There are many codes to memorize just to modify a WordPress theme, so it helps to have a mini cheat sheet if you are looking to make minor changes or even developing your own theme. This is why we have decided to list a few codes that you can probably use for reference when editing themes. Bookmarking this page, or print this article and paste it on your desk.
Basic Template Files
Below is the list of basic files that every theme should have.
- style.css
- header.php
- index.php
- sidebar.php
- footer.php
- single.php
- page.php
- comments.php
- 404.php
- functions.php
- archive.php
- searchform.php
- search.php
Codes in Header.php
These codes are mostly seen in header.php although some of these might be seen throughout your template files. Codes like Location of Site’s Theme Files are used to call for image URLs all over the template, same goes with the exact url of the site code. But most of these codes will be found in your header.php file.
<?php bloginfo('name'); ?> – Title of the Blog, or Blog Name
<?php wp_title(); ?> – Title of a Specific Page
<?php bloginfo('url'); ?> – Exact URL for the Site
<?php bloginfo('description'); ?> – Site’s Description
<?php bloginfo('template_url'); ?> – Location of Site’s Theme File
<?php bloginfo('stylesheet_url'); ?> – Link to the Style.css location
<?php bloginfo('rss2_url'); ?> – RSS Feed URL for the Site
<?php bloginfo('pingback_url'); ?> – Pingback URL for the site
<?php bloginfo('version'); ?> – WordPress Version Number
Codes for Other Template Files
Codes below will be seen across all template files such as single.php, index.php, page.php and so on. Its really easy to call on these codes to make your theme dynamic when coding it.
<?php get_header(); ?> – Displays Header.php file content
<?php get_footer(); ?> – Displays Footer.php file content
<?php get_sidebar(); ?> – Displays Sidebar.php file content
<?php comments_template(); ?> – Displays Comment.php file content
<?php the_content(); ?> – Displays the Content of the Post
<?php the_excerpt(); ?> – Displays the excerpt that is used in Posts
<?php the_title(); ?> – Title of the Specific Post
<?php the_permalink() ?> – Link of the Specific Post
<?php the_category(', ') ?> – Category of a Specific Post
<?php the_author(); ?> – Author of the Specific Post
<?php the_ID(); ?> – ID of a Specific Post
<?php edit_post_link(); ?> – Edit link for a Post
<?php next_post_link(' %link ') ?> – URL of the Next Page
<?php previous_post_link('%link') ?> – URL of the Previous Page
<?php get_links_list(); ?> – Lists all links in Blogroll
<?php wp_list_pages(); ?> – Lists all Pages
<?php wp_get_archives() ?> – List Archive for the Site
<?php wp_list_cats(); ?> – Lists all Categories
<?php get_calendar(); ?> – Displays the Built in Calendar
<?php wp_register(); ?> – Displays Register Link
<?php wp_loginout(); ?> – Displays Login/Logout Link only to Registered Users
Hopefully this has helped you guys. Please spread it around by sharing it with your friends. Bookmark this page to delicious and tweet it.
Thanks for the great tutorial. I recommend the tutorial to anyone trying to learn WordPress.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for a very helpful article. Just want I have been looking for.
Thanks.
Ben
what is – Site’s Description
I think it is
what is “<?php bloginfo(%u2019description%u2019); ?> – Site’s Description” ? I think it is “<?php bloginfo(‘description’); ?>”
That’s great useful cheet sheet when you are doing editing in themes. Thanks
Fantastic, I’ve been looking for an easy WordPress cheatsheet for a while, thanks for doing this, makes life a lot easier and I can get a bit more creative. WordPress has such a lot of power under the hood.
this is gr8 for beginner
This is SO bookmarked!
Thanks.
Thanks this details.
Yeah, very useful. Thank you.
Thank you for the Codes in Header.php part, Very easy to understand and VERY useful! thank you for this.
Wow….thats what i was looking for since days.
thanks a lot !
This is great, Thanks.
Great info! bookmarked
Excellent WP theme cheat sheet, going to bookmark it (and of course tweet it). Thanks!
Very Useful, just printed it.
These shortcodes are just what I was looking for to start work on some new themes.. thanks for the post and keep up the good work!
Yes exactly. This post has solved out and let us (beginners) start working instantly on new ideas
This is very useful thanks.
Retweeted this for you. Just about to get a blog setup for myself, so this site has been very useful.
Aah! Bookmarking this right away..
Referring the default theme for these small details is now history!
Thank you people.
Cool, Thanks for sharing, consider it tweeted