Using WordPress ‘post_categories_meta_box()’ PHP function

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The post_categories_meta_box() WordPress PHP function displays post categories form fields.

Usage

post_categories_meta_box( $post, $box );

Parameters

  • $post (WP_Post) (required) – Current post object.
  • $box (array) (required) – Categories meta box arguments.
    • id (string) – Meta box ‘id’ attribute.
    • title (string) – Meta box title.
    • callback (callable) – Meta box display callback.
    • args (array) – Extra meta box arguments.
    • taxonomy (string) – Taxonomy. Default ‘category’.

More information

See WordPress Developer Resources: post_categories_meta_box

Examples

Display the categories meta box in a custom post type

In this example, we will add the categories meta box to a custom post type called ‘product’.

// Register the custom post type
function create_product_post_type() {
    register_post_type('product',
        array(
            'labels' => array(
                'name' => __('Products'),
                'singular_name' => __('Product')
            ),
            'public' => true,
            'has_archive' => true,
            'supports' => array('title', 'editor', 'thumbnail', 'custom-fields', 'revisions', 'categories')
        )
    );
}
add_action('init', 'create_product_post_type');

// Add the categories meta box to the 'product' post type
function add_categories_meta_box_to_product() {
    add_meta_box('categorydiv', __('Categories'), 'post_categories_meta_box', 'product', 'side', 'default', array('taxonomy' => 'category'));
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'add_categories_meta_box_to_product');

Change the title of the categories meta box

In this example, we change the title of the categories meta box to “Topics”.

function change_categories_meta_box_title() {
    remove_meta_box('categorydiv', 'post', 'side');
    add_meta_box('categorydiv', __('Topics'), 'post_categories_meta_box', 'post', 'side', 'default', array('taxonomy' => 'category'));
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'change_categories_meta_box_title');

Display a custom taxonomy in the meta box

In this example, we display a custom taxonomy named “genres” in the meta box.

function add_genres_meta_box_to_post() {
    add_meta_box('genresdiv', __('Genres'), 'post_categories_meta_box', 'post', 'side', 'default', array('taxonomy' => 'genres'));
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'add_genres_meta_box_to_post');

Add the categories meta box to a custom meta box

In this example, we add the categories meta box to a custom meta box named “custom_meta_box”.

function add_custom_meta_box() {
    add_meta_box('custom_meta_box', __('Custom Meta Box'), 'custom_meta_box_callback', 'post', 'side', 'default');
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'add_custom_meta_box');

function custom_meta_box_callback($post) {
    post_categories_meta_box($post, array('taxonomy' => 'category'));
}

Display multiple taxonomies in the meta box

In this example, we display multiple taxonomies, “category” and “genres”, in the meta box.

function add_multiple_taxonomies_meta_box_to_post() {