How to use default_title filter in WordPress

default_title filter

Filters the default post title initially used in the “Write Post” form.

To use the default_title filter, first you have to register it using add_filter. You can write this code into the 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_default_title_defaults which takes 2 parameters and we registered using add_filter. The first parameter default_title is the name of the hook, the second parameter weplugins_modify_default_title_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 the default_title filter.

Parameters

Below are the 2 parameters required to use this hook.

• $post_title : (string) Default post title.
• $post : (WP_Post) Post object.

Live Example

apply_filters( 'default_title', string $post_title, WP_Post $post )

Below is an example of how you can use this hook.

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

Example 1: Changing the Default Post Title

This example shows how to change the default post title to “My Custom Title”.

    function weplugins_modify_default_title_defaults($post_title, $post) { 
        $post_title = "My Custom Title";
        return $post_title; 
    }
    add_filter( "default_title", "weplugins_modify_default_title_defaults", 10, 2 );

Example 2: Prefixing the Default Post Title

Here, we prefix the default post title with “New Post:”.

    function weplugins_modify_default_title_defaults($post_title, $post) { 
        $post_title = "New Post: " . $post_title;
        return $post_title; 
    }
    add_filter( "default_title", "weplugins_modify_default_title_defaults", 10, 2 );

Example 3: Conditional Post Title Modification

In this example, the post title is modified only if the post type is “page”.

    function weplugins_modify_default_title_defaults($post_title, $post) { 
        if ($post->post_type == 'page') {
            $post_title = "Default Page Title";
        }
        return $post_title; 
    }
    add_filter( "default_title", "weplugins_modify_default_title_defaults", 10, 2 );

To remove a hook callback, use the example below.

remove_filter( "default_title", "weplugins_modify_default_title_defaults", 10, 2 );

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

If you’re having any trouble using this hook, please contact our WordPress Development Team and we’d be happy to assist you.