How to Get Post ID in WordPress – Step by Step Guide 

Key highlights 

• Every WordPress content like post, images and more gets a unique ID number. 
• You can find your WordPress post IDs in your dashboard, by looking at the post URLs or in your database. 
• A good option is to use a plugin that shows WordPress post IDs. This is helpful if you don’t want to deal with code or search for IDs manually. 
• WordPress uses PHP functions to find and use specific posts. If you know PHP, you can use this method to make your work easier. 
• Regardless of your skill level, there are simple and effective ways to find post IDs. 

Introduction 

Have you ever needed to locate a WordPress post ID but weren’t sure where to find it? You might be customizing your site, setting up a plugin or creating custom code and then you find out you need a specific post ID to make it work. It can feel frustrating when you don’t know how to find it, right? 

Don’t worry, you’re not the only one! Understanding how to find a post ID can help you save time. It can also make managing your WordPress site easier. 

In this guide, we’ll help you with the simplest methods to locate a post ID, whether you’re just starting with WordPress or you’re an experienced user. So, let’s get started! 

Understanding WordPress post IDs 

On WordPress, each piece of content, like a post, page, image or custom post type, has a special number called a post ID. You can think of it like a fingerprint that separates one piece of content from another. But why are post IDs so important? 

These ID numbers are very important as they help WordPress find the right data and show it to the user. For instance, when a visitor clicks on a blog post on your site, WordPress utilizes the post ID to identify the content, retrieve it from the database, and display it on the screen.

To sum it up, post IDs are useful tools when you know how to locate and use them. Now let’s learn how to find post IDs in WordPress.  

Methods to get post IDs in WordPress 

No matter how new you are to using WordPress, you can get post ID in WordPress in just a few clicks. Many people will find that using the dashboard or checking the URL works just fine. For some, adding a plugin can make the whole process smoother. 

We will now closely look at these methods. 

1. Using the WordPress dashboard – Navigating to posts/pages 

Using the admin dashboard is a simple and quick way to find post ID in WordPress. Here’s how you can do it: 

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Posts → All Posts 
3. Move your mouse over the title of the post or page. 
4. Look at the URL at the bottom of your browser. You will see the post ID shown as “post=ID.” 

In addition, hosting your WordPress site with Bluehost comes with a seamless admin experience. Our WordPress dashboard helps you move around easily and find post IDs quickly. You won’t experience any delays, helping you save time and effort.

2. Viewing post IDs in the URL – Editing a post/page 

Another simple way to locate WordPress post IDs is to check the URL while you are editing a post or page: 

• Click edit on the post or page you want. 
• Look at the URL bar in your browser. It shows the post ID as a parameter (like “post=ID”). 

Note that the post URLs are not visible to your visitors.  In fact, it is not a good idea to display this information publicly. This guide is here to help you find these unique numbers for your admin needs. 

3. Using plugins to easily find WordPress post IDs 

Finding post and page IDs is not hard. If you don’t want to click on each post one by one or look for IDs in your URL bar, there are easier ways to get this information right from your WordPress dashboard. Here are some plugins you can use to find the post IDs. 

• Show IDs: This plugin lets you see the ID of the post. It shows the unique ID number of your page. Show IDs also shows the page ID for tags and categories right from the WordPress posts table. Just install and activate it and you are ready to use it. 

• Reveal IDs: This one works in the same way but also supports custom post types. 

Bluehost seamlessly integrates with most plugins, simplifying the installation and usage process. This compatibility makes it even easier for you to utilize plugins like Show IDs and Reveal IDs, helping you quickly find post IDs and manage your WordPress site efficiently. 

Also read: Why WordPress? 10 Reasons It’s the Best Choice for Your Website 

Advanced ways to retrieve post IDs in WordPress (custom code & database) 

Now that we have explored three easy ways to find post IDs, let’s talk about some advanced methods. These methods are meant for developers and advanced users who are comfortable working directly with code or databases, thereby giving you more control over your WordPress post data. These methods will help you make the most out of WordPress’s features. 

1. Displaying post IDs in the admin columns – Adding a custom column 

You can quickly find post IDs by adding a custom column in your theme’s file. First, you open your WordPress files. You can do this by using FTP or a file manager. Next, find the file for your active (child) theme. Once you open this file, paste the snippet below at the bottom: 

// Add a custom column for Post ID in the posts list
function add_post_id_column( $columns ) {
    $columns['post_id'] = 'Post ID';
    return $columns;
}
add_filter( 'manage_posts_columns', 'add_post_id_column', 4).

// Populate the custom Post ID column with the actual post ID
function show_post_id_column( $column, $post_id ) {
    if ( 'post_id' === $column ) {
        echo $post_id;
    }
}
add_action( 'manage_posts_custom_column', 'show_post_id_column', 4,2);

This snippet adds a new column to your WordPress filter. It lets WordPress show this new column on your main dashboard. In the example above, the snippet displays the id of the post in the 4th column. You can change the number “4” if you wish to move this new column to a different spot. 

2. Locating post IDs through the WordPress database 

If you are comfortable using your WordPress database and want to find your WordPress post IDs directly, you can use phpMyAdmin. phpMyAdmin helps manage MySQL databases. You can usually find it in your hosting control panel. 

• Go to the Bluehost control panel to access your database. 
• Find the wp_posts table. Run the following SQL query to retrieve them: 

// Access the global WPDB object
global $wpdb;

// Query the database to retrieve all post IDs from published posts
$post_ids = $wpdb->get_col( "
    SELECT ID 
    FROM $wpdb->posts 
    WHERE post_status = 'publish' 
    AND post_type = 'post'
" );

// Display each post ID
if ( ! empty( $post_ids ) ) {
    foreach ( $post_ids as $post_id ) {
        echo 'Post ID: ' . esc_html( $post_id ) . '<br>';
    }
} else {
    echo 'No posts found.';
}

• Look for the ID column linked to the post titles. 

3. Utilizing WordPress functions in code – get_the_ID() function 

The get_the_ID() function is a helpful tool for developers who create custom themes or plugins. This function makes it easy to get the unique identifier of the current post. This allows for smooth customization and development. By using this function in your PHP code, you can manage and work with post data based on their specific IDs. 

Using get_the_ID() within the loop 

The get_the_ID() function gets the ID of the current post. You use it when you are in the loop. 

if ( have_posts() ) :
    while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();
        echo 'Post ID: ' . get_the_ID();
    endwhile;
endif;

Getting the post ID outside the loop 

If you need to find the post ID outside the loop, like in a custom page template or a function, using get_the_ID() will not give you the right result. Instead, you should use: 

$post_id = get_queried_object_id();
echo 'Current Post ID: ' . $post_id

Finding post ID by title or slug 

If you have a specific post title or slug and want to find the ID, you can do it easily. 

// Finding post ID by title
$post_by_title = get_page_by_title( 'Your Post Title', OBJECT, 'post' );
if ( $post_by_title ) {
    echo 'Post ID for title: ' . $post_by_title->ID;
} else {
    echo 'Post not found by title.';
}

// Finding post ID by slug
$post_by_slug = get_page_by_path( 'your-post-slug', OBJECT, 'post' );
if ( $post_by_slug ) {
    echo 'Post ID for slug: ' . $post_by_slug->ID;
} else {
    echo 'Post not found by slug.';
}

Finding all post IDs in a WordPress query 

To get several post IDs from a query, like recent posts, use WP_Query: 

$query = new WP_Query([
    'post_type'      => 'post',
    'posts_per_page' => 5, // Get 5 latest posts
]);

if ($query->have_posts()) {
    while ($query->have_posts()) {
        $query->the_post();
        echo 'Post ID: ' . get_the_ID() . '<br>';
    }
}

wp_reset_postdata(); // Reset query

Using the global $post object 

You can find the post ID with the global $post object. 

global $post;
if ( isset( $post ) ) {
    echo 'Post ID: ' . $post->ID;
}

Selecting the right function for retrieving post IDs 

Function	Use case
get_the_ID()	Get post ID inside The Loop
get_queried_object_id()	Get post ID outside The Loop (e.g., single post, category, archive pages)
global $post; $post->ID;	Get post ID anywhere, provided $post is available
get_page_by_title()	Get post ID by post title
get_page_by_path()	Get post ID by slug (URL-friendly name)
WP_Query	Get multiple post IDs in a custom query
Admin Panel Custom Column	Show post ID in WordPress Admin Posts list

Also read: How to Re-Order Posts in WordPress (A Comprehensive Guide for 2024) 

Common challenges to get post ID in WordPress 

Retrieving post IDs in WordPress is typically straightforward, though you may encounter issues depending on the circumstances. Here are some common issues and how to fix them. 

• Post ID not showing: Check if any plugins are conflicting and hiding the column. Some security or admin custom plugins may block parts of the dashboard. 
• Database access errors: Make sure your database details in the wp-config.php file is correct. If you still can’t reach it, use the database repair tool in the Bluehost control panel. 
• URL not displaying post ID: If your URLs are missing post IDs, look at your permalink settings under Settings > Permalinks to confirm they have post-related structures. 
• Missing post IDs due to plugin conflicts: Some themes and plugins can change the admin view, hiding post IDs. Turn off the plugins one at a time to find the issue. 
• Inconsistent post IDs: If your WordPress database was reset or posts were deleted, you might see gaps in post ID numbers. This is normal since WordPress does not use deleted post IDs again. 

Final thoughts 

Knowing how to find post IDs in WordPress is important for managing your content efficiently. You can find post IDs by looking in the dashboard, editing URLs, using plugins or trying advanced methods. Accessing post IDs makes your workflow smoother. This way, you can better organize and customize your WordPress site. 

Embrace these tips to make content management simpler and improve your WordPress experience. Bluehost’s robust WordPress hosting lets you effortlessly locate your post IDs, streamlining your content management. Therefore, follow our step-by-step guide to master the process and boost your site’s efficiency. 

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