Getting Into The Loop

Getting Into The Loop mitcho (Michael Erlewine) http://mitcho.com January 23, 2010 WordCamp Boston

Today • Introduction • Loop basics • Custom queries • Method 1: Roll your own query • Method 2: Filter every query • Next steps

Today NOTE: • Will link to slides and code later on http://mitcho.com/blog/ • Please rate later on SpeakerRate (ﬁnd link on the blog)

Introduction

Introduction • Hi, I’m mitcho.

Introduction • Hi, I’m mitcho. • Linguist, coder, teacher.

Introduction • Hi, I’m mitcho. • Linguist, coder, teacher. • At MIT. Previously at Mozilla. Now working with Automattic.

Introduction • Hi, I’m mitcho. • Linguist, coder, teacher. • At MIT. Previously at Mozilla. Now working with Automattic. • Programming PHP/MySQL since 2002?

Introduction • Hi, I’m mitcho. • Linguist, coder, teacher. • At MIT. Previously at Mozilla. Now working with Automattic. • Programming PHP/MySQL since 2002? • Blogging (off and on) since 2007.

Introduction • Hi, I’m mitcho. • Linguist, coder, teacher. • At MIT. Previously at Mozilla. Now working with Automattic. • Programming PHP/MySQL since 2002? • Blogging (off and on) since 2007. • http://mitcho.com; @mitchoyoshitaka

Introduction

Introduction • Yet Another Related Posts Plugin

Introduction • Yet Another Related Posts Plugin • ...aka YARPP

Introduction • Yet Another Related Posts Plugin • ...aka YARPP • As seen on Laughing Squid, ma.tt...

Introduction • Yet Another Related Posts Plugin • ...aka YARPP • As seen on Laughing Squid, ma.tt... • Over 350k downloads

Introduction • Yet Another Related Posts Plugin • ...aka YARPP • As seen on Laughing Squid, ma.tt... • Over 350k downloads • http://mitcho.com/code/yarpp or search for “YARPP”; @yarpp

The Loop

The Loop • “The Loop” is the mechanism by which posts are called from the database and then displayed.

The Loop • “The Loop” is the mechanism by which posts are called from the database and then displayed. • On many pages—like the index or archives—it “loops” through each post.

The simplest Loop get_header(); if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); the_content(); endwhile; endif; get_sidebar(); get_footer();

The simplest Loop get_header(); if (have_posts()) : { while (have_posts()) : the_post(); “The Loop” the_content(); endwhile; endif; get_sidebar(); get_footer();

The simplest Loop get_header(); if (have_posts()) : { while (have_posts()) : “The Loop” the_post(); Sets up the post the_content(); endwhile; endif; get_sidebar(); get_footer();

The simplest Loop get_header(); if (have_posts()) : { while (have_posts()) : “The Loop” the_post(); Sets up the post the_content(); endwhile; endif; get_sidebar(); get_footer(); Every theme’s PHP ﬁles are built on this basic structure.

The Loop if there are posts while there are posts get the post do stuff with it end while end if

The Loop if there are posts { while there are posts get the post “The Loop” do stuff with it end while end if

The Loop

The Loop • The Loop is where you can use Template Tags.

The Loop • The Loop is where you can use Template Tags. • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Tags

The Loop • The Loop is where you can use Template Tags. • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Tags • It’s the the_post() call that makes that possible.

The Loop if there are posts while there are posts get the post do stuff with it end while end if CC BY ﬂickr.com/photos/myklroventine/ 1430113497/

The Loop But mommy, where do posts come from? if there are posts while there are posts get the post do stuff with it end while end if CC BY ﬂickr.com/photos/myklroventine/ 1430113497/

Every Loop has a query

Every Loop has a query • Regularly, WordPress chooses the right template ﬁle and query based on your URL.

Every Loop has a query • Regularly, WordPress chooses the right template ﬁle and query based on your URL. • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Hierarchy

Every Loop has a query • Regularly, WordPress chooses the right template ﬁle and query based on your URL. • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Hierarchy • /archives/123 → single post

Every Loop has a query • Regularly, WordPress chooses the right template ﬁle and query based on your URL. • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Hierarchy • /archives/123 → single post • /archives→ archives

Every Loop has a query • Regularly, WordPress chooses the right template ﬁle and query based on your URL. • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Hierarchy • /archives/123 → single post • /archives→ archives • /tags/chicken→ all chicken articles

Customizing The Loop

Customizing The Loop • Themes control how information is presented...

Customizing The Loop • Themes control how information is presented... • The query controls what information is presented.

Custom queries

Custom queries Possible applications:

Custom queries Possible applications: • Create custom feeds/displays

Custom queries Possible applications: • Create custom feeds/displays • ephramzerb.com/projects/feed- wrangler/

Custom queries Possible applications: • Create custom feeds/displays • ephramzerb.com/projects/feed- wrangler/ • Pull information on other posts from within the theme’s Loop

Custom queries Possible applications: • Create custom feeds/displays • ephramzerb.com/projects/feed- wrangler/ • Pull information on other posts from within the theme’s Loop • Customize what information is displayed globally

Custom queries Possible applications: • Create custom feeds/displays • ephramzerb.com/projects/feed- wrangler/ • Pull information on other posts Today’s from within the theme’s Loop examples • Customize what information is displayed globally

Roll your own query

Roll your own query EX:

Roll your own query EX: • Pull information on other posts from within the theme’s Loop

Roll your own query EX: • Pull information on other posts from within the theme’s Loop • Display other posts with a speciﬁc criteria, like a tag.

Roll your own query EX: • Pull information on other posts from within the theme’s Loop • Display other posts with a speciﬁc criteria, like a tag. • Wrap it up in a shortcode [others]

Roll your own query

Roll your own query The idea:

Roll your own query The idea: • Create a new WP_Query object.

Roll your own query The idea: • Create a new WP_Query object. • Given a $tag...

Roll your own query The idea: • Create a new WP_Query object. • Given a $tag... • new WP_Query(array('tag'=> $tag))

Roll your own query The idea: • Create a new WP_Query object. • Given a $tag... • new WP_Query(array('tag'=> $tag)) • Call it $my_query

Roll your own query The idea: • Create a new WP_Query object. • Given a $tag... • new WP_Query(array('tag'=> $tag)) • Call it $my_query • Create a Loop for $my_query

Roll your own query The idea: • Create a new WP_Query object. • Given a $tag... • new WP_Query(array('tag'=> $tag)) • Call it $my_query • Create a Loop for $my_query • Do stuff in it

Make your own Loop Make sure the Loop controllers are using $my_query, not the default ($wp_query) if ($my_query->have_posts()) : while ($my_query->have_posts()) : $my_query->the_post(); the_content(); endwhile; endif;

The result:

More about WP_Query

More about WP_Query Learn more from the Codex:

More about WP_Query Learn more from the Codex: • More information on the parameters:

More about WP_Query Learn more from the Codex: • More information on the parameters: • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Tags/query_posts

More about WP_Query Learn more from the Codex: • More information on the parameters: • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Tags/query_posts • Tips and examples:

More about WP_Query Learn more from the Codex: • More information on the parameters: • codex.wordpress.org/ Template_Tags/query_posts • Tips and examples: • codex.wordpress.org/The_Loop

Filter every query

Filter every query EX:

Filter every query EX: • Customize what information is displayed globally.

Filter every query EX: • Customize what information is displayed globally. • Hide all my tweets.

Filter every query

Filter every query The idea:

Filter every query The idea: • Use the request ﬁlter to specify that we don’t want results from the “tweet” category (#10)

The result:

Aside: the tools Turn up the fire! • Firefox getfirefox.com • Firebug getfirebug.com • FirePHP firephp.org

Aside: the tools Turn up the fire! • Firefox getfirefox.com • Firebug getfirebug.com • FirePHP firephp.org The “Pyrotrinity”

FirePHP Takes a moment to set up:

FirePHP Takes a moment to set up: Use it like this:

Next steps

Next steps Hit the docs:

Next steps Hit the docs: • PHP manual: php.net

Next steps Hit the docs: • PHP manual: php.net • Codex: codex.wordpress.org

Next steps Hit the docs: • PHP manual: php.net • Codex: codex.wordpress.org • The source: core.trac.wordpress.org

Next steps Hit the docs: • PHP manual: php.net • Codex: codex.wordpress.org • The source: core.trac.wordpress.org • grep it!

Next steps

Next steps Learn SQL

Next steps Learn SQL • The language that WordPress’s raw database calls are in.

Next steps Learn SQL • The language that WordPress’s raw database calls are in. • It’s really not that scary.

Next steps Learn SQL • The language that WordPress’s raw database calls are in. • It’s really not that scary. • Lets you write ﬁlters directly on different parts of the query.

Next steps Learn SQL • The language that WordPress’s raw database calls are in. • It’s really not that scary. • Lets you write ﬁlters directly on different parts of the query. • EX: mitcho.com/blog/how-to/external- orders-in-wordpress-queries/

Thank you! Questions? Slides will be up on mitcho.com/blog/. See you at the Genius Bar! mitcho (Michael Erlewine) mitcho.com; @mitchoyoshitaka

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Getting Into The Loop

by Michael Yoshitaka Erlewine

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