusting the length of excerpts or adding custom read more links, this function provides a convenient way to enhance the presentation of content. Overall, get_the_excerpt is a valuable asset for WordPress developers looking to optimize their website’s content display.

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