Display Specific Taxonomy Terms In WordPress

Aug 19, 2025 by Sebastian Müller 45 views

Display Specific Taxonomy: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey guys! Ever found yourself needing to display a specific taxonomy term on your WordPress site? Maybe you have a custom post type called "LOCATIONS" and a custom taxonomy called "LANDMARKS," and you want to showcase specific landmarks on different pages or posts. Sounds familiar? Well, you've come to the right place! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you can display your desired taxonomy terms with ease. Let's dive in!

Understanding Taxonomies in WordPress

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's make sure we're all on the same page about what taxonomies are. Taxonomies are essentially ways to group and categorize your content in WordPress. Think of them as the organizational backbone of your site. The two most common taxonomies you're probably familiar with are categories and tags. Categories are typically used for broad groupings, while tags are for more specific keywords or topics. However, WordPress allows you to create custom taxonomies, which is where things get really interesting. This flexibility lets you tailor your content organization to perfectly match your needs.

Custom Taxonomies: Unleashing the Power

Custom taxonomies are where the real magic happens. They allow you to create unique ways to categorize your content beyond the standard categories and tags. In our example, the "LANDMARKS" taxonomy is a custom taxonomy. This is incredibly useful when you have specific types of content, like our "LOCATIONS" custom post type. You might have different types of landmarks, such as historical buildings, museums, parks, and so on. By creating a custom taxonomy, you can easily group and display these landmarks in a structured manner. This not only helps your users navigate your site more effectively but also boosts your SEO by providing clear signals to search engines about the content on your pages.

Why Display Specific Taxonomy Terms?

So, why would you want to display specific taxonomy terms? There are tons of reasons! Imagine you're creating a page about a particular city. You might want to highlight the most famous landmarks in that city. By displaying specific terms from your "LANDMARKS" taxonomy, you can easily link these landmarks to their respective pages or posts. This creates a seamless user experience and keeps visitors engaged. Another scenario is if you're building a directory website. You might want to display specific categories or subcategories of businesses or services. Displaying specific taxonomy terms allows you to create dynamic and informative content that caters to your audience's needs.

Methods for Displaying Specific Taxonomy Terms

Now that we understand the importance of taxonomies and why we might want to display specific terms, let's explore the different methods we can use. There are several ways to achieve this, ranging from simple code snippets to more advanced techniques using plugins or custom functions. We'll cover a few popular methods, so you can choose the one that best suits your technical skills and project requirements.

1. Using the `get_term_link()` Function

One of the simplest ways to display a specific taxonomy term is by using the get_term_link() function in WordPress. This function retrieves the URL for a specific term, which you can then use to create a link in your content. To use this function, you'll need to know the term's ID or slug and the taxonomy name. Let's break down how this works with an example.

<?php
$term = get_term_by( 'slug', 'eiffel-tower', 'landmarks' );
if ( $term ) {
    $term_link = get_term_link( $term );
    if ( ! is_wp_error( $term_link ) ) {
        echo '<a href="' . esc_url( $term_link ) . '">' . $term->name . '</a>';
    }
}
?>

In this code snippet, we're using get_term_by() to retrieve the term object based on its slug ('eiffel-tower') and taxonomy ('landmarks'). If the term is found, we use get_term_link() to get the URL for the term. Then, we create an HTML link using the term's name and URL. This method is straightforward and effective for displaying individual terms within your content.

2. Using a Custom Query with `WP_Query`

If you need more control over how the taxonomy terms are displayed, you can use a custom query with the WP_Query class. This allows you to retrieve posts associated with specific terms and display them in a customized way. This method is particularly useful if you want to display a list of posts related to a particular landmark, for example.

<?php
$args = array(
    'post_type' => 'locations',
    'tax_query' => array(
        array(
            'taxonomy' => 'landmarks',
            'field'    => 'slug',
            'terms'    => 'eiffel-tower',
        ),
    ),
);

$query = new WP_Query( $args );

if ( $query->have_posts() ) {
    echo '<ul>';
    while ( $query->have_posts() ) {
        $query->the_post();
        echo '<li><a href="' . get_permalink() . '">' . get_the_title() . '</a></li>';
    }
    echo '</ul>';
    wp_reset_postdata();
} else {
    echo '<p>No locations found for this landmark.</p>';
}
?>

In this example, we're creating a WP_Query object with specific arguments. We're specifying the post type ('locations') and using the tax_query parameter to filter posts based on the 'landmarks' taxonomy. We're using the 'slug' field to match the term 'eiffel-tower'. The code then loops through the posts found and displays them as a list of links. This method gives you a lot of flexibility in how you display the related content.

3. Utilizing Plugins for Advanced Display Options

For those who prefer a more user-friendly approach or need advanced display options, plugins can be a lifesaver. There are several WordPress plugins that make it incredibly easy to display specific taxonomy terms in various ways. These plugins often come with drag-and-drop interfaces and customization options, allowing you to create stunning displays without writing any code.

a. TaxoPress

TaxoPress is a powerful plugin that offers a wide range of features for managing and displaying taxonomies. It allows you to create tag clouds, lists of terms, and even related terms. With TaxoPress, you can easily display specific terms from your "LANDMARKS" taxonomy on any page or post. The plugin's intuitive interface makes it simple to configure the display settings to your liking. You can control the number of terms displayed, the order in which they appear, and even customize the styling.

b. Custom Post Type UI (CPT UI)

While Custom Post Type UI (CPT UI) is primarily known for creating custom post types and taxonomies, it also offers some basic display options. You can use CPT UI to generate shortcodes for displaying terms from your taxonomies. This is a handy option if you need a quick and easy way to display terms without delving into code. However, for more advanced display options, you might want to combine CPT UI with another plugin or custom code.

c. Toolset Types

Toolset Types is a comprehensive plugin that allows you to create custom post types, taxonomies, and fields. It also offers powerful display options, including the ability to create custom views and templates for displaying your content. With Toolset Types, you can design highly customized displays for your taxonomy terms, ensuring they perfectly match your website's design and functionality. This plugin is a great choice if you need a lot of control over the look and feel of your taxonomy displays.

Practical Implementation: Displaying Landmarks

Let's put everything we've learned into practice with a real-world example. Imagine you have a page dedicated to the city of Paris. You want to display a list of famous landmarks in Paris, using your "LANDMARKS" taxonomy. Here's how you can do it using a combination of the methods we've discussed.

Identify the Landmark Terms: First, make sure you have the relevant landmark terms created in your "LANDMARKS" taxonomy. For example, you might have terms like "Eiffel Tower," "Louvre Museum," and "Notre-Dame Cathedral."
Choose a Display Method: Decide which method best suits your needs. For a simple list of links, the get_term_link() function might be sufficient. For a more complex display with related posts, you might opt for a custom query with WP_Query. If you prefer a visual approach, a plugin like TaxoPress could be the way to go.

Implement the Code or Plugin: If you're using code, insert the relevant snippets into your page template or use a plugin to create the display. For example, using the get_term_link() method, you could add the following code to your page template:

<?php
$landmarks = array( 'eiffel-tower', 'louvre-museum', 'notre-dame-cathedral' );
echo '<h2>Famous Landmarks in Paris</h2>';
echo '<ul>';
foreach ( $landmarks as $landmark_slug ) {
    $term = get_term_by( 'slug', $landmark_slug, 'landmarks' );
    if ( $term ) {
        $term_link = get_term_link( $term );
        if ( ! is_wp_error( $term_link ) ) {
            echo '<li><a href="' . esc_url( $term_link ) . '">' . $term->name . '</a></li>';
        }
    }
}
echo '</ul>';
?>

This code snippet creates a list of links to the specified landmarks.

Customize the Display: Depending on your chosen method, you can further customize the display to match your website's design. You might want to add CSS styling, change the order of the terms, or include additional information about each landmark.

Best Practices for Displaying Taxonomies

To wrap things up, let's cover some best practices for displaying taxonomies on your WordPress site. Following these tips will ensure that your taxonomy displays are effective, user-friendly, and SEO-friendly.

Use Clear and Descriptive Term Names: Make sure your taxonomy terms have clear and descriptive names. This helps users understand what each term represents and makes it easier for them to find the information they're looking for. For example, instead of using vague terms like "Category 1" or "Tag A," use specific names like "Historical Buildings" or "Paris Landmarks."
Organize Terms Logically: Structure your taxonomies in a logical and intuitive way. This makes it easier for users to navigate your site and find the content they need. Consider using hierarchical taxonomies (like categories with subcategories) to create a clear organizational structure.
Display Terms Strategically: Think carefully about where you display your taxonomy terms. Consider placing them in prominent locations, such as sidebars, footers, or within your content. Make sure the displays are visually appealing and don't clutter your pages.
Use Links to Improve Navigation: Always link your taxonomy terms to their respective archive pages. This allows users to easily browse all content related to a particular term. Linking terms also improves your site's internal linking structure, which is beneficial for SEO.
Optimize for SEO: Use your taxonomy terms to improve your site's SEO. Include relevant keywords in your term names and descriptions. Use your taxonomies to create a clear site structure, which helps search engines understand the content on your pages.

Conclusion

Displaying specific taxonomy terms is a powerful way to organize and showcase your content in WordPress. Whether you're using custom post types and taxonomies or working with the default categories and tags, understanding how to display terms effectively is crucial for creating a user-friendly and SEO-optimized website. By following the methods and best practices outlined in this guide, you'll be well-equipped to display your taxonomy terms with confidence. So go ahead, guys, and start exploring the possibilities! You've got this!