How to use the get_page_by_path() function in WordPress

WordPress comes with many built-in functions, some of these are very well known, but others are not so. One of these functions is the get_page_by_path() function, which is used to retrieve a page by its slug or URL path.

The get_page_by_path() function is a built-in WordPress function that enables developers to get a page by its URL path. It takes the URL path as an argument and returns a page object that represents the matching page. The returned object can then be used to display or manipulate the page content.

Use Cases for the get_page_by_path() Function

The get_page_by_path() function can be used in a variety of scenarios, including:

1. Custom Navigation Menus If you’re building a custom navigation menu, you might need to get a page by its URL path. For instance, you might want to highlight the current page in the navigation menu. The get_page_by_path() function comes in handy in such a case. You can use it to get the current page object and then add a custom class to the navigation link.
2. Custom Templates WordPress allows developers to create custom templates for different pages. For instance, you might want to create a custom template for the About Us page. In such a case, you can use the get_page_by_path() function to retrieve the About Us page object and then use it to display the page content in the custom template.
3. Redirects You might need to redirect users to a different page based on their URL path. In such a case, you can use the get_page_by_path() function to get the page object and then redirect the user to the desired page.

Code Examples

Here are some code examples to illustrate how to use the get_page_by_path() function:

Get the Current Page Object

To get the current page object, you can use the following code:

$current_page = get_page_by_path( $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] );

This code retrieves the current URL path from the $_SERVER superglobal variable and passes it to the get_page_by_path() function. The returned page object is stored in the $current_page variable.

Get a Page Object by Its Slug

To get a page object by its slug, you can use the following code:

$page = get_page_by_path( 'about-us' );

This code retrieves the page object for the page with the slug “about-us” and stores it in the $page variable.

Redirect to a Different Page

To redirect users to a different page based on their URL path, you can use the following code:

$page = get_page_by_path( $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] );
if ( $page->ID === 123 ) {
  wp_redirect( '/new-page/' );
  exit;
}

This code retrieves the current page object and checks if its ID matches 123. If it does, the user is redirected to the page with the URL path “/new-page/”.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the get_page_by_path() function is a valuable tool for developers working with WordPress. Since it is able to obtain page objects based on the URL route, it is an extremely flexible function that may be used to a wide range of contexts. Developers are given an easier opportunity to personalise their websites and create one-of-a-kind user experiences when they make use of this capability. The get page by path() function is an indispensable resource that every WordPress developer ought to be familiar with and able to utilise, whether for the purpose of drawing attention to the currently loaded page within a navigation menu, developing unique templates, or redirecting users to different pages.