Using WordPress ‘pre_post_link’ PHP filter

by

The ‘pre_post_link’ WordPress filter allows you to modify the permalink structure for a specific post before the tokens are replaced.

This filter works only with posts that have a post_type of ‘post’.

Usage

To use this filter, you need to create a custom function and hook it to the 'pre_post_link' filter. Here’s a code example:

function my_custom_permalink( $permalink, $post, $leavename ) {
    // Your code here
    return $permalink;
}
add_filter( 'pre_post_link', 'my_custom_permalink', 10, 3 );

Parameters

  • $permalink (string): The site’s permalink structure.
  • $post (WP_Post): The post for which the permalink is being generated.
  • $leavename (bool): Whether to keep the post name in the permalink.

Examples

function add_custom_prefix( $permalink, $post, $leavename ) {
    return '/custom-prefix' . $permalink;
}
add_filter( 'pre_post_link', 'add_custom_prefix', 10, 3 );

In this example, the function add_custom_prefix adds a custom prefix to the permalink structure.

Add Post ID to Permalink

function add_post_id_to_permalink( $permalink, $post, $leavename ) {
    return $permalink . '-' . $post->ID;
}
add_filter( 'pre_post_link', 'add_post_id_to_permalink', 10, 3 );

This example adds the post ID to the end of the permalink structure.

function add_category_to_permalink( $permalink, $post, $leavename ) {
    $category = get_the_category( $post->ID );
    return '/' . $category[0]->slug . $permalink;
}
add_filter( 'pre_post_link', 'add_category_to_permalink', 10, 3 );

In this example, we add the post’s first category name to the permalink structure.

Change Permalink for Specific Post ID

function change_permalink_for_specific_post( $permalink, $post, $leavename ) {
    if ( $post->ID == 123 ) {
        return '/special-permalink';
    }
    return $permalink;
}
add_filter( 'pre_post_link', 'change_permalink_for_specific_post', 10, 3 );

In this scenario, we change the permalink structure for a specific post with ID 123.

function remove_dates_from_permalink( $permalink, $post, $leavename ) {
    $permalink = preg_replace( '/(\d{4}\/\d{2}\/\d{2}\/)/', '', $permalink );
    return $permalink;
}
add_filter( 'pre_post_link', 'remove_dates_from_permalink', 10, 3 );

This example removes dates (YYYY/MM/DD) from the permalink structure.