{"id":4318,"date":"2025-02-05T18:20:08","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T00:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/blog\/wp_query-in-wordpress\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T22:12:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T03:12:33","slug":"wp_query-in-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/blog\/wp_query-in-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"Perform Queries: WordPress WP_Query"},"content":{"rendered":"

The database<\/a> that feeds your WordPress website is full of valuable information. This is what makes it possible to filter your posts and pages by many different variables. If what you want to display is not part of your theme, however, there are other ways of using that data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where WP_Query<\/a> comes in. This is a PHP class<\/a> that makes use of a wide variety of parameters. Consequently, it enables you to pull data from the WordPress database for use or display on your website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll provide a deeper understanding of the WP_Query class and how it can be used. We\u2019ll also walk you through some important steps to follow when using it. If you\u2019re ready, let\u2019s dive right in! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is WP_Query?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned, WP_Query is a PHP class used by the WordPress database. This particular class can do several things, but primarily it\u2019s used to pull posts from the database. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As its name indicates, it makes a query based on the criteria you set for it. Since there are a lot of parameters<\/a> you can use with WP_Query in WordPress, you can pull and display posts in a number of unique ways. We\u2019ll explore those options in greater detail later in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Use WP_Query<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re just learning the various aspects of the WordPress codebase, WP_Query is a good class to get started with. Now, let\u2019s break down four different ways you can use it on your website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Get Started with a Custom Loop <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways to get to know the WP_Query call is through the WordPress Loop<\/a>. If you\u2019re not familiar with what the Loop is, it\u2019s an important concept to read up on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Loop is what calls to the database asking for post content, and displays the data that is returned. It also functions based on set parameters, such as how many posts you want your site to display on a single page (something you can configure in your Settings > Reading<\/em> menu).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The very basics of the Loop look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n

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<?php\nif ( have_posts() ) :\n    while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();\n        \/\/ Display post content\n    endwhile;\nendif;\n?><\/code><\/pre>\n\t
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