How To Get Post Title In WordPress

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If you’re a developer working with WordPress, there’s a high chance that you’ll need to retrieve the title of a post at some point. In this article, we’re going to explore different methods to get the post title in WordPress, which will allow you to display it on your website or for your own custom purposes.

Method 1: Using the_title()

One of the easiest ways to get the post title in WordPress is by using the built-in function the_title(). This function is designed to be used inside The Loop, which is the central part of WordPress themes that display posts and pages. Here’s how you can use the_title() function:

Step 1: Locate the Loop

Open your theme’s PHP file where you want to display the post title (usually single.php or index.php) and locate The Loop, which starts with a line that looks like this:

if ( have_posts() ) :

Step 2: Add the_title() function

Inside The Loop, you can use the the_title() function to display the post title. Here’s an example of how to add the_title() function:

    if ( have_posts() ) :
        while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();
            the_title('<h2>', '</h2>');
        endwhile;
    endif;

In the above example, we’re using the_title() function with two parameters: the opening and closing HTML tags. This will wrap the post title in an <h2> tag.

Method 2: Using get_the_title()

If you need to retrieve the post title without displaying it directly (for example, to use it as a variable), you can use the get_the_title() function. This function returns the post title as a string, so you can manipulate it or use it for other purposes.

Here’s an example of how to use the get_the_title() function:

    $post_title = get_the_title();
    echo 'The post title is: ' . $post_title;

In this example, we’re storing the post title in the $post_title variable and then displaying it using the echo statement.

Note:

When using the get_the_title() function outside of The Loop, you’ll need to pass the post ID as a parameter. For example:

    $post_id = 123;
    $post_title = get_the_title($post_id);
    echo 'The post title is: ' . $post_title;

That’s it! With these two methods, you should be able to get the post title in WordPress whenever you need it. Both functions are very straightforward and easy to use, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

Happy coding!