How to Add Tags to a Custom Post Type from a Front-End Form in WordPress
As a WordPress developer, you may have encountered the need to create a custom post type (CPT) and allow users to add tags to the posts they create. While the process of creating a CPT is relatively straightforward, adding tags can be a bit more complex, especially when dealing with a front-end form.
In this blog post, we'll dive into the steps required to enable tags for a custom post type and how to successfully add them to a post created from a front-end form.
Enabling Tags for a Custom Post Type
To use tags with your custom post type, you need to enable them when you register the CPT. This is done by including the 'taxonomies'
parameter in the register_post_type()
function, like this:
register_post_type( 'my_cpt', array(
'labels' => array(
'name' => __( 'My CPT', 'my-plugin' ),
'singular_name' => __( 'My CPT', 'my-plugin' ),
),
'public' => true,
'has_archive' => true,
'taxonomies' => array( 'post_tag' ),
) );
In the example above, we're enabling the 'post_tag'
taxonomy for the 'my_cpt'
custom post type. This means that users will be able to add tags to posts of this custom post type, just like they can with the default 'post'
post type.
Adding Tags from a Front-End Form
Now that we have the tags enabled for our custom post type, let's look at how to add them to a post created from a front-end form.
When using wp_insert_post()
to create a new post, you can pass an array of tag names (or IDs) to the 'tax_input'
parameter. This will associate the tags with the newly created post.
Here's an example of how you can do this:
// Assuming you have a form field with the name 'tags'
$tags = $_POST['tags'];
$post_data = array(
'post_title' => $_POST['post_title'],
'post_content' => $_POST['post_content'],
'post_type' => 'my_cpt',
'tax_input' => array(
'post_tag' => $tags,
),
);
$post_id = wp_insert_post( $post_data );
if ( $post_id ) {
// Post was created successfully
// You can now perform additional actions, such as redirecting the user
} else {
// There was an error creating the post
// You can handle the error here
}
In the example above, we're assuming that the user has provided a comma-separated list of tags in a form field with the name 'tags'
. We then pass this array of tags to the 'tax_input'
parameter of the $post_data
array.
When wp_insert_post()
is called, WordPress will automatically create the new post and associate the provided tags with it.
Note: If the tags don't seem to be saving, it's possible that the current user doesn't have the necessary capabilities to assign terms to the custom taxonomy. In this case, you can use the wp_set_object_terms()
function to associate the tags with the post after it has been created.
$post_id = wp_insert_post( $post_data );
if ( $post_id ) {
// Post was created successfully
wp_set_object_terms( $post_id, $tags, 'post_tag' );
// You can now perform additional actions, such as redirecting the user
} else {
// There was an error creating the post
// You can handle the error here
}
By using wp_set_object_terms()
, you can ensure that the tags are properly associated with the post, even if the current user doesn't have the necessary capabilities.
Handling Existing Tags
In some cases, you may want to allow users to select from existing tags, rather than just providing a list of new tags. To do this, you can use the get_terms()
function to retrieve a list of existing tags and include them in your front-end form.
Here's an example of how you can do this:
// Retrieve a list of existing tags
$existing_tags = get_terms( array(
'taxonomy' => 'post_tag',
'hide_empty' => false,
) );
// Display the existing tags in a form field (e.g., a multi-select)
?>
<select name="tags[]" multiple>
<?php foreach ( $existing_tags as $tag ) : ?>
<option value="<?php echo esc_attr( $tag->slug ); ?>">
<?php echo esc_html( $tag->name ); ?>
</option>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</select>
In the example above, we use the get_terms()
function to retrieve a list of all the existing tags (including those with no associated posts). We then display these tags in a multi-select form field, allowing the user to select one or more tags to be associated with the new post.
When the form is submitted, the selected tags will be available in the $_POST['tags']
array, which you can then use in the 'tax_input'
parameter of the wp_insert_post()
function, as shown in the previous example.
Conclusion
Adding tags to a custom post type from a front-end form in WordPress may seem a bit more complex than the default post type, but with the right approach, it can be a straightforward process.
By enabling the 'post_tag'
taxonomy when registering your custom post type and using the 'tax_input'
parameter with wp_insert_post()
, you can easily associate tags with your custom posts. And if you need to handle existing tags, you can use the get_terms()
function to retrieve and display them in your front-end form.
Remember, the key is to ensure that the current user has the necessary capabilities to assign terms to the custom taxonomy. If they don't, you can use wp_set_object_terms()
to associate the tags with the post after it has been created.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you'll be able to add tags to your custom post types and provide a seamless user experience for your website visitors.
Flowpoint.ai can help you identify any technical issues that may be impacting the conversion rates of your custom post type forms, and provide recommendations to optimize the user experience and drive better results
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