How to use manage_posts_columns filter in WordPress

manage_posts_columns filter

Filters the columns displayed in the Posts list table.

To use manage_posts_columns filter, first you have to register it using add_filter. You can write this code into functions.php of your activated theme or in a custom WordPress Plugin.

We at WePlugins always prefer to create a custom WordPress Plugin while using hooks so nothing breaks when you update your WordPress Theme in the future.

In the below live example, we have defined a function weplugins_modify_manage_posts_columns_defaults which takes 2 parameters and we registered using add_filter. The first parameter manage_posts_columns is the name of the hook, the second parameter weplugins_modify_manage_posts_columns_defaults is the name of the function which needs to be called, the third parameter is the priority of calling the hook if the same hook is used multiple times, and the last parameter is the number of arguments (if any) to be passed in the registered function.

Sometimes, you have to remove a registered hook so you can use remove_filter to remove manage_posts_columns filter.

Parameters

Below are the 2 parameters required to use this hook.

• $post_columns: (string[]) An associative array of column headings.
• $post_type: (string) The post type slug.

Live Example

Example 1: Adding a Custom Column

Below is an example of how you can use this hook to add a custom column.

    function weplugins_modify_manage_posts_columns_defaults($post_columns, $post_type) { 
        // Update the $post_columns variable according to your website requirements and return this variable. You can modify the $post_columns variable conditionally too if you want.
        return $post_columns; 
    }
    // add the filter
    add_filter( "manage_posts_columns", "weplugins_modify_manage_posts_columns_defaults", 10, 2 );
    

Example 2: Removing a Custom Column

To remove a hook callback, use the example below.

    remove_filter( "manage_posts_columns", "weplugins_modify_manage_posts_columns_defaults", 10, 2 );
    

Please make sure to provide the same callback function name, priority, and number of arguments while removing the hook callback.

Example 3: Adding a Publisher Column

In this example, we add a custom column to display the publisher of the post.

    namespace DemoPlugin;

    const COLUMN_ID = 'publisher';
    
    /**
     * Register the custom column.
     *
     * @param array $columns Existing columns.
     * @return array Columns with custom column added.
     */
    function weplugins_add_publisher_column($columns) {
        $columns[COLUMN_ID] = 'Publisher';
        return $columns;
    }
    add_filter('manage_posts_columns', 'weplugins_add_publisher_column');
    

Contact Us

If you need customization or are having any trouble using this hook, please contact us.