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WordPress WordPress Theme Development The WordPress Loop Common WordPress Functions Used with the Loop

Jeffrey Cunningham
Jeffrey Cunningham
5,592 Points
Posted by Jeffrey Cunningham
Jeffrey Cunningham
5,592 Points

Codex function reference vs template tag page.

What is the difference between the function in the template tag page and the function reference. I don't understand when I would go to one rather than the other.

1 Answer

Manuel Schulze
Manuel Schulze
12,739 Points
Manuel Schulze
Manuel Schulze
12,739 Points

Template tags are a specific subset of the codex functions. So in general you want to take a look at the functions reference first if you're unsure.

Template tags are functions that are used to display data dynamically. As a developer, you can use and create them for your themes and plugins. You get information out of the database and, for example, use the value of that tag to display something. Template tags are used to work with the information directly.

If you study the function reference for a while you'll find a lot of functions that doesn't fit that criteria like wp_create_user.

If you ask yourself if you need to get data out of the database or sometimes even change that information then you should take a look at template tags. For any other function look into the standard codex functions reference. I think it's not that strict and clear. So most of the time I find myself using Google to help me ;)