WordPress is the most popular Content Management system in the world. Even though it was started as a blog publishing tool, it powers the most number of websites. This is because it gives the user ultimate control over everything. As it’s an open-source platform it has developed as an all round website and blog creator platform.
While working in WordPress you will often come across terms like post pages and custom post type. To work efficiently in WordPress you will have to understand the difference between WordPress page vs post vs custom post type else you will face trouble sooner or later.
This article will cover everything you need to know about Posts pages and custom post types. Understanding these concepts fully will give you the power to utilize the platform in a much better way.
Whether you’re a WordPress beginner or an experienced developer, this guide will provide valuable insights into structuring your content.
What is a WordPress Post?
If you know WordPress you mostly know about the posts. If you have any doubts about it, don’t worry you will find your answers here. Basically, posts are time-sensitive content in WordPress such as blog entries.
It means the posts that you posted most recently will be on top (reverse chronological order). Posts have the option to add images links and other elements as well. Moreover, posts are organized by categories and tags. You can add custom categories (also called taxonomies) about which you can read more at this article.
Key Features of Posts
Categories and Tags: Posts can be grouped into categories and assigned tags for better organization. You can also add a single post in multiple categories.
Date-based: Posts are time-sensitive and displayed based on their publication date. However, you can also display them in random order if you want.
RSS Feed Inclusion: Posts automatically get added to your RSS feed, making them easier for your audience to subscribe to.
Comments: Posts have the option to add comments so that users can share their thoughts and engage.
What is a WordPress Page?
As you have understood the posts in WordPress, it’s time to take a look at pages. Pages, unlike posts in WordPress aren’t time-sensitive. These are there to display permanent content i.e. Home, About, Services, Contact Us.
Pages also give you the ability to create a hierarchy meaning you can create a parent page and later add its child pages. Something which posts do not support.
1. Page Template
A page template is a structure in WordPress that is used to define the structure of each page. There can be occasions when you want a custom page structure that the theme isn’t able to provide. In such cases, you can also use a custom page template and later use it on any page.
2. Key Features of Pages
- Static Content: Pages are used for content that doesn’t change frequently.
- No Tags or Categories: Pages are not meant to be categorized or tagged.
- Hierarchical: You can nest pages under parent pages, creating a hierarchy.
- No RSS Feed: Pages do not appear in RSS feeds.
What is a Custom Post Type in WordPress?
Custom Post Type is the functionality of WordPress that takes WordPress beyond general usage. It gives you the ability to create a post type of your own depending on your needs. The default posts are good enough for publishing regular articles. It gives you all the features that you need to create a news or blog site. The problem comes when you want to create posts for specific needs. For instance portfolios, testimonials, products, recipes or reviews.
If you have ever used WooCommerce, you know how powerful it is. In case you don’t know WooComerce is also based on a custom post type which is products. At this moment you may have understood how far can you take the functionality of WordPress using custom post types.
Key Features of Custom Post Types
- Customizable: You can create any kind of content structure that suits your website. For example books, movies etc.
- Integrates with Taxonomies: Custom Post Types can have their categories, tags, or custom taxonomies.
- Supports All WordPress Features: CPTs can support everything from meta boxes to custom fields and more.
- Ideal for Niche Content: If you want to display content like portfolios or real estate listings, CPTs are the way to go.
1. How To Create Custom Post Type
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function create_portfolio_cpt() { $args = array( 'label' => 'Portfolio', 'public' => true, 'supports' => array( 'title', 'editor', 'thumbnail' ), 'has_archive' => true, 'rewrite' => array( 'slug' => 'portfolio' ), ); register_post_type( 'portfolio', $args ); } add_action( 'init', 'create_portfolio_cpt' ) |
In this example, a custom post type “Portfolio” is created, with support for title, editor, and thumbnail fields.
2. Create Using a Plugin
The above-provided method is best united when you know how to code. If you don’t know how to code like most people, you can use a plugin like CPT UI. It is the most popular plugin that you can use to create a custom post type or taxonomies. Also, there is an online website GenerateWP which can be used to generate custom post types and taxonomies online.
When to Use Pages, Posts, or Custom Post Types
You can use posts for blog entries, news updates, or any content that is time-sensitive and categorized. On the other hand, if your content is not related to something you will change frequently you should use pages. Moreover, Custom Post Type is best when you have a specific requirement and need to provide custom format or style apart from the regular articles.
For instance, if you plan on creating a cooking website and need to share publish and share recipes, while articles may work, but if content is presented with a bit more structure having custom table with ingredients, quantity, cooking time and other things, that would make it much more interactive and user-friendly.
5. Conclusion
Understanding the difference between WordPress Page vs Post vs Custom Post Type is crucial for organizing your website. Posts work best for dynamic content that you publish and update frequently, pages are ideal for static sections and custom post types offer flexibility for specialized content.
Choosing the right format ensures that your website remains user-friendly, organized, and optimized for SEO. Next time when you decide to create a website in WordPress look into these points carefully and choose what suits your needs best. By implementing these tips, you’ll not only improve user experience but also boost your site’s visibility in search engine results.
Hope you gained something from this article. You can check out more of our articles by visiting our blog where we share WordPress and Web Development related tips, tricks and gotchas. See you in the next article!
