WordPress Functions

WordPress functions integrate with WordPress core features for content rendering and media handling.

content

Applies the WordPress the_content filter to a string. This processes shortcodes, auto-paragraphs (wpautop), embeds (oEmbed), and other content filters.

Signature: content(value)

<{content(row.post_content)}>

WARNING

Always use the <{ }> (raw HTML) delimiter with content(), not { { }}. The content filter produces HTML that should be rendered, not escaped.

The output is sanitized via wp_kses_post() (when using <{ }>), which strips dangerous tags like <script> while preserving safe HTML.

What the content filter does

• Converts double line breaks to <p> tags (wpautop)
• Processes WordPress shortcodes
• Converts oEmbed URLs to embedded media
• Applies any filters registered on the_content

// Input:  "Hello world\n\nThis is a paragraph."
// Output: "<p>Hello world</p>\n<p>This is a paragraph.</p>"

shortcode

Processes WordPress shortcodes in a string. Unlike content(), this does not apply wpautop or other content filters -- it only processes shortcodes.

Signature: shortcode(value)

<{shortcode(row.widget_code)}>
// Processes [gallery ids="1,2,3"] or [contact-form-7 id="123"]

<{shortcode('[gallery ids="' ~ row.image_ids ~ '"]')}>
// Dynamically build a shortcode

When to use shortcode vs. content

• Use content() for post content that should be fully rendered (paragraphs, embeds, shortcodes).
• Use shortcode() when you only need shortcode processing on a specific string.

wp_image

Returns the URL of a WordPress media attachment by its ID and size.

Signature: wp_image(attachmentId, size?)

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
attachmentId	number	--	The WordPress attachment ID.
size	string	full	The image size: thumbnail, medium, large, full, or any registered size.

`{ {wp_image(row.featured_image_id)}}`
// "https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/photo.jpg"

`{ {wp_image(row.avatar_id, 'thumbnail')}}`
// "https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/photo-150x150.jpg"

Returns an empty string if the attachment does not exist or the function is not available.

Common image sizes

Size	Typical Dimensions
thumbnail	150x150 (cropped)
medium	300x300 (max)
medium_large	768px wide (max)
large	1024x1024 (max)
full	Original dimensions

Use in HTML

<img src="`{ {wp_image(row.image_id, 'medium')}}`" alt="`{ {row.title}}`">

Or in an Image widget's source binding:

`{ {wp_image(row.photo_id, 'large')}}`

Examples

Render a blog post

<h1>`{ {row.post_title}}`</h1>
<p class="date">`{ {date_format(row.post_date, 'F j, Y')}}`</p>
<{content(row.post_content)}>

Dynamic shortcode with row data

<{shortcode('[product_card id="' ~ row.product_id ~ '"]')}>

Featured image with fallback

`{ {default(wp_image(row.featured_image_id, 'large'), '/images/placeholder.jpg')}}`