WordPress Template Tags (162 Types)
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A list of all 162 template tags that can be used in WordPress. You can check the list of template tags and descriptions. Let's see what template tags are available.
What are Template Tags?
There are many useful functions available in WordPress. A template tag is a function that is used within the template file of a theme, among other functions.
Use it to dynamically display your blog’s data and to customize your theme.
The template tag also includes functions that can output a variety of information by specifying arguments (parameters).
How to use the template tag
Template tags are placed in PHP’s start and end tags. The template tag must end with a semicolon (;) to indicate the end of the code.
<?php the_content(); ?>Template tag definition file
Template tags are defined in 9 files under wp-includes.
- wp-includes/general-template.php
- wp-includes/author-template.php
- wp-includes/bookmark-template.php
- wp-includes/category-template.php
- wp-includes/comment-template.php
- wp-includes/link-template.php
- wp-includes/post-template.php
- wp-includes/post-thumbnail-template.php
- wp-includes/nav-menu-template.php
Template Tag List
The following is a list of template tags that can be used in WordPress. You can review the tags and their descriptions.
General tags
These are the 29 template tags defined in “wp-includes/general-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| get_header() | Load header template |
| get_footer() | Load footer template |
| get_sidebar() | Load sidebar template |
| get_template_part() | Loads a template part into a template |
| get_search_form() | Display search form |
| wp_loginout() | Display the Log In/Out link |
| wp_logout_url() | Retrieves the logout URL |
| wp_login_url() | Retrieves the login URL |
| wp_login_form() | Provides a simple login form for use anywhere within WordPress |
| wp_lostpassword_url() | Returns the URL that allows the user to retrieve the lost password |
| wp_register() | Display the Registration or Admin link |
| wp_meta() | Theme container function for the ‘wp_meta’ action |
| bloginfo() | Displays information about the current site |
| get_bloginfo() | Retrieves information about the current site |
| get_current_blog_id() | Retrieve the current site ID |
| wp_title() | Display or retrieve page title for all areas of blog |
| single_post_title() | Display or retrieve page title for post |
| post_type_archive_title() | Display or retrieve title for a post type archive |
| single_cat_title() | Display or retrieve page title for category archive |
| single_tag_title() | Display or retrieve page title for tag post archive |
| single_term_title() | Display or retrieve page title for taxonomy term archive |
| single_month_title() | Display or retrieve page title for post archive based on date |
| get_archives_link() | Retrieve archive link content based on predefined or custom code |
| wp_get_archives() | Display archive links based on type and format |
| calendar_week_mod() | Get number of days since the start of the week |
| get_calendar() | Display calendar with days that have posts as links |
| delete_get_calendar_cache() | Purge the cached results of get_calendar |
| allowed_tags() | Display all of the allowed tags in HTML format with attributes |
| wp_enqueue_script() | Enqueue a script |
Author tags
These are the 10 template tags defined in “wp-includes/author-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| the_author() | Display the name of the author of the current post |
| get_the_author() | Retrieve the author of the current post |
| the_author_link() | Display either author’s link or author’s name |
| get_the_author_link() | Retrieve either author’s link or author’s name |
| the_author_meta() | Outputs the field from the user’s DB object. Defaults to current post’s author |
| the_author_posts() | Display the number of posts by the author of the current post |
| the_author_posts_link() | Displays an HTML link to the author page of the current post’s author |
| wp_dropdown_users() | Create dropdown HTML content of users |
| wp_list_authors() | List all the authors of the site, with several options available |
| get_author_posts_url() | Retrieve the URL to the author page for the user with the ID provided |
Bookmark tags
These are the 4 template tags defined in “wp-includes/bookmark-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| wp_list_bookmarks() | Retrieve or echo all of the bookmarks |
| get_bookmark() | Retrieve Bookmark data |
| get_bookmark_field() | Retrieve single bookmark data item or field |
| get_bookmarks() | Retrieves the list of bookmarks |
Category tags
These are the 16 template tags defined in “wp-includes/category-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| category_description() | Retrieves category description |
| single_cat_title() | Display or retrieve page title for category archive |
| the_category() | Displays category list for a post in either HTML list or custom format |
| the_category_rss() | Display the post categories in the feed |
| wp_dropdown_categories() | Displays or retrieves the HTML dropdown list of categories |
| wp_list_categories() | Displays or retrieves the HTML list of categories |
| single_tag_title() | Display or retrieve page title for tag post archive |
| tag_description() | Retrieves tag description |
| the_tags() | Displays the tags for a post |
| wp_generate_tag_cloud() | Generates a tag cloud (heatmap) from provided data |
| wp_tag_cloud() | Displays a tag cloud |
| term_description() | Retrieves term description |
| single_term_title() | Display or retrieve page title for taxonomy term archive |
| get_the_term_list() | Retrieves a post’s terms as a list with specified format |
| the_terms() | Displays the terms for a post in a list |
| the_taxonomies() | Display the taxonomies of a post with available options |
Comment tags
These are the 29 template tags defined in “wp-includes/comment-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| cancel_comment_reply_link() | Displays HTML content for cancel comment reply link |
| comment_author() | Displays the author of the current comment |
| comment_author_email() | Displays the email of the author of the current global $comment |
| comment_author_email_link() | Displays the HTML email link to the author of the current comment |
| comment_author_IP() | Displays the IP address of the author of the current comment |
| comment_author_link() | Displays the HTML link to the URL of the author of the current comment |
| comment_author_rss() | Display the current comment author in the feed |
| comment_author_url() | Displays the URL of the author of the current comment, not linked |
| comment_author_url_link() | Displays the HTML link of the URL of the author of the current comment |
| comment_class() | Generates semantic classes for each comment element |
| comment_date() | Displays the comment date of the current comment |
| comment_excerpt() | Displays the excerpt of the current comment |
| comment_form_title() | Displays text based on comment reply status |
| comment_form() | Outputs a complete commenting form for use within a template |
| comment_ID() | Displays the comment ID of the current comment |
| comment_id_fields() | Outputs hidden input HTML for replying to comments |
| comment_reply_link() | Displays the HTML content for reply to comment link |
| comment_text() | Displays the text of the current comment |
| comment_text_rss() | Display the current comment content for use in the feeds |
| comment_time() | Displays the comment time of the current comment |
| comment_type() | Displays the comment type of the current comment |
| comments_link() | Displays the link to the current post comments |
| comments_number() | Displays the language string for the number of comments the current post has |
| comments_popup_link() | Displays the link to the comments for the current post ID |
| get_avatar() | Retrieve the avatar img tag for a user, email address, MD5 hash, comment, or post |
| next_comments_link() | Displays the link to the next comments page |
| paginate_comments_links() | Displays or retrieves pagination links for the comments on the current post |
| previous_comments_link() | Displays the link to the previous comments page |
| wp_list_comments() | Displays a list of comments |
Link tags
These are the 25 template tags defined in “wp-includes/link-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| the_permalink() | Displays the permalink for the current post |
| user_trailingslashit() | Retrieves a trailing-slashed string if the site is set for adding trailing slashes |
| permalink_anchor() | Displays the permalink anchor for the current post |
| get_permalink() | Retrieves the full permalink for the current post or post ID |
| get_post_permalink() | Retrieves the permalink for a post of a custom post type |
| get_page_link() | Retrieves the permalink for the current page or page ID |
| get_attachment_link() | Retrieves the permalink for an attachment |
| wp_shortlink_header() | Sends a Link: rel=shortlink header if a shortlink is defined for the current page |
| wp_shortlink_wp_head() | Injects rel=shortlink into the head if a shortlink is defined for the current page |
| edit_bookmark_link() | Displays the edit bookmark link anchor content |
| edit_comment_link() | Displays the edit comment link with formatting |
| edit_post_link() | Displays the edit post link for post |
| get_edit_post_link() | Retrieves the edit post link for post |
| get_delete_post_link() | Retrieves the delete posts link for post |
| edit_tag_link() | Displays or retrieves the edit link for a tag with formatting |
| get_admin_url() | Retrieves the URL to the admin area for a given site. |
| get_home_url() | Retrieves the URL for a given site where the front end is accessible |
| get_site_url() | Retrieves the URL for a given site where WordPress application files (e.g. wp-blog-header.php or the wp-admin/ folder) are accessible |
| home_url() | Retrieves the URL for the current site where the front end is accessible |
| site_url() | Retrieves the URL for the current site where WordPress application files (e.g. wp-blog-header.php or the wp-admin/ folder) are accessible |
| get_search_link() | Retrieves the permalink for a search |
| get_search_query() | Retrieves the contents of the search WordPress query variable |
| the_feed_link() | Displays the permalink for the feed type |
| the_privacy_policy_link() | Displays the privacy policy link with formatting, when applicable |
| get_the_privacy_policy_link() | Returns the privacy policy link with formatting, when applicable |
Post tags
These are the 43 template tags defined in “wp-includes/post-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| body_class() | Displays the class names for the body element |
| next_image_link() | Displays next image link that has the same post parent |
| next_post_link() | Displays the next post link that is adjacent to the current post |
| next_posts_link() | Displays the next posts page link |
| post_class() | Displays the classes for the post container element |
| post_password_required() | Whether post requires password and correct password has been provided |
| posts_nav_link() | Displays the post pages link navigation for previous and next pages |
| previous_image_link() | Displays previous image link that has the same post parent |
| previous_post_link() | Displays the previous post link that is adjacent to the current post |
| previous_posts_link() | Displays the previous posts page link |
| single_post_title() | Display or retrieve page title for post |
| the_category() | Displays category list for a post in either HTML list or custom format |
| the_category_rss() | Display the post categories in the feed |
| the_content() | Display the post content |
| the_excerpt() | Display the post excerpt |
| the_excerpt_rss() | Display the post excerpt for the feed |
| the_ID() | Display the ID of the current item in the WordPress Loop |
| the_meta() | Display a list of post custom fields |
| the_tags() | Displays the tags for a post |
| the_title() | Display or retrieve the current post title with optional markup |
| get_the_title() | Retrieve post title |
| the_title_attribute() | Sanitize the current title when retrieving or displaying |
| the_title_rss() | Display the post title in the feed |
| wp_link_pages() | The formatted output of a list of pages |
| get_attachment_link() | Retrieves the permalink for an attachment |
| wp_get_attachment_link() | Retrieve an attachment page link using an image or icon, if possible |
| the_attachment_link() | Display an attachment page link using an image or icon |
| the_search_query() | Displays the contents of the search query variable |
| is_attachment() | Determines whether the query is for an existing attachment page |
| wp_attachment_is_image() | Determines whether an attachment is an image |
| wp_get_attachment_image() | Get an HTML img element representing an image attachment |
| wp_get_attachment_image_src() | Retrieves an image to represent an attachment |
| wp_get_attachment_metadata() | Retrieves attachment metadata for attachment ID |
| get_the_date() | Retrieve the date on which the post was written |
| single_month_title() | Display or retrieve page title for post archive based on date |
| the_date() | Display or Retrieve the date the current post was written (once per date) |
| the_date_xml() | Outputs the date in iso8601 format for xml files |
| the_modified_author() | Display the name of the author who last edited the current post, if the author’s ID is available |
| the_modified_date() | Display the date on which the post was last modified |
| the_modified_time() | Display the time at which the post was last modified |
| the_time() | Display the time at which the post was written |
| the_shortlink() | Displays the shortlink for a post |
| wp_get_shortlink() | Returns a shortlink for a post, page, attachment, or site |
Post Thumbnail tags
These are the 4 template tags defined in “wp-includes/post-thumbnail-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| has_post_thumbnail() | Determines whether a post has an image attached |
| get_post_thumbnail_id() | Retrieve post thumbnail ID |
| the_post_thumbnail() | Display the post thumbnail |
| get_the_post_thumbnail() | Retrieve the post thumbnail |
Navigation Menu tags
These are the 2 template tags defined in “wp-includes/nav-menu-template.php”.
| Template Tag | Description |
|---|---|
| wp_nav_menu() | Displays a navigation menu |
| walk_nav_menu_tree() | Retrieves the HTML list content for nav menu items |