How to Create a WordPress Custom Post Type

How to Create a WordPress Custom Post Type: A Step-by-Step Guide

WordPress is a powerful platform that comes with two primary content types: Posts and Pages. However, when you need to organize more specific types of content, like portfolios, testimonials, or products, you can create a WordPress custom post type to better manage and display your content. This flexibility allows you to tailor WordPress to fit your exact needs, making it an excellent choice for dynamic websites.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what custom post types are, why you might need them, and how to create a WordPress custom post type step by step.

What is a WordPress Custom Post Type?

A WordPress custom post type is a type of content that you can create beyond the default “Posts” and “Pages.” Custom post types allow you to structure your website’s content in a more organized and user-friendly way. They are especially useful for sites that deal with various types of content such as:

  • Portfolios
  • Products
  • Testimonials
  • Events
  • Case Studies
  • Real Estate Listings

Essentially, custom post types help extend the functionality of WordPress, allowing you to manage and display specific content types with ease.

Why Should You Create a WordPress Custom Post Type?

Creating a WordPress custom post type is beneficial for organizing your content in a meaningful way. Here are some reasons why you might want to create custom post types:

  1. Better Content Management: If you have a lot of different content types (e.g., blog posts, events, portfolios), custom post types can help keep them organized separately from your regular posts.
  2. Improved User Experience: Custom post types allow you to present information in a more structured and intuitive way, making it easier for users to navigate and find the content they need.
  3. Enhanced SEO: By organizing content under specific custom post types, you can improve SEO by creating more targeted, focused content. Each custom post type can have its own dedicated taxonomy and URL structure.
  4. Easier Customization: When developing or designing a website, custom post types make it easier to apply specific templates or layouts to different content types, allowing for greater flexibility in design.

How to Create a WordPress Custom Post Type: Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a custom post type in WordPress can be done in two main ways: using a plugin or manually by adding code. We’ll cover both methods below.

Method 1: Creating a Custom Post Type Using a Plugin

One of the easiest ways to create a custom post type is by using a plugin. There are several plugins that allow you to create custom post types without writing any code. The most popular is Custom Post Type UI.

Here’s how you can create a custom post type using the Custom Post Type UI plugin:

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin
  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Go to Plugins > Add New.
  3. Search for Custom Post Type UI.
  4. Install and activate the plugin.
Step 2: Create a New Custom Post Type
  1. After activation, navigate to CPT UI > Add/Edit Post Types in the WordPress dashboard.
  2. In the Add New Post Type section, fill in the following fields:
    • Post Type Slug: This will be used in your URL (e.g., “portfolio”).
    • Plural Label: The name for your post type in plural form (e.g., “Portfolios”).
    • Singular Label: The singular name for your post type (e.g., “Portfolio”).
  3. Scroll down and adjust the settings as needed. You can choose whether to allow comments, enable archives, and assign categories or tags to your new custom post type.
  4. Click Add Post Type to save.
Step 3: Verify Your Custom Post Type
  1. Once created, you should see a new menu item for your custom post type in the WordPress dashboard (e.g., “Portfolios”).
  2. Click on it, and you’ll be able to add new posts specifically for that content type.

Method 2: Manually Creating a Custom Post Type with Code

For more control over the custom post type, you can manually create one by adding code to your theme’s functions.php file. This method requires basic knowledge of PHP.

Step 1: Access the Functions File
  1. From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor.
  2. In the right-hand menu, find and select functions.php.
Step 2: Add the Custom Post Type Code

In your functions.php file, add the following code to create a custom post type:

php
function create_custom_post_type() {
// Set up labels for the Custom Post Type
$labels = array(
'name' => 'Portfolios',
'singular_name' => 'Portfolio',
'menu_name' => 'Portfolios',
'name_admin_bar' => 'Portfolio',
'add_new' => 'Add New',
'add_new_item' => 'Add New Portfolio',
'edit_item' => 'Edit Portfolio',
'new_item' => 'New Portfolio',
'view_item' => 'View Portfolio',
'all_items' => 'All Portfolios',
'search_items' => 'Search Portfolios',
'not_found' => 'No portfolios found.',
'not_found_in_trash' => 'No portfolios found in Trash.'
);// Set up arguments for the Custom Post Type
$args = array(
‘labels’ => $labels,
‘public’ => true,
‘publicly_queryable’ => true,
‘show_ui’ => true,
‘show_in_menu’ => true,
‘query_var’ => true,
‘rewrite’ => array( ‘slug’ => ‘portfolio’ ),
‘capability_type’ => ‘post’,
‘has_archive’ => true,
‘hierarchical’ => false,
‘menu_position’ => null,
‘supports’ => array( ‘title’, ‘editor’, ‘thumbnail’, ‘excerpt’, ‘comments’ ),
);// Register the Custom Post Type
register_post_type( ‘portfolio’, $args );
}// Hook into the ‘init’ action
add_action( ‘init’, ‘create_custom_post_type’ );
Step 3: Save Your Changes
  1. After adding the code, save your changes.
  2. You should now see your custom post type in the WordPress dashboard.
Step 4: Test Your Custom Post Type
  1. Go to your newly created post type in the dashboard.
  2. Create and publish a new item to test whether everything is working as expected.

Enhancing Your Custom Post Type

Once you’ve created a WordPress custom post type, you can further enhance it by:

  • Custom Taxonomies: Add custom taxonomies to categorize your new post type (e.g., portfolio categories).
  • Custom Fields: Use custom fields or ACF (Advanced Custom Fields) to add more detailed information.
  • Custom Templates: Create custom single post and archive templates to control how your custom post type is displayed.

Conclusion

Creating a WordPress custom post type allows you to organize and display unique content in a more meaningful way. Whether you’re managing portfolios, products, or events, custom post types can streamline your content management process and enhance the user experience on your website.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can either use a plugin or manually code your own custom post type, depending on your level of expertise and customization needs. If you need additional functionality, don’t hesitate to explore custom taxonomies, fields, and templates to further enhance your custom post types.

For those who want professional help with custom post types or WordPress development, Masthead Technology offers tailored WordPress solutions to fit your needs. Contact us today to learn how we can help take your website to the next level.

FAQs

1. What is a custom post type in WordPress?
A custom post type is a specific type of content in WordPress, beyond the default “Posts” and “Pages.” It allows you to create and manage different types of content, such as portfolios, testimonials, or events.

2. Can I create a custom post type without coding?
Yes, you can use plugins like Custom Post Type UI to create custom post types without needing to write any code.

3. How do I add custom fields to my custom post type?
You can use plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) to add custom fields to your custom post types and display more detailed information.

4. How do I display my custom post type on the front end?
You can create custom templates in your theme for single posts and archives to control how your custom post type is displayed. Alternatively, you can use plugins like Elementor or Beaver Builder to display them.

5. Is creating custom post types SEO-friendly?
Yes, custom post types can be SEO-friendly as long as they are properly structured and optimized with relevant keywords, meta tags, and permalinks.