06 - WP_Post Object

WP_Post Object Summary

When using WordPress functions such as get_post(), the informmation will be stored within WP_Post objects. These objects are representative of single posts or pages within a WordPress database. Each WP_Post object has properties and methods that contain information and functionality specific to that individual post.

WP_Post Object - Data Contained in the Object

There are several different variables that can be stored in a WP_Post Object. Some of those include:

• post:_author: Stores the post author's numeric ID.
• post_type: Contains the post's type.
• post_title: Stores the title of the post.
• post_date: Displays the date and time of the post.
• post_date_gmt: Displays the same content as post_date, but in GMT.
• post_content: Stores the content of the post.
• post_excerpt: Stores the user-defined excerpt of the post
• post_status: Stores the post's current status.
• comment_status: Stores information on whether the comments are open or closed on the post.
• ping_status: Stores information on whether the post is open or closed for pingbacks.
• post_password: Stores the post's password. It will return empty if the post does not have a password.
• post_parent: If the post has a parent post, this variable will return the ID of the parent post.
• post_modified: Stores the date and time that the post was last modified.
• post_modifiied_gmt: Stores the last modified date and time in GMT.
• comment_count: Stores the number of comments that have been left on the post.
• menu_order: If a menu order is defined for the post, it will display it in this variable.

WP_Post Object Role in the Page Load

The WP_Post object plays a major role in the page load process. It contains the information about data and behavior relative to the post or page being loaded. The WP_Post object is created from database query results during page requests. It then renders the content based on template functions that dictate how to display posts. It supports the conditional logic of templates, while facilitating the retrieval of additional post data, such as custom fields, etc. Lastly, it improves performance by caching WP_Post objects during page load.

Summary of the Documentation

WP_Post object plays a major role in the layout of single pages or posts within a WordPress website. Each WP_Post Object has properties and methods that structure the look, feel, and behavior of a page or post. Stored within them are several variables that structure the information and functionality. When the page loads it renders the content based on the parameters provided by the WP_Post objects, while improving the performance by caching the information.