Using wp_get_post_categories function in WordPress

The wp_get_post_categories function in WordPress retrieves the categories for a post.

This function can be useful for displaying the categories that a post belongs to, allowing for easy categorization and organization of content on a WordPress website.

It can also be used to customize the display of categories on a post, such as creating a custom category display or filtering categories based on certain criteria.

Parameters Accepted by wp_get_post_categories Function

The wp_get_post_categories function accepts the following parameters:

  • $post_id (int), optional. This parameter represents the Post ID. It does not default to the ID of the global $post and its default value is 0.
  • $args (array), optional. The default value for this parameter is an empty array. It represents the category query parameters. For a list of supported arguments, refer to the WP_Term_Query::__construct().

Value Returned by wp_get_post_categories Function

The wp_get_post_categories function returns the following:

  • If the $fields argument passed via $args is ‘all’ or ‘all_with_object_id’, an array of WP_Term objects will be returned.
  • If $fields is ‘ids’, an array of category IDs will be returned.
  • If $fields is ‘names’, an array of category names will be returned.
  • If the ‘category’ taxonomy doesn’t exist, the function will return a WP_Error object.

Examples

How to get the categories of a specific post using wp_get_post_categories

Use the wp_get_post_categories function to retrieve the categories of a specific post.

$post_id = 123;
$categories = wp_get_post_categories($post_id);
print_r($categories);

How to display the categories of a post as a list using wp_get_post_categories

Retrieve the categories of a post using wp_get_post_categories and display them as a list.

$post_id = 456;
$categories = wp_get_post_categories($post_id);
if (!empty($categories)) {
 echo '<ul>';
 foreach ($categories as $category) {
 echo '<li>' . get_cat_name($category) . '</li>';
 }
 echo '</ul>';
}

How to check if a post belongs to a specific category using wp_get_post_categories

Use wp_get_post_categories to check if a post belongs to a specific category.

$post_id = 789;
$categories = wp_get_post_categories($post_id);
$specific_category_id = 10;
if (in_array($specific_category_id, $categories)) {
 echo 'This post belongs to the specific category.';
} else {
 echo 'This post does not belong to the specific category.';
}

Conclusion

The wp_get_post_categories function is a valuable tool for WordPress developers and users. It provides a convenient way to retrieve the categories associated with a specific post, allowing for easy organization and display of content. By leveraging this function, developers can enhance the functionality and user experience of their WordPress websites. Its flexibility and simplicity make it a valuable addition to the WordPress toolkit. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just getting started with WordPress, wp_get_post_categories can help streamline your workflow and improve the management of your website’s content.

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