Using term_description in WordPress to retrieve a term’s description

The term_description function in WordPress is a built-in function that retrieves the description of a certain term. This term could be a category, a tag, or a term from a custom taxonomy.

This function can be useful in various situations. For instance, when displaying the archive page for a specific category or tag, the description of that category or tag can be fetched and displayed on the page using the term_description function. This can provide visitors with additional context about the content they are viewing.

Also, when developing a custom taxonomy, the term_description function can be used to retrieve and display the description of terms belonging to that taxonomy.

It’s important to note that the term_description function will return an empty string if the term does not have a description. Therefore, it’s recommended to check if the returned value is not empty before using it.

In addition, the term_description function is sanitized with the term_description filter. This means that the function is safe to use in terms of security, as it will automatically escape any potentially harmful code in the term description.

Parameters Accepted by the term_description Function in WordPress

The WordPress term_description function accepts two parameters:

  • $term (int): This is an optional parameter that represents the Term ID. By default, it refers to the current term ID.
  • $deprecated (null): This is an optional parameter that is set to null by default. It is deprecated and is not used.

If the function doesn’t accept any parameters, this will be explicitly stated.

Return Value of the term_description Function

The term_description function in WordPress returns a string value. This string is the description of the term, provided that it is available.

Examples

How to Display the Description of a Specific Term

$term_id = 5; // ID of the term
$term_description = term_description($term_id);
if ($term_description) {
 echo '<p>' . $term_description . '</p>';
}

This code snippet displays the description of the term with the ID of 5. The term_description function is used to retrieve the description of the term. If a description exists, it is displayed within a paragraph HTML tag.

How to Display the Description of the Current Term

$term_description = term_description();
if ($term_description) {
 echo '<p>' . $term_description . '</p>';
}

This code snippet displays the description of the current term. The term_description function is used without any parameters, so it defaults to the current term. If a description exists, it is displayed within a paragraph HTML tag.

Conclusion

The term_description function in WordPress is a key tool that allows developers to retrieve the description of a specific term from a taxonomy. The function can be used in a multitude of scenarios, such as when building a category or tag pages, where it can display the description of the current term being viewed. Moreover, it can be utilized in creating custom taxonomies, where it can provide descriptions for individual terms. By using the term_description function, developers can enhance the information provided to the end-users in a dynamic and context-specific manner.

Related WordPress Functions

in WordPress Functions