Post Types is a term used to refer to different types of content in a WordPress site. In 2003, WordPress was primarily launched as a blogging platform. Posts is a common blogging terminology that stuck with WordPress as it evolved into a robust content management system (CMS). When WordPress added different type of content, pages, they called it a different type of post hence post type. In the later versions, WordPress added the ability for developers to register their own custom post type. In all practical sense, post type is content type.
WordPress by default comes with the following types:
- Post
- Page
- Attachment
- Revision
- Nav Menu
Theme designers and developers can add custom post types by using one of the many plugins or the register_post_type function. A common example of one is Portfolio. This post type is often registered by portfolio themes to have a custom display of portfolio items. Custom Post Types have really pushed WordPress towards a true content management system because now it is being used to power all type of different sites such as real estate sites, movie database, portfolios, etc.
At WPBeginner, we are using custom post types to display various different types of content. This glossary that you are viewing is a custom post type. Our WordPress coupons section is powered by a custom post type as well.
This post was originally published in the wpbeginner glossary.
