What is Custom Post Type (CPT)? Simple definition

What is a custom post type?#

WordPress comes with several default content types: posts, pages, media and a few others. When you need a new kind of content with its own fields, you define a custom post type. Each post type gets its own menu in the dashboard.

Example#

Consider a language school. Instead of mixing courses in with posts, it creates a "Course" post type with fields such as duration, teacher and tuition. A separate Courses menu appears in the dashboard, and an archive page for courses is created on the site.

Where is it used?#

Portfolio and case studies
Products; WooCommerce itself uses this
Events, listings, team members and testimonials

How is it created?#

With a function called register_post_type in code, or with plugins that offer a graphical interface. It usually comes together with a custom taxonomy, which is your own version of categories.

Important notes#

After registering, save the permalinks once
If you put the code in the theme, the post type disappears when you change themes; it is better to put it in a plugin

Common mistake#

Using ordinary posts for everything. As the site grows, management becomes hard.

Frequently asked questions about Custom Post Type (CPT)

Should I create a custom post type with a plugin or with code?

For a simple site, graphical-interface plugins are quick. For full control and clean code, registering it in code inside a dedicated plugin is better.

If I change the theme, do custom post types disappear?

If they were defined in the theme, yes, they no longer appear in the dashboard. The data remains, but you need to register them again to access it.

What is Custom Post Type (CPT)?