How to set tags to a WordPress post using wp_set_post_tags

The wp_set_post_tags is a WordPress function that is used to set or replace the tags associated with a particular post. The function operates by either appending new tags to the existing set or completely replacing the current tags with a new set, depending on how it is used.

The primary purpose of the wp_set_post_tags function is to manage the tags that are associated with a post. Tags are one of the ways WordPress organizes content, and the wp_set_post_tags function offers a programmatic way to control this aspect of content organization.

By using the wp_set_post_tags function, it is possible to automate or customize the process of tagging posts, which can be particularly useful in scenarios where posts are being generated or managed programmatically.

For instance, it can be used in a situation where a post’s tags need to be updated based on some external data or event, or when a batch of posts needs to be tagged in a certain way based on some criteria. It could also be used to remove all tags from a post, or to set a specific set of tags, regardless of what tags were previously associated with the post.

Parameters Accepted by wp_set_post_tags Function

The wp_set_post_tags function in WordPress accepts three parameters which are all optional. These parameters are:

  • $post_id (integer): This parameter is used to specify the Post ID. It doesn’t default to the ID of the global $post.
  • $tags (string|array): This parameter can either be an array of tags to be set for the post, or a string of tags separated by commas. The default value for this parameter is an empty string.
  • $append (boolean): This parameter determines if existing tags should be deleted or not. If set to true, the function will not delete existing tags and will simply add new ones. If set to false, the function will replace the existing tags with the new ones. The default value for this parameter is false.

Return Value of wp_set_post_tags Function

The wp_set_post_tags function returns an array of term taxonomy IDs of the affected terms. However, in case of a failure, it returns either false or a WP_Error.

Examples

How to Set Post Tags in WordPress

The wp_set_post_tags function is used to set tags for a post in WordPress. Here is an example of how to use it:

$post_id = 123; // The ID of the post you want to set tags for.
$tags = array('tag1', 'tag2', 'tag3'); // The tags you want to set.

wp_set_post_tags($post_id, $tags, false);

This code will replace any existing tags on the post with ID $post_id with the tags in the $tags array.

How to Append Post Tags in WordPress

If you want to add tags to a post without removing the existing ones, you can do so by setting the third parameter of the function to true:

$post_id = 123;
$tags = array('tag4', 'tag5');

wp_set_post_tags($post_id, $tags, true);

This code will add the tags in the $tags array to the post with ID $post_id, without removing any existing tags.

How to Set Post Tags in WordPress Using a String

Instead of an array, you can also provide the tags as a string, separated by commas:

$post_id = 123;
$tags = 'tag6, tag7, tag8';

wp_set_post_tags($post_id, $tags);

This code will replace any existing tags on the post with ID $post_id with the tags provided in the $tags string.

Conclusion

The wp_set_post_tags function in WordPress provides a straightforward method for managing the tags associated with a specific post. This function allows developers to programmatically set or replace the tags of a post, thereby enabling dynamic changes to post metadata and facilitating advanced content categorization and organization. It’s an useful component for extending the functionality of WordPress posts, particularly in scenarios where tag manipulation is required on a consistent or automated basis.

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