CODEWITHSUNDEEP
wordpressrandomtags
Ian Batten
Ian Batten

Reputation: 211

How to display a list of random tags in wordpress?

I have used the following code to try and display a list of random tags:

<?php wp_tag_cloud('smallest=10&largest=10&number=5&format=list&order=rand&orderby=count'); ?>

This does display a list of 5 tags, but the order isn't random, and doesn't change when I reload the page.

Any help of how to achieve this?

Many thanks.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 3860

Answers (1)

Hastig Zusammenstellen
Hastig Zusammenstellen

Reputation: 4450

I was looking for an answer to this myself tonight and I thought I would post a solution.

My requirements were for random tags displayed each page refresh and the ability to exclude certain tags. For my purposes I put it in functions.php because I hate cluttering up my template files with functions.

The Function - insert this in your functions.php file

function jr_get_tags_but_exclude() {
    $args = array('exclude' => '36 17'); // see notes below
        $alltags = get_tags( $args );
        shuffle($alltags);
        $count=0;
        if ($alltags) {
            foreach($alltags as $tag) {
                $count++;
                echo '<a href="'.get_tag_link($tag->term_id).'">'.$tag->name.'</a>';
        if( $count >19 ) break;
        }
    }
}

The Call - insert this in your template page

<?php jr_get_tags_but_exclude(); ?>

Notes

  • To exclude tags you will need the tag ID . The simplest way to get the ID is to go to posts -> tags and hover over the tag you want to exclude. The ID # will be given in the url bar on the bottom of your browser when hovered on, &tag_ID=9, for example.

  • The Wordpress codex for get_tags says to put only a blank space seperating each tag ID, no commas required.

  • Regarding randomizing the results, randis not an available option or $arg for get_tags, unfortunately.

  • To change the number of tags shown adjust if ( $count >19 ) 19 = 20 tags, 29 = 30, etc.

  • shuffle($alltags); is what does the randomization

  • $count=0; starts the counter, $count++; counts each tag posted, if( $count >19 ) break; ends the loop, in this case after 20 tags are posted.

Credits and References

mostly based on these gent's solutions

  1. wordpress random tag issue

  2. https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/26112/how-to-limit-and-display-tag

  3. http://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-exclude-tag

wordpress codex for get_tags

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_tags

In Your Template File - no function needed

<?php
    $args = array('exclude' => '36 17'); // see notes below
        $alltags = get_tags( $args );
        shuffle($alltags);
        $count=0;
        if ($alltags) {
            foreach($alltags as $tag) {
                $count++;
                echo '<a href="'.get_tag_link($tag->term_id).'">'.$tag->name.'</a>';
        if( $count >19 ) break;
        }
    }
?>

Please reply with any mistakes noticed so I can edit them.

Upvotes: 5

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