#7 Module 7: Custom Post Types & Meta Boxes

🧱 Module 7: Custom Post Types & Meta Boxes

Custom Post Types (CPTs) let you store structured content like “Books,” “Events,” or “Products.” Meta Boxes let you add custom fields for each item — like “Author,” “Price,” or “Date.”

Step 1 – Register a Custom Post Type

(📋 You can copy or edit directly below)

    

    

function mfp_register_books_cpt() {
    $labels = array(
        'name' => 'Books',
        'singular_name' => 'Book',
        'add_new_item' => 'Add New Book',
        'edit_item' => 'Edit Book',
        'menu_name' => 'Books'
    );

    $args = array(
        'labels' => $labels,
        'public' => true,
        'show_in_menu' => true,
        'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-book-alt',
        'supports' => array('title', 'editor', 'thumbnail'),
        'has_archive' => true,
    );

    register_post_type('book', $args);
}
add_action('init', 'mfp_register_books_cpt');

  

Step 2 – Add a Meta Box to the CPT Editor

    

    

function mfp_add_book_meta_box() {
    add_meta_box(
        'mfp_book_details',
        'Book Details',
        'mfp_render_book_meta_box',
        'book',
        'normal',
        'default'
    );
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'mfp_add_book_meta_box');

function mfp_render_book_meta_box($post) {
    $author = get_post_meta($post->ID, '_mfp_book_author', true);
    wp_nonce_field('mfp_save_book_meta', 'mfp_book_meta_nonce');
    echo '<label>Author Name:</label><br>';
    echo '<input type="text" name="mfp_book_author" value="' . esc_attr($author) . '" style="width:100%;" />';
}

  

Step 3 – Save the Meta Box Data

    

    

function mfp_save_book_meta($post_id) {
    if (!isset($_POST['mfp_book_meta_nonce']) ||
        !wp_verify_nonce($_POST['mfp_book_meta_nonce'], 'mfp_save_book_meta')) {
        return;
    }

    if (defined('DOING_AUTOSAVE') && DOING_AUTOSAVE) return;

    if (isset($_POST['mfp_book_author'])) {
        update_post_meta($post_id, '_mfp_book_author', sanitize_text_field($_POST['mfp_book_author']));
    }
}
add_action('save_post_book', 'mfp_save_book_meta');

  

✅ Now your WordPress site has a new “Books” post type with an editable “Author Name” field. Try adding a few Books from the dashboard → Books → Add New!

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