Template parts in Wordpress - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ component_behavior

intermediate

What is the output of this WordPress template part usage?

Given the following code in a WordPress theme file:

get_template_part('content', 'single');

Assuming the theme folder contains content-single.php and content.php, which file will be loaded and displayed?

Wordpress

get_template_part('content', 'single');

A Both content-single.php and content.php are loaded and displayed.

B The file content.php is loaded and displayed.

C The file content-single.php is loaded and displayed.

D No file is loaded because get_template_part requires a full filename.

💡 Hint

Think about how WordPress looks for template parts when a slug and name are provided.

WordPress first looks for a file named {slug}-{name}.php. If it exists, it loads that file. Otherwise, it falls back to {slug}.php.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Which option correctly includes a template part with a variable passed in WordPress?

You want to include a template part template-parts/header.php and pass a variable $title to it. Which code snippet correctly does this?

A

use get_template_part with third argument:
<?php get_template_part('template-parts/header', null, ['title' => 'Welcome']); ?>

B

pass variable directly as second argument:
<?php get_template_part('template-parts/header', ['title' => 'Welcome']); ?>

C

use include with variable:
<?php include 'template-parts/header.php'; ?>

D

set query variable and then call get_template_part:
<?php set_query_var('title', 'Welcome'); get_template_part('template-parts/header'); ?>

💡 Hint

Check the WordPress 5.5+ feature for passing variables to template parts.

Since WordPress 5.5, get_template_part accepts a third argument as an array of variables to pass to the template part.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this template part not load the expected file?

Consider this code in a WordPress theme:

get_template_part('sidebar', 'footer');

The theme folder contains sidebar-footer.php but the file is not loaded. What is the most likely cause?

Wordpress

get_template_part('sidebar', 'footer');

A The file sidebar-footer.php is missing or misnamed in the theme folder.

B The function get_template_part does not accept two arguments.

C The file sidebar-footer.php must be in a subfolder named 'template-parts'.

D The second argument must be null to load sidebar-footer.php.

💡 Hint

Check the file name and location carefully.

get_template_part looks for {slug}-{name}.php in the theme root or child theme root. If the file is missing or named differently, it won't load.

❓ component_behavior

advanced

What happens if get_template_part is called with a non-existent template part?

What is the output or behavior when this code runs in a WordPress theme?

get_template_part('nonexistent-part');

Assume no file named nonexistent-part.php exists in the theme.

Wordpress

get_template_part('nonexistent-part');

A WordPress throws a fatal error and stops loading the page.

B A warning message is displayed on the page about missing template.

C WordPress loads the default index.php template instead.

D Nothing is output and the page continues loading normally.

💡 Hint

Think about how WordPress handles missing template parts silently.

get_template_part tries to include the file. If it doesn't exist, it fails silently without error or output.

❓ state_output

expert

What is the value of $color after this template part call?

In header.php you have:

$color = 'blue';
get_template_part('partials/colors', null, ['color' => 'red']);
echo $color;

In partials/colors.php you have:

echo $color;
$color = 'green';

What is the final output of echo $color; in header.php after the call?

Wordpress

$color = 'blue';
get_template_part('partials/colors', null, ['color' => 'red']);
echo $color;

A red

B blue

C green

D Notice: Undefined variable: color

💡 Hint

Consider variable scope when passing variables to template parts.

Variables passed via the third argument are extracted only inside the template part file scope. Changes inside the template part do not affect the original variable in the calling file.