What is WordPress Hook: {$per_page}

The {$per_page} hook in WordPress is used to modify the number of items displayed per page on archive pages, such as category, tag, author, date, and search result pages. It allows developers to customize the pagination settings for their website.

Understanding the Hook: {$per_page}

The {$per_page} hook is located within the WordPress query process, specifically in the pagination section. It determines the number of items to display per page based on the value set by the developer or the theme’s default settings.

Hook Parameters (if applicable): {$per_page}

The {$per_page} hook accepts a single parameter, which is the number of items to display per page. This parameter can be set using a filter function in the theme’s functions.php file or through a custom plugin.

Hook Doesn’t Work: {$per_page}

If the {$per_page} hook doesn’t work as expected, it may be due to conflicts with other plugins or themes that also modify pagination settings. To troubleshoot, developers should deactivate other pagination-related functions and test the hook again. Additionally, ensuring that the hook is properly implemented in the correct location within the theme files is essential for it to work effectively.

Best Practices & Usage Notes (if applicable): {$per_page}

When using the {$per_page} hook, it’s important to consider the impact on website performance, especially when displaying a large number of items per page. It’s recommended to set a reasonable limit to avoid slow loading times and potential server issues. Additionally, developers should test the hook across different archive pages to ensure consistent and expected results.

Usage Example: {$per_page}

“`php
function custom_per_page($query) {
if (is_archive()) {
$query->set(‘posts_per_page’, 10);
}
}
add_action(‘pre_get_posts’, ‘custom_per_page’);
“`
In this example, the {$per_page} hook is used to modify the number of posts displayed per page on archive pages to 10. This code snippet can be added to the theme’s functions.php file to customize the pagination settings for the website.