Pagination with custom queries in Wordpress

Introduction

Pagination helps split a long list of posts into smaller pages. Custom queries let you control which posts to show.

You want to show posts from a specific category with pages.

You need to display search results with page numbers.

You want to list custom post types with pagination.

You want to control how many posts appear per page.

You want users to navigate through filtered posts easily.

Syntax

Wordpress

<?php
$paged = (get_query_var('paged')) ? get_query_var('paged') : 1;
$args = [
  'post_type' => 'post',
  'posts_per_page' => 5,
  'paged' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
if ($query->have_posts()) :
  while ($query->have_posts()) : $query->the_post();
    // Display post content
  endwhile;
  // Pagination links
  previous_posts_link('Previous');
  next_posts_link('Next', $query->max_num_pages);
endif;
wp_reset_postdata();
?>

Use paged to track the current page number.

Always reset post data after custom queries with wp_reset_postdata().

Examples

Query posts from the 'news' category with 3 posts per page.

Wordpress

<?php
$paged = max(1, get_query_var('paged'));
$args = [
  'category_name' => 'news',
  'posts_per_page' => 3,
  'paged' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
?>

Query 10 'product' custom post types per page.

Wordpress

<?php
$paged = get_query_var('paged') ?: 1;
$args = [
  'post_type' => 'product',
  'posts_per_page' => 10,
  'paged' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
?>

Sample Program

This code shows 2 posts per page with Previous and Next links to navigate pages.

Wordpress

<?php
/* Template for paginated custom query */
$paged = get_query_var('paged') ? get_query_var('paged') : 1;
$args = [
  'post_type' => 'post',
  'posts_per_page' => 2,
  'paged' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
if ($query->have_posts()) :
  while ($query->have_posts()) : $query->the_post();
    echo '<h2>' . get_the_title() . '</h2>';
  endwhile;
  echo '<div class="pagination">';
  previous_posts_link('Previous');
  next_posts_link('Next', $query->max_num_pages);
  echo '</div>';
else :
  echo 'No posts found.';
endif;
wp_reset_postdata();
?>

Important Notes

Make sure your theme supports pagination links for best results.

Use max(1, get_query_var('paged')) to avoid page 0 issues.

Custom queries do not affect the main query, so use wp_reset_postdata() to restore global post data.

Summary

Pagination splits posts into pages for easier reading.

Custom queries let you choose which posts to show.

Use paged parameter and reset post data after your query.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using the paged parameter in a custom WordPress query?

easy

A. To order posts by date

B. To filter posts by category

C. To specify which page of posts to display for pagination

D. To limit the number of posts shown on the homepage

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of paged in queries

   The paged parameter tells WordPress which page number of posts to fetch, enabling pagination.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other query parameters

   Other parameters like category or order control filtering and sorting, not pagination.

3. Final Answer:

   To specify which page of posts to display for pagination -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   paged controls page number in pagination [OK]

Hint: Remember: paged means page number for posts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing paged with category filters
• Using paged to limit posts per page
• Ignoring the need to reset post data after custom queries

2. Which of the following is the correct way to include the paged parameter in a custom WP_Query to enable pagination?

easy

A. "page" => 1

B. "paged" => get_query_var('paged') ? get_query_var('paged') : 1

C. "paged" => 0

D. "pagination" => true

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct syntax for paged

   The correct way is to get the current page number using get_query_var('paged'), defaulting to 1 if not set.

2. Step 2: Check other options for correctness

   Options A, C, and D use wrong keys or values that won't work for pagination.

3. Final Answer:

   "paged" => get_query_var('paged') ? get_query_var('paged') : 1 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use paged with get_query_var for pagination [OK]

Hint: Use get_query_var('paged') or default to 1 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using page instead of paged
• Setting paged to 0 disables pagination
• Using non-existent pagination parameter

3. Given this code snippet, what will be the output if the current page is 3?

$paged = get_query_var('paged') ? get_query_var('paged') : 1;
$args = [
  'post_type' => 'post',
  'posts_per_page' => 5,
  'paged' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
echo $query->query_vars['paged'];

medium

A. 1

B. 5

C. 0

D. 3

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand get_query_var('paged') behavior

   If the current page is 3, get_query_var('paged') returns 3, so $paged is 3.

2. Step 2: Check what is echoed

   The code echoes $query->query_vars['paged'], which is set to 3.

3. Final Answer:

   3 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Current page number echoed = 3 [OK]

Hint: Echo query_vars['paged'] to see current page [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming default page 1 always prints
• Confusing posts per page with page number
• Expecting total posts count instead of page number

4. Identify the error in this pagination code snippet:

$paged = get_query_var('paged');
$args = [
  'post_type' => 'post',
  'posts_per_page' => 10,
  'paged' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
// Loop here
wp_reset_query();

medium

A. Missing default value for $paged, may cause page 0

B. Using wp_reset_query() instead of wp_reset_postdata()

C. Incorrect post type specified

D. Posts per page should be set to 5 for pagination

Solution

1. Step 1: Check $paged initialization

   $paged is set directly from get_query_var('paged') without defaulting to 1, so if no page is set, it may be 0 or empty.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other parts

   While wp_reset_postdata() is preferred after custom queries, the main error affecting pagination is missing default for $paged.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing default value for $paged, may cause page 0 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Always default $paged to 1 if empty [OK]

Hint: Always default $paged to 1 to avoid page 0 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not setting default page number
• Confusing wp_reset_query() with wp_reset_postdata()
• Assuming posts per page must be 5

5. You want to create a paginated list of 'product' posts showing 8 per page. Which code snippet correctly sets up the custom query and pagination, including resetting post data?

hard

A. $paged = get_query_var('paged') ?: 1;
$args = [
'post_type' => 'product',
'posts_per_page' => 8,
'paged' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
if ($query->have_posts()) {
while ($query->have_posts()) {
$query->the_post();
the_title();
}
}
wp_reset_postdata();

B. $paged = 1;
$args = [
'post_type' => 'product',
'posts_per_page' => 8
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
while ($query->have_posts()) {
$query->the_post();
the_title();
}
wp_reset_query();

C. $paged = get_query_var('page') ?: 1;
$args = [
'post_type' => 'product',
'posts_per_page' => 8,
'paged' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
while ($query->have_posts()) {
$query->the_post();
the_title();
}
wp_reset_postdata();

D. $paged = get_query_var('paged') ?: 1;
$args = [
'post_type' => 'product',
'posts_per_page' => 8,
'page' => $paged
];
$query = new WP_Query($args);
if ($query->have_posts()) {
while ($query->have_posts()) {
$query->the_post();
the_title();
}
}
wp_reset_postdata();

Solution

1. Step 1: Correctly get current page number

   Use get_query_var('paged') ?: 1 to get current page or default to 1.

2. Step 2: Set query args and reset post data

   Use 'paged' => $paged (not 'page'), and call wp_reset_postdata() after the loop.

3. Step 3: Verify loop structure

   Check that the loop uses have_posts() and the_post() correctly.

4. Final Answer:

   Code snippet D correctly sets up pagination and resets post data -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Use paged param and wp_reset_postdata() [OK]

Hint: Use paged param and reset post data after loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'page' instead of 'paged' in query args
• Not resetting post data after custom query
• Hardcoding page number to 1 disables pagination