<\/p>\n
WordPress template hierarchy determines which PHP template file displays content based on requested URL, following predictable fallback pattern from specific to general templates. From single-post-slug.php specificity to index.php fallback, understanding template hierarchy enables precise control over content presentation across post types, taxonomies, and page templates. This comprehensive guide teaches hierarchy visualization, template selection logic, conditional tags, custom template creation, and debugging techniques identifying active templates.<\/p>\n
Request Flow<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Fallback System<\/strong>:<\/p>\n WordPress searches from most specific to least specific until finding template file.<\/p>\n Example Hierarchy<\/strong> (single post):<\/p>\n Ultimate Fallback<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Required<\/strong>: Every theme must have Example index.php<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Hierarchy<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Examples<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Post slug Custom post type single.php<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n
example.com\/category\/news\/<\/code><\/li>\n\n
category-news.php<\/code> (category slug)<\/li>\ncategory-5.php<\/code> (category ID)<\/li>\ncategory.php<\/code> (generic category)<\/li>\narchive.php<\/code> (generic archive)<\/li>\nindex.php<\/code> (fallback)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nsingle-{post-type}-{slug}.php\n\u2192 single-{post-type}.php\n\u2192 single.php\n\u2192 singular.php\n\u2192 index.php<\/code><\/pre>\nIndex.php – The Fallback<\/h2>\n
index.php<\/code> displays content when no specific template exists.<\/p>\nindex.php<\/code>.<\/p>\n<\/a><?php<\/span> get_header();<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/a><main id="main"<\/span>><\/span>\n<\/a> <?<\/span>php<\/span>\n<\/a> if<\/span> (<\/span>have_posts())<\/span> :<\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> while<\/span> (<\/span>have_posts())<\/span> :<\/span>\n<\/a> the_post();<\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> get_template_part(<\/span>'template-parts\/content'<\/span>,<\/span> get_post_type());<\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> endwhile<\/span>;<\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> endif<\/span>;<\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a><\/main><\/span>\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/a><?<\/span>php get_sidebar();<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a><?php<\/span> get_footer();<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\nSingle Post Templates<\/h2>\n
single-{post-type}-{slug}.php\nsingle-{post-type}.php\nsingle.php\nsingular.php\nindex.php<\/code><\/pre>\nhello-world<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n
single-post-hello-world.php<\/code> (most specific)<\/li>\nsingle-post.php<\/code><\/li>\nsingle.php<\/code><\/li>\nsingular.php<\/code><\/li>\nindex.php<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nportfolio<\/code> with slug web-design<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n
single-portfolio-web-design.php<\/code><\/li>\nsingle-portfolio.php<\/code><\/li>\nsingle.php<\/code><\/li>\nsingular.php<\/code><\/li>\nindex.php<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a><?php<\/span> get_header();<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/a><main id="primary"<\/span>><\/span>\n<\/a> <?<\/span>php<\/span>\n<\/a> while<\/span> (<\/span>have_posts())<\/span> :<\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> the_post();<\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> <article id="post-<?php the_ID(); ?>"<\/span> <?<\/span>php post_class();<\/span> ?><\/span>><\/span>\n<\/a> <header<\/span> class<\/span>="entry-header"<\/span>><\/span>\n<\/a> <?<\/span>php the_title(<\/span>'<h1>'<\/span>,<\/span> '<\/h1>'<\/span>);<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> <div class<\/span>="entry-meta"<\/span>><\/span>\n<\/a> Posted on <?<\/span>php echo<\/span> get_the_date();<\/span> ?><\/span> by <?<\/span>php the_author();<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> <\/div><\/span>\n<\/a> <\/header<\/span>><\/span>\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/a> <?<\/span>php if<\/span> (<\/span>has_post_thumbnail())<\/span> :<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> <?<\/span>php the_post_thumbnail(<\/span>'large'<\/span>);<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> <?<\/span>php endif<\/span>;<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/a> <div class<\/span>="entry-content"<\/span>><\/span>\n<\/a> <?<\/span>php the_content();<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> <\/div><\/span>\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/a> <footer class<\/span>="entry-footer"<\/span>><\/span>\n<\/a> <?<\/span>php the_tags(<\/span>'<span class="tags">'<\/span>,<\/span> ', '<\/span>,<\/span> '<\/span>'<\/span>);<\/span> ?><\/span><\/span>\n<\/a> <\/footer><\/span>\n<\/a> <\/article><\/span>\n<\/a><\/span>\n