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What is a Template Tag? How to use Template Tags in WordPress
Within the WordPress ecosystem, templates serve as the blueprint for how your content is presented. They are crafted by your WordPress theme and can be tailored to individual posts or pages, shaping their appearance on your site.
Themes differ in their template offerings. Some themes boast a plethora of customizable templates, while others offer fewer options.
For those looking to craft new templates or tweak existing ones, theme builders are invaluable tools. They provide a user-friendly interface, often featuring drag-and-drop functionality, to make template customization straightforward.
Distinguishing WordPress Themes from Templates
For those new to WordPress, it might be tricky to differentiate between a theme and a template.
A WordPress theme dictates your site’s overall aesthetic. It encompasses a collection of files, some of which are templates. You can install themes directly from the WordPress theme repository or source them from external designers.
Conversely, a WordPress template is a singular file within a theme. It’s responsible for the design of individual pages or a set of pages.
Exploring WordPress Templates
Templates are composed of HTML and CSS, dictating the presentation of content across various parts of your WordPress site. They are specifically designed to function within the confines of a chosen theme.
Consider templates as the layout managers within your theme’s arsenal. They have the power to make your homepage stand out or ensure consistency across your site’s pages.
While most WordPress themes come with a set of standard templates, the exact selection varies with each theme.
Typical templates found in a WordPress theme’s folder include:
- The primary template (index.php) for showcasing the main page.
- The top template (header.php) for the header area.
- The lateral template (sidebar.php) for sidebar content.
- The bottom template (footer.php) for the footer area.
- Theme Functions (functions.php) with essential theme code and functionalities.
- The individual post template (single.php) for displaying posts and pages.
- The discussions template (comments.php) for showcasing comments and comment forms.
Additionally, every theme utilizes a style.css file to apply styling within these templates.
The Role of WordPress Templates
Each page on your WordPress site relies on a specific template to highlight its unique attributes. Themes may include distinct templates for various content types such as posts, pages, news, calendars, and media libraries.
Templates can be designated for individual posts, sections, or a collection of pages. They are often crafted with a particular page or set of pages in mind.
For instance, while the general page template page.php shapes the layout for all standard pages, the 404 template 404.php is tailored for the ‘404’ error page.
Themes may also include specialized templates for unique design elements, custom content loops, or exclusive sidebars.
For instance, a theme might offer a full-width template for contact pages, omitting sidebars and footers, or a full-width post template. However, not all themes support these specialized templates. If they do, you’ll find them in the ‘Template’ section or ‘Page Attributes’ sidebar when editing your page.
Understanding the WordPress Template Structure and Tags
WordPress templates are structured hierarchically. If a specific template is missing, WordPress will look up the hierarchy to find an alternative, more general template to use.
For instance, lacking a dedicated front page template, WordPress might default to using the index.php template.
Our beginner’s guide offers a wealth of infographics on the WordPress template hierarchy for further exploration.
Templates can be nested within each other, functioning in unison through the use of template tags. This allows for a single page template to incorporate a header, footer, sidebar, and content templates.
Locating Templates in WordPress
Templates reside on your WordPress hosting server. To modify them, you’ll need to access these files.
One method to find your theme’s templates is through an FTP client like FileZilla. Navigate to the /wp-content/themes directory and select your theme’s folder to locate the template files.
Alternatively, within your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance » Theme File Editor. Here, you can edit template files directly using the central text box.
Accessing Templates via Theme Builder Plugins
Theme builder plugins simplify the process of customizing templates. SeedProd stands out as a premier WordPress theme builder plugin, enabling the creation of stunning layouts and custom themes without coding.
Our guide on crafting a custom WordPress theme with SeedProd, sans coding, is a valuable resource. Once you’ve crafted your theme, you can tweak your templates by heading to SeedProd » Theme Builder.
In SeedProd’s visual editor, clicking on a template opens it for editing. The interface, with a two-column layout, allows you to add blocks and sections while previewing changes in real-time. Clicking on a block lets you adjust its settings with ease.
We trust this discussion has enhanced your understanding of WordPress templates. For additional insights and WordPress techniques, our Additional Reading list is an excellent starting point.