How to Create Custom Post Types in WordPress

Creating custom post types in WordPress is a powerful way to extend the functionality of your site allowing you to manage various types of content beyond the default posts and pages. This guide will walk you through the process of creating custom post types in WordPress covering all possible methods and providing detailed code examples.

Introduction to Custom Post Types

Custom post types (CPTs) allow you to create and manage different types of content in WordPress. While the default post types (posts, pages, attachments) cater to most content needs. CPTs can be used for specific content such as portfolios, testimonials, products, events and more.

1. Creating Custom Post Types with Code

The most flexible way to create custom post types is by adding code to your theme’s functions.php file or a custom plugin. This method gives you complete control over the functionality and behavior of your custom post type.

Basic Example

Here’s a basic example of how to create a custom post type called “Books”:

function wpexpertguide_create_books_post_type() {
    $labels = array(
        'name' => 'Books',
        'singular_name' => 'Book',
        'add_new' => 'Add New',
        'add_new_item' => 'Add New Book',
        'edit_item' => 'Edit Book',
        'new_item' => 'New Book',
        'view_item' => 'View Book',
        'search_items' => 'Search Books',
        'not_found' => 'No books found',
        'not_found_in_trash' => 'No books found in Trash',
        'all_items' => 'All Books',
        'menu_name' => 'Books',
        'name_admin_bar' => 'Book'
    );

    $args = array(
        'labels' => $labels,
        'public' => true,
        'has_archive' => true,
        'rewrite' => array('slug' => 'books'),
        'supports' => array('title', 'editor', 'author', 'thumbnail', 'excerpt', 'comments')
    );

    register_post_type('book', $args);
}

add_action('init', 'wpexpertguide_create_books_post_type');

Parameters Explained

• labels: An array of labels for the custom post type. This helps WordPress display the correct text in the admin area.
• public: A boolean value indicating whether the post type is public.
• has_archive: A boolean value that enables archive pages for the post type.
• rewrite: An array containing the slug for the custom post type.
• supports: An array of features the post type supports, such as title, editor, thumbnail, and comments.

Registering Taxonomies

Taxonomies help categorize and tag custom post types. You can register custom taxonomies using the register_taxonomy function. Here’s an example of adding a genre taxonomy to the Books post type:

function wpexpertguide_create_book_taxonomies() {
    $labels = array(
        'name' => 'Genres',
        'singular_name' => 'Genre',
        'search_items' => 'Search Genres',
        'all_items' => 'All Genres',
        'parent_item' => 'Parent Genre',
        'parent_item_colon' => 'Parent Genre:',
        'edit_item' => 'Edit Genre',
        'update_item' => 'Update Genre',
        'add_new_item' => 'Add New Genre',
        'new_item_name' => 'New Genre Name',
        'menu_name' => 'Genres'
    );

    $args = array(
        'hierarchical' => true,
        'labels' => $labels,
        'show_ui' => true,
        'show_admin_column' => true,
        'query_var' => true,
        'rewrite' => array('slug' => 'genre')
    );

    register_taxonomy('genre', array('book'), $args);
}

add_action('init', 'wpexpertguide_  create_book_taxonomies');

Advanced Parameters

When registering custom post types you can use additional parameters to customize the behavior and appearance:

• menu_position: Specifies the position of the menu item in the admin sidebar.
• menu_icon: URL to an image icon to represent the post type in the admin menu.
• capability_type: The string used to build the read, edit, and delete capabilities.
• show_in_rest: A boolean value to enable the REST API support.
• supports: Additional features like custom-fields, page-attributes, post-formats.

2. Using Plugins to Create Custom Post Types

For those who prefer not to code can use several plugins which help you in creating custom post types easily. Below I have mentioned some popular plugins:

1.Custom Post Type UI

Custom Post Type UI (CPT UI) is a user-friendly plugin that allows you to create custom post types and taxonomies through an intuitive interface.

1. Install and Activate CPT UI: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Custom Post Type UI,” install, and activate it.
2. Create a Custom Post Type: Navigate to CPT UI > Add/Edit Post Types and fill in the necessary fields to create your custom post type.
3. Create Custom Taxonomies: Navigate to CPT UI > Add/Edit Taxonomies to create and manage taxonomies for your custom post types.

2.Pods

Pods is a powerful framework for creating custom post types, taxonomies, and fields.

1. Install and Activate Pods: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Pods,” install, and activate it.
2. Create a Custom Post Type: Navigate to Pods Admin > Add New and select “Create New” to define a new custom post type.
3. Add Custom Fields and Relationships: Use the Pods interface to add custom fields and set up relationships between different content types.

3.Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)

As of ACF 6.1, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) can also create custom post types and taxonomies which turns WordPress into a fully-fledged content management system. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Install and Activate ACF: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Advanced Custom Fields” install and activate it.
2. Create a Custom Post Type:
   • Navigate to ACF > Post Types.
   • Click Add New.
   • Fill in the basic settings for your custom post type such as name slug and supported features.
3. Create Custom Taxonomies:
   • Navigate to ACF > Taxonomy.
   • Click Add New.
   • Fill in the basic settings for your custom taxonomy such as name, slug and whether it should be hierarchical.

Custom Post Type Templates

After creating a custom post type you might want to create custom templates to control how these posts are displayed. Here are some common template files:

• single-{post_type}.php: Template for displaying a single post of the custom post type.
• archive-{post_type}.php: Template for displaying an archive of the custom post type.
• taxonomy-{taxonomy}.php: Template for displaying taxonomy terms associated with the custom post type.

For example, if your custom post type is “book” you would create single-book.php and archive-book.php in your theme’s directory to customize the display of individual books and book archives.

Best Practices for Custom Post Types

1. Prefix Custom Post Types and Taxonomies: Use a prefix (e.g., myplugin_) to avoid conflicts with other plugins or themes.
2. Use Capabilities: Define custom capabilities to control access to your custom post types.
3. Optimize Performance: Test the performance impact of custom post types especially on large sites.
4. Documentation: Document your custom post types and taxonomies for future reference and maintenance.

Conclusion

Creating custom post types in WordPress is a powerful way to extend your site’s functionality and manage different types of content. Whether you prefer coding your custom post types or using plugins like CPT UI, Pods, or ACF, WordPress provides flexible options to meet your needs. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create, manage and customize custom post types effectively.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. Happy coding!