Comments on: WordPress Template Hierarchy

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:50:15 +0000

Exactly.

By: legolars

legolars — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:09:26 +0000

O.K Andy, lets see:

So that means, if you create a new page, wordpress is using a default template for that page. What wordpress chooses as the default template depends on the already existing template files in your theme directory;

for instance, according to the template hierarchy, if page.php does exist, WordPress uses it as the default template. If page.php would not exist, index.php would be the default instead.

When you create a new page and you select a custom template (you already made), than the page is designed according to this custom template. This page template is now on the top of the hierarchy. If this file would be missing somehow, page.php drops in, etc…

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:09:50 +0000

Yes it is confusing, especially when templates dont appear to belong to the normal WordPress template set. page_archive.php and page_blog.php (found in some StudioPress templates) are page template files, that can be applied to WordPress pages. The naming of these files is chosen by the WordPress designer, who in this instance uses the prefix page_ to signify that the template relates to pages.

By: legolars

legolars — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:52:45 +0000

Sorry, i do not get it. I cannot see in the hierarchy diagramm why page_archive.php or page_blog.php should be used and when. So which template has to be absent, that these templates are used instead?

By: pet travel carriers

pet travel carriers — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:22:03 +0000

Andy,

Great explanation of templates, which I could never fully understand. You amaze me at how good you are are explaining things, Whether it be keyword research, lsi, wordpress, or reviewing a products – you have the gift of teaching. It’s a pleasure reading your newsletter every week.