“Custom Post Type UI was released 12 years ago today. With over 1 million active installations and over 10 million downloads, it's safe to say CPTUI will continue to be a widely used and important plugin for WordPress development.” –Brad Williams.
WordPress makes it easy to post content, such as audio-visual posts, and publish web pages. But what happens if you are an online store or portfolio website and need to customize your posts? Does WordPress facilitate post-customization?
Yes, WordPress's custom post-type plugin enables such a function. That is because WordPress is an advanced interface that adapts and facilitates the inclusion of various content types when posts, media, and webpages are insufficient for your business.
So, What Is a Custom Post Type In WordPress?
While default and page posts suffice for small businesses, large businesses require more powerful tools to transition from an ordinary blogging site to a sophisticated and more defined Content Management System (CMS).
That is why they need custom post types from WordPress, which provides multiple options essential to create diverse content types.
WordPress has been on top in CMS since the launch of WordPress 1.5 on February 17, 2005. It provides static page support enabling web developers to create post_type database fields.
Including the post-type data field with the wp_insert_post() function makes WordPress functions flexible and requires less coding, but more was needed for custom post types.
In version 2.8, the register_post_type() function helped WordPress to achieve its goal of becoming a full-fledged CMS platform. With version 5.9, the Custom Post Type UI Extended plugin transforms a regular post into a custom one.
While a web developer could use WordPress to post regular posts earlier, the updated version facilitates custom-type posts for online stores to display products, books, and much more.
How Does Custom Post Type Boost WordPress Website Performance?
Install the custom post-type plugin properly, and it will power up your WordPress website as follows:
- Suppose you want to edit the screen of a post; then you only need to add meta boxes. This custom post-type feature adds to its usability and makes the entire process smoother and more manageable
- It will display as a separate menu on the back end and have multiple post options making it easy to renew or add new content in diverse formats
- The web developer can use custom post types to create tags, custom taxonomies, or categories
- By placing the custom post type in the menu, the web developer can perform multiple modifications, such as the choice of searchability, the positioning of the post on the menu, accessibility by user level, and much more
- The custom post type manages the diverse data requirement of multiple content types by using meta boxes
- It simplifies posting, and you only need to type ‘HTTPS://(name of website.com/customposttype,' and the system navigates to the post type archive page. In other words, you can access all the latest posts via the custom post type only by visiting the front page
7 Custom Post Types In WordPress
The word ‘post’ generally means posting content on a website. But in WordPress, that is the content under the post in the post type. The flexibility of WordPress depends on a post type which is a storage space for a cluster of information.
You can publish content on your website by reaching out to a wordpress web development company
These companies specialize in WordPress-related functions pertaining to the backend and frontend aspects.
The web owner stores all kinds of content customizes and organizes it, and then displays (or posts) it on the website. Each of these custom post types has a specific function to perform, which is why they differ in nature.
Default Post on WordPress – Posts, Page, Media & Attachments
Most of the information on a website is posts type, which should contain the valuable and latest information. Thus they are frequently updated. You can make them appear in the archives by categorizing them or tagging them.
1. Posts
WordPress automatically installs posts and page types while setting up the website. These post types help differentiate the content in the form of website pages from the posts.
If you are an e-commerce website, you can install product post type while installing WooCommerce. They provide you with built-in themes and plugins that help in the effective display of products.
2. Pages
You will find some informative pages on a website, such as about us or product information. These are not posts but web pages. Content of this type is static, rarely changes, and remains on the website for reasonably long periods.
The only way for visitors to access such content is via the Webpages' navigation menu. You cannot archive this content post, type, tag, or categorize it.
3. Attachments
Attachments in WordPress are not media files but data file that web owner uploads to their websites.
Attachments have a unique ID, attachment page, and URL, comprising metadata with its title, brief description, and much more.
4. Revisions
When you edit your posts or webpages on WordPress, it will store the previous and current versions in the exact location under the head Revisions and Previous posts.
This feature makes it easy for the web owner to refer to older posts to revise or create better content in the future.
5. Navigation Menu
Most posts on WordPress can be revised but not the navigation menu, and the only way of editing these is through the menu screen or Customiser.
Post types are just like other post types, and the WordPress database saves every entry on the menu as if it is a post type. Each item in your navigation menu is held in the WordPress database as an ‘item.'
6. Custom CSS
Simplify and streamline posting on your WordPress site using Customiser to add custom CSS.
The advantage is the system uses this custom CSS post type to save your content. Each theme in your area will generate a new post (of the “custom CSS” post type), and WordPress will only use it for that theme.
Changesets
The only difference between revision and changesets is that they work for the Customizer, not the post. WordPress saves the draft as a changeset when you edit a Customiser post.
Creation Of Custom Post Types
You can make your website look professional and cater to the audience's needs by creating custom post types.
For instance, if you have a website that shares recipes, you can categorize the calorie count and the detailed information about the relevant content.
You can thus position and post content strategically on the website by creating a custom post type and using it for all the posts.
Custom Post Types User Interface Plugin—Installation And Activation
Custom Post Types UI plugin is the simplest way to add custom post types to your WordPress site.
It's a lightweight plugin with simple options and a configuration pane, and you do not need to be familiar with WordPress code or have any technical skills to use it.
Here's how to install and Activate it:
- Use your WordPress Website dashboard to add a new plugin
- You will find the custom post types plugin on the plugin page. Simplify the search by using the search box.
- Once the plugin is selected, install it.
- After you have installed the plugin, run it after activation
- If you see the welcome message on the screen, pat yourself on the back, for you have done an excellent job.
Configure Plugin For Custom Post Creation
Now that the plugin is installed, you can configure the same as follows:
- Check the CPT UI option on the WordPress dashboard, and you will find the Add/Edit Post Types option.
- You will find the following settings: Basic settings, Additional labels, and Settings. Select the basic setting.
- Assign a slug to the custom post in the post type slug field
- Add the plural and singular tag, short description, and additional label section, which only you can see.
- Decide how your post appears and configure the custom post type's properties.
- Enable archives for the custom post type.
- Check the list to select the appropriate options for your custom post.
Customization And Linkage Of Taxonomies To Relevant Custom Post Types
Use the CPT UI plugin to create custom taxonomies. You can then link them to the necessary content you want to use.
Testing Of Custom Post
Run a test to ensure that the newly installed plugin works as you want it to. Follow it up with another post.
Wrapping It Up
Worried about not getting sufficient visitors to your website while your competitors are hogging most of them. Take advantage of the custom post types on WordPress to strategically position your web content.
But I agree creating custom post types is no child's play. If you use the tips in this blog, you can use custom post types in WordPress to add power to your existing WordPress Website more effectively.
Alternatively, you can make it simple by using the help of a wordpress web development company to create custom post types to make your job easy.
