How to Add a Website Directory to Your WordPress Blog (Without a Plugin)

Introduction

A user in the WPSearch WordPress community recently asked how to create a website directory feature like the one on WPSearch, and whether a plugin is required.

No plugin is needed. This functionality can be implemented purely with code, primarily using WordPress's Custom Post Type feature. If you're unfamiliar with Custom Post Types, please refer to the linked article for a detailed explanation.

Once you understand the concept, you can add a website directory to your own WordPress blog.

Final Result Preview

The following images demonstrate the final look of the website directory.

All Websites View

Adding Website Categories

Frontend Implementation

To display the directory entries on the frontend of your site, you can use a custom WP_Query. Here is a basic example:

$args = array(
  'post_type' => 'site',
  'posts_per_page' => 10
);
$loop = new WP_Query( $args );
while ( $loop->have_posts() ) : $loop->the_post();
  the_title();
  echo '

';
endwhile;

This code queries for 10 posts of the custom 'site' post type and displays their title and content. The visual styling (CSS) for the frontend page must be designed and implemented according to your theme and preferences.