Post Type
Quick Definition
A post type is a category of content in WordPress. The built-in post types are Posts, Pages, Attachments, Revisions, and Navigation Menu Items. You can also create custom post types for any kind of content.
What Is a Post Type?
A post type defines a type of content in WordPress. When you create a blog post, you are using the "post" post type. When you create a static page, you are using the "page" post type. They are different types of content with different behaviors, but WordPress stores them all in the same database table (wp_posts) — the post_type column tells WordPress which type each entry is.
WordPress comes with several built-in post types:
- Post (
post) — Blog content displayed in reverse chronological order. Has categories, tags, and feeds. This is what most people think of when they hear "WordPress content." - Page (
page) — Static, hierarchical content outside the blog feed. Pages can have parent-child relationships (like About > Team > Contact) but do not use categories or tags. - Attachment (
attachment) — Metadata for uploaded media files (images, videos, PDFs). Every file in your Media Library is an attachment post type behind the scenes. - Revision (
revision) — Automatic version history of your posts and pages. Every time you save, WordPress creates a revision so you can roll back changes. - Navigation Menu Item (
nav_menu_item) — Each link in a WordPress menu is stored as this post type.
There are also internal post types you rarely interact with directly: custom_css (stores Customizer CSS) and customize_changeset (stores Customizer draft changes).
The real power comes from custom post types. WordPress lets developers register entirely new content types using register_post_type(). Common examples include:
- Products — WooCommerce registers a
productpost type - Portfolio — Showcase projects separate from blog posts
- Testimonials — Client reviews managed as structured content
- Events — Calendar entries with dates and locations
- Properties — Real estate listings with custom fields
Each custom post type can have its own taxonomies, templates, and admin interface — making WordPress flexible enough to handle virtually any kind of content, not just blog posts and pages.
Post Types in Practice
Understanding post types changes how you think about WordPress. A "post" is not just a blog article — it is any piece of content stored in the wp_posts table. When a plugin adds "Portfolio" or "Testimonials" to your admin sidebar, it has registered a custom post type. When a theme displays products in a grid, it is querying the product post type.
You can check what post types are registered on your site using WP-CLI: wp post-type list shows every registered post type with its label, public status, and whether it is built-in or custom.
Why It Matters
Post types are the backbone of WordPress's content architecture. Every piece of content — blog posts, pages, media, menus, WooCommerce products — is a post type. Understanding this system helps you choose the right plugins, structure your site logically, and build custom solutions when the defaults are not enough.