class WP_Term_Query {}

Class used for querying terms.

Description

See also

Methods

NameDescription
WP_Term_Query::__constructConstructor.
WP_Term_Query::format_termsFormat response depending on field requested.
WP_Term_Query::generate_cache_keyGenerate cache key.
WP_Term_Query::get_search_sqlUsed internally to generate a SQL string related to the ‘search’ parameter.
WP_Term_Query::get_termsRetrieves the query results.
WP_Term_Query::parse_orderParse an ‘order’ query variable and cast it to ASC or DESC as necessary.
WP_Term_Query::parse_orderbyParse and sanitize ‘orderby’ keys passed to the term query.
WP_Term_Query::parse_orderby_metaGenerate the ORDER BY clause for an ‘orderby’ param that is potentially related to a meta query.
WP_Term_Query::parse_queryParse arguments passed to the term query with default query parameters.
WP_Term_Query::populate_termsCreates an array of term objects from an array of term IDs.
WP_Term_Query::querySets up the query and retrieves the results.

Source

class WP_Term_Query {

	/**
	 * SQL string used to perform database query.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 * @var string
	 */
	public $request;

	/**
	 * Metadata query container.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 * @var WP_Meta_Query A meta query instance.
	 */
	public $meta_query = false;

	/**
	 * Metadata query clauses.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 * @var array
	 */
	protected $meta_query_clauses;

	/**
	 * SQL query clauses.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 * @var array
	 */
	protected $sql_clauses = array(
		'select'  => '',
		'from'    => '',
		'where'   => array(),
		'orderby' => '',
		'limits'  => '',
	);

	/**
	 * Query vars set by the user.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 * @var array
	 */
	public $query_vars;

	/**
	 * Default values for query vars.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 * @var array
	 */
	public $query_var_defaults;

	/**
	 * List of terms located by the query.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 * @var array
	 */
	public $terms;

	/**
	 * Constructor.
	 *
	 * Sets up the term query, based on the query vars passed.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 * @since 4.6.0 Introduced 'term_taxonomy_id' parameter.
	 * @since 4.7.0 Introduced 'object_ids' parameter.
	 * @since 4.9.0 Added 'slug__in' support for 'orderby'.
	 * @since 5.1.0 Introduced the 'meta_compare_key' parameter.
	 * @since 5.3.0 Introduced the 'meta_type_key' parameter.
	 * @since 6.4.0 Introduced the 'cache_results' parameter.
	 *
	 * @param string|array $query {
	 *     Optional. Array or query string of term query parameters. Default empty.
	 *
	 *     @type string|string[] $taxonomy               Taxonomy name, or array of taxonomy names, to which results
	 *                                                   should be limited.
	 *     @type int|int[]       $object_ids             Object ID, or array of object IDs. Results will be
	 *                                                   limited to terms associated with these objects.
	 *     @type string          $orderby                Field(s) to order terms by. Accepts:
	 *                                                   - Term fields ('name', 'slug', 'term_group', 'term_id', 'id',
	 *                                                     'description', 'parent', 'term_order'). Unless `$object_ids`
	 *                                                     is not empty, 'term_order' is treated the same as 'term_id'.
	 *                                                   - 'count' to use the number of objects associated with the term.
	 *                                                   - 'include' to match the 'order' of the `$include` param.
	 *                                                   - 'slug__in' to match the 'order' of the `$slug` param.
	 *                                                   - 'meta_value'
	 *                                                   - 'meta_value_num'.
	 *                                                   - The value of `$meta_key`.
	 *                                                   - The array keys of `$meta_query`.
	 *                                                   - 'none' to omit the ORDER BY clause.
	 *                                                   Default 'name'.
	 *     @type string          $order                  Whether to order terms in ascending or descending order.
	 *                                                   Accepts 'ASC' (ascending) or 'DESC' (descending).
	 *                                                   Default 'ASC'.
	 *     @type bool|int        $hide_empty             Whether to hide terms not assigned to any posts. Accepts
	 *                                                   1|true or 0|false. Default 1|true.
	 *     @type int[]|string    $include                Array or comma/space-separated string of term IDs to include.
	 *                                                   Default empty array.
	 *     @type int[]|string    $exclude                Array or comma/space-separated string of term IDs to exclude.
	 *                                                   If `$include` is non-empty, `$exclude` is ignored.
	 *                                                   Default empty array.
	 *     @type int[]|string    $exclude_tree           Array or comma/space-separated string of term IDs to exclude
	 *                                                   along with all of their descendant terms. If `$include` is
	 *                                                   non-empty, `$exclude_tree` is ignored. Default empty array.
	 *     @type int|string      $number                 Maximum number of terms to return. Accepts ''|0 (all) or any
	 *                                                   positive number. Default ''|0 (all). Note that `$number` may
	 *                                                   not return accurate results when coupled with `$object_ids`.
	 *                                                   See #41796 for details.
	 *     @type int             $offset                 The number by which to offset the terms query. Default empty.
	 *     @type string          $fields                 Term fields to query for. Accepts:
	 *                                                   - 'all' Returns an array of complete term objects (`WP_Term[]`).
	 *                                                   - 'all_with_object_id' Returns an array of term objects
	 *                                                     with the 'object_id' param (`WP_Term[]`). Works only
	 *                                                     when the `$object_ids` parameter is populated.
	 *                                                   - 'ids' Returns an array of term IDs (`int[]`).
	 *                                                   - 'tt_ids' Returns an array of term taxonomy IDs (`int[]`).
	 *                                                   - 'names' Returns an array of term names (`string[]`).
	 *                                                   - 'slugs' Returns an array of term slugs (`string[]`).
	 *                                                   - 'count' Returns the number of matching terms (`int`).
	 *                                                   - 'id=>parent' Returns an associative array of parent term IDs,
	 *                                                      keyed by term ID (`int[]`).
	 *                                                   - 'id=>name' Returns an associative array of term names,
	 *                                                      keyed by term ID (`string[]`).
	 *                                                   - 'id=>slug' Returns an associative array of term slugs,
	 *                                                      keyed by term ID (`string[]`).
	 *                                                   Default 'all'.
	 *     @type bool            $count                  Whether to return a term count. If true, will take precedence
	 *                                                   over `$fields`. Default false.
	 *     @type string|string[] $name                   Name or array of names to return term(s) for.
	 *                                                   Default empty.
	 *     @type string|string[] $slug                   Slug or array of slugs to return term(s) for.
	 *                                                   Default empty.
	 *     @type int|int[]       $term_taxonomy_id       Term taxonomy ID, or array of term taxonomy IDs,
	 *                                                   to match when querying terms.
	 *     @type bool            $hierarchical           Whether to include terms that have non-empty descendants
	 *                                                   (even if `$hide_empty` is set to true). Default true.
	 *     @type string          $search                 Search criteria to match terms. Will be SQL-formatted with
	 *                                                   wildcards before and after. Default empty.
	 *     @type string          $name__like             Retrieve terms with criteria by which a term is LIKE
	 *                                                   `$name__like`. Default empty.
	 *     @type string          $description__like      Retrieve terms where the description is LIKE
	 *                                                   `$description__like`. Default empty.
	 *     @type bool            $pad_counts             Whether to pad the quantity of a term's children in the
	 *                                                   quantity of each term's "count" object variable.
	 *                                                   Default false.
	 *     @type string          $get                    Whether to return terms regardless of ancestry or whether the
	 *                                                   terms are empty. Accepts 'all' or '' (disabled).
	 *                                                   Default ''.
	 *     @type int             $child_of               Term ID to retrieve child terms of. If multiple taxonomies
	 *                                                   are passed, `$child_of` is ignored. Default 0.
	 *     @type int             $parent                 Parent term ID to retrieve direct-child terms of.
	 *                                                   Default empty.
	 *     @type bool            $childless              True to limit results to terms that have no children.
	 *                                                   This parameter has no effect on non-hierarchical taxonomies.
	 *                                                   Default false.
	 *     @type string          $cache_domain           Unique cache key to be produced when this query is stored in
	 *                                                   an object cache. Default 'core'.
	 *     @type bool            $cache_results          Whether to cache term information. Default true.
	 *     @type bool            $update_term_meta_cache Whether to prime meta caches for matched terms. Default true.
	 *     @type string|string[] $meta_key               Meta key or keys to filter by.
	 *     @type string|string[] $meta_value             Meta value or values to filter by.
	 *     @type string          $meta_compare           MySQL operator used for comparing the meta value.
	 *                                                   See WP_Meta_Query::__construct() for accepted values and default value.
	 *     @type string          $meta_compare_key       MySQL operator used for comparing the meta key.
	 *                                                   See WP_Meta_Query::__construct() for accepted values and default value.
	 *     @type string          $meta_type              MySQL data type that the meta_value column will be CAST to for comparisons.
	 *                                                   See WP_Meta_Query::__construct() for accepted values and default value.
	 *     @type string          $meta_type_key          MySQL data type that the meta_key column will be CAST to for comparisons.
	 *                                                   See WP_Meta_Query::__construct() for accepted values and default value.
	 *     @type array           $meta_query             An associative array of WP_Meta_Query arguments.
	 *                                                   See WP_Meta_Query::__construct() for accepted values.
	 * }
	 */
	public function __construct( $query = '' ) {
		$this->query_var_defaults = array(
			'taxonomy'               => null,
			'object_ids'             => null,
			'orderby'                => 'name',
			'order'                  => 'ASC',
			'hide_empty'             => true,
			'include'                => array(),
			'exclude'                => array(),
			'exclude_tree'           => array(),
			'number'                 => '',
			'offset'                 => '',
			'fields'                 => 'all',
			'count'                  => false,
			'name'                   => '',
			'slug'                   => '',
			'term_taxonomy_id'       => '',
			'hierarchical'           => true,
			'search'                 => '',
			'name__like'             => '',
			'description__like'      => '',
			'pad_counts'             => false,
			'get'                    => '',
			'child_of'               => 0,
			'parent'                 => '',
			'childless'              => false,
			'cache_domain'           => 'core',
			'cache_results'          => true,
			'update_term_meta_cache' => true,
			'meta_query'             => '',
			'meta_key'               => '',
			'meta_value'             => '',
			'meta_type'              => '',
			'meta_compare'           => '',
		);

		if ( ! empty( $query ) ) {
			$this->query( $query );
		}
	}

	/**
	 * Parse arguments passed to the term query with default query parameters.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 *
	 * @param string|array $query WP_Term_Query arguments. See WP_Term_Query::__construct() for accepted arguments.
	 */
	public function parse_query( $query = '' ) {
		if ( empty( $query ) ) {
			$query = $this->query_vars;
		}

		$taxonomies = isset( $query['taxonomy'] ) ? (array) $query['taxonomy'] : null;

		/**
		 * Filters the terms query default arguments.
		 *
		 * Use 'get_terms_args' to filter the passed arguments.
		 *
		 * @since 4.4.0
		 *
		 * @param array    $defaults   An array of default get_terms() arguments.
		 * @param string[] $taxonomies An array of taxonomy names.
		 */
		$this->query_var_defaults = apply_filters( 'get_terms_defaults', $this->query_var_defaults, $taxonomies );

		$query = wp_parse_args( $query, $this->query_var_defaults );

		$query['number'] = absint( $query['number'] );
		$query['offset'] = absint( $query['offset'] );

		// 'parent' overrides 'child_of'.
		if ( 0 < (int) $query['parent'] ) {
			$query['child_of'] = false;
		}

		if ( 'all' === $query['get'] ) {
			$query['childless']    = false;
			$query['child_of']     = 0;
			$query['hide_empty']   = 0;
			$query['hierarchical'] = false;
			$query['pad_counts']   = false;
		}

		$query['taxonomy'] = $taxonomies;

		$this->query_vars = $query;

		/**
		 * Fires after term query vars have been parsed.
		 *
		 * @since 4.6.0
		 *
		 * @param WP_Term_Query $query Current instance of WP_Term_Query.
		 */
		do_action( 'parse_term_query', $this );
	}

	/**
	 * Sets up the query and retrieves the results.
	 *
	 * The return type varies depending on the value passed to `$args['fields']`. See
	 * WP_Term_Query::get_terms() for details.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 *
	 * @param string|array $query Array or URL query string of parameters.
	 * @return WP_Term[]|int[]|string[]|string Array of terms, or number of terms as numeric string
	 *                                         when 'count' is passed as a query var.
	 */
	public function query( $query ) {
		$this->query_vars = wp_parse_args( $query );
		return $this->get_terms();
	}

	/**
	 * Retrieves the query results.
	 *
	 * The return type varies depending on the value passed to `$args['fields']`.
	 *
	 * The following will result in an array of `WP_Term` objects being returned:
	 *
	 *   - 'all'
	 *   - 'all_with_object_id'
	 *
	 * The following will result in a numeric string being returned:
	 *
	 *   - 'count'
	 *
	 * The following will result in an array of text strings being returned:
	 *
	 *   - 'id=>name'
	 *   - 'id=>slug'
	 *   - 'names'
	 *   - 'slugs'
	 *
	 * The following will result in an array of numeric strings being returned:
	 *
	 *   - 'id=>parent'
	 *
	 * The following will result in an array of integers being returned:
	 *
	 *   - 'ids'
	 *   - 'tt_ids'
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 *
	 * @global wpdb $wpdb WordPress database abstraction object.
	 *
	 * @return WP_Term[]|int[]|string[]|string Array of terms, or number of terms as numeric string
	 *                                         when 'count' is passed as a query var.
	 */
	public function get_terms() {
		global $wpdb;

		$this->parse_query( $this->query_vars );
		$args = &$this->query_vars;

		// Set up meta_query so it's available to 'pre_get_terms'.
		$this->meta_query = new WP_Meta_Query();
		$this->meta_query->parse_query_vars( $args );

		/**
		 * Fires before terms are retrieved.
		 *
		 * @since 4.6.0
		 *
		 * @param WP_Term_Query $query Current instance of WP_Term_Query (passed by reference).
		 */
		do_action_ref_array( 'pre_get_terms', array( &$this ) );

		$taxonomies = (array) $args['taxonomy'];

		// Save queries by not crawling the tree in the case of multiple taxes or a flat tax.
		$has_hierarchical_tax = false;
		if ( $taxonomies ) {
			foreach ( $taxonomies as $_tax ) {
				if ( is_taxonomy_hierarchical( $_tax ) ) {
					$has_hierarchical_tax = true;
				}
			}
		} else {
			// When no taxonomies are provided, assume we have to descend the tree.
			$has_hierarchical_tax = true;
		}

		if ( ! $has_hierarchical_tax ) {
			$args['hierarchical'] = false;
			$args['pad_counts']   = false;
		}

		// 'parent' overrides 'child_of'.
		if ( 0 < (int) $args['parent'] ) {
			$args['child_of'] = false;
		}

		if ( 'all' === $args['get'] ) {
			$args['childless']    = false;
			$args['child_of']     = 0;
			$args['hide_empty']   = 0;
			$args['hierarchical'] = false;
			$args['pad_counts']   = false;
		}

		/**
		 * Filters the terms query arguments.
		 *
		 * @since 3.1.0
		 *
		 * @param array    $args       An array of get_terms() arguments.
		 * @param string[] $taxonomies An array of taxonomy names.
		 */
		$args = apply_filters( 'get_terms_args', $args, $taxonomies );

		// Avoid the query if the queried parent/child_of term has no descendants.
		$child_of = $args['child_of'];
		$parent   = $args['parent'];

		if ( $child_of ) {
			$_parent = $child_of;
		} elseif ( $parent ) {
			$_parent = $parent;
		} else {
			$_parent = false;
		}

		if ( $_parent ) {
			$in_hierarchy = false;
			foreach ( $taxonomies as $_tax ) {
				$hierarchy = _get_term_hierarchy( $_tax );

				if ( isset( $hierarchy[ $_parent ] ) ) {
					$in_hierarchy = true;
				}
			}

			if ( ! $in_hierarchy ) {
				if ( 'count' === $args['fields'] ) {
					return 0;
				} else {
					$this->terms = array();
					return $this->terms;
				}
			}
		}

		// 'term_order' is a legal sort order only when joining the relationship table.
		$_orderby = $this->query_vars['orderby'];
		if ( 'term_order' === $_orderby && empty( $this->query_vars['object_ids'] ) ) {
			$_orderby = 'term_id';
		}

		$orderby = $this->parse_orderby( $_orderby );

		if ( $orderby ) {
			$orderby = "ORDER BY $orderby";
		}

		$order = $this->parse_order( $this->query_vars['order'] );

		if ( $taxonomies ) {
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['taxonomy'] =
				"tt.taxonomy IN ('" . implode( "', '", array_map( 'esc_sql', $taxonomies ) ) . "')";
		}

		if ( empty( $args['exclude'] ) ) {
			$args['exclude'] = array();
		}

		if ( empty( $args['include'] ) ) {
			$args['include'] = array();
		}

		$exclude      = $args['exclude'];
		$exclude_tree = $args['exclude_tree'];
		$include      = $args['include'];

		$inclusions = '';
		if ( ! empty( $include ) ) {
			$exclude      = '';
			$exclude_tree = '';
			$inclusions   = implode( ',', wp_parse_id_list( $include ) );
		}

		if ( ! empty( $inclusions ) ) {
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['inclusions'] = 't.term_id IN ( ' . $inclusions . ' )';
		}

		$exclusions = array();
		if ( ! empty( $exclude_tree ) ) {
			$exclude_tree      = wp_parse_id_list( $exclude_tree );
			$excluded_children = $exclude_tree;

			foreach ( $exclude_tree as $extrunk ) {
				$excluded_children = array_merge(
					$excluded_children,
					(array) get_terms(
						array(
							'taxonomy'   => reset( $taxonomies ),
							'child_of'   => (int) $extrunk,
							'fields'     => 'ids',
							'hide_empty' => 0,
						)
					)
				);
			}

			$exclusions = array_merge( $excluded_children, $exclusions );
		}

		if ( ! empty( $exclude ) ) {
			$exclusions = array_merge( wp_parse_id_list( $exclude ), $exclusions );
		}

		// 'childless' terms are those without an entry in the flattened term hierarchy.
		$childless = (bool) $args['childless'];
		if ( $childless ) {
			foreach ( $taxonomies as $_tax ) {
				$term_hierarchy = _get_term_hierarchy( $_tax );
				$exclusions     = array_merge( array_keys( $term_hierarchy ), $exclusions );
			}
		}

		if ( ! empty( $exclusions ) ) {
			$exclusions = 't.term_id NOT IN (' . implode( ',', array_map( 'intval', $exclusions ) ) . ')';
		} else {
			$exclusions = '';
		}

		/**
		 * Filters the terms to exclude from the terms query.
		 *
		 * @since 2.3.0
		 *
		 * @param string   $exclusions `NOT IN` clause of the terms query.
		 * @param array    $args       An array of terms query arguments.
		 * @param string[] $taxonomies An array of taxonomy names.
		 */
		$exclusions = apply_filters( 'list_terms_exclusions', $exclusions, $args, $taxonomies );

		if ( ! empty( $exclusions ) ) {
			// Strip leading 'AND'. Must do string manipulation here for backward compatibility with filter.
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['exclusions'] = preg_replace( '/^\s*AND\s*/', '', $exclusions );
		}

		if ( '' === $args['name'] ) {
			$args['name'] = array();
		} else {
			$args['name'] = (array) $args['name'];
		}

		if ( ! empty( $args['name'] ) ) {
			$names = $args['name'];

			foreach ( $names as &$_name ) {
				// `sanitize_term_field()` returns slashed data.
				$_name = stripslashes( sanitize_term_field( 'name', $_name, 0, reset( $taxonomies ), 'db' ) );
			}

			$this->sql_clauses['where']['name'] = "t.name IN ('" . implode( "', '", array_map( 'esc_sql', $names ) ) . "')";
		}

		if ( '' === $args['slug'] ) {
			$args['slug'] = array();
		} else {
			$args['slug'] = array_map( 'sanitize_title', (array) $args['slug'] );
		}

		if ( ! empty( $args['slug'] ) ) {
			$slug = implode( "', '", $args['slug'] );

			$this->sql_clauses['where']['slug'] = "t.slug IN ('" . $slug . "')";
		}

		if ( '' === $args['term_taxonomy_id'] ) {
			$args['term_taxonomy_id'] = array();
		} else {
			$args['term_taxonomy_id'] = array_map( 'intval', (array) $args['term_taxonomy_id'] );
		}

		if ( ! empty( $args['term_taxonomy_id'] ) ) {
			$tt_ids = implode( ',', $args['term_taxonomy_id'] );

			$this->sql_clauses['where']['term_taxonomy_id'] = "tt.term_taxonomy_id IN ({$tt_ids})";
		}

		if ( ! empty( $args['name__like'] ) ) {
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['name__like'] = $wpdb->prepare(
				't.name LIKE %s',
				'%' . $wpdb->esc_like( $args['name__like'] ) . '%'
			);
		}

		if ( ! empty( $args['description__like'] ) ) {
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['description__like'] = $wpdb->prepare(
				'tt.description LIKE %s',
				'%' . $wpdb->esc_like( $args['description__like'] ) . '%'
			);
		}

		if ( '' === $args['object_ids'] ) {
			$args['object_ids'] = array();
		} else {
			$args['object_ids'] = array_map( 'intval', (array) $args['object_ids'] );
		}

		if ( ! empty( $args['object_ids'] ) ) {
			$object_ids = implode( ', ', $args['object_ids'] );

			$this->sql_clauses['where']['object_ids'] = "tr.object_id IN ($object_ids)";
		}

		/*
		 * When querying for object relationships, the 'count > 0' check
		 * added by 'hide_empty' is superfluous.
		 */
		if ( ! empty( $args['object_ids'] ) ) {
			$args['hide_empty'] = false;
		}

		if ( '' !== $parent ) {
			$parent                               = (int) $parent;
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['parent'] = "tt.parent = '$parent'";
		}

		$hierarchical = $args['hierarchical'];
		if ( 'count' === $args['fields'] ) {
			$hierarchical = false;
		}
		if ( $args['hide_empty'] && ! $hierarchical ) {
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['count'] = 'tt.count > 0';
		}

		$number = $args['number'];
		$offset = $args['offset'];

		// Don't limit the query results when we have to descend the family tree.
		if ( $number && ! $hierarchical && ! $child_of && '' === $parent ) {
			if ( $offset ) {
				$limits = 'LIMIT ' . $offset . ',' . $number;
			} else {
				$limits = 'LIMIT ' . $number;
			}
		} else {
			$limits = '';
		}

		if ( ! empty( $args['search'] ) ) {
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['search'] = $this->get_search_sql( $args['search'] );
		}

		// Meta query support.
		$join     = '';
		$distinct = '';

		// Reparse meta_query query_vars, in case they were modified in a 'pre_get_terms' callback.
		$this->meta_query->parse_query_vars( $this->query_vars );
		$mq_sql       = $this->meta_query->get_sql( 'term', 't', 'term_id' );
		$meta_clauses = $this->meta_query->get_clauses();

		if ( ! empty( $meta_clauses ) ) {
			$join .= $mq_sql['join'];

			// Strip leading 'AND'.
			$this->sql_clauses['where']['meta_query'] = preg_replace( '/^\s*AND\s*/', '', $mq_sql['where'] );

			$distinct .= 'DISTINCT';

		}

		$selects = array();
		switch ( $args['fields'] ) {
			case 'count':
				$orderby = '';
				$order   = '';
				$selects = array( 'COUNT(*)' );
				break;
			default:
				$selects = array( 't.term_id' );
				if ( 'all_with_object_id' === $args['fields'] && ! empty( $args['object_ids'] ) ) {
					$selects[] = 'tr.object_id';
				}
				break;
		}

		$_fields = $args['fields'];

		/**
		 * Filters the fields to select in the terms query.
		 *
		 * Field lists modified using this filter will only modify the term fields returned
		 * by the function when the `$fields` parameter set to 'count' or 'all'. In all other
		 * cases, the term fields in the results array will be determined by the `$fields`
		 * parameter alone.
		 *
		 * Use of this filter can result in unpredictable behavior, and is not recommended.
		 *
		 * @since 2.8.0
		 *
		 * @param string[] $selects    An array of fields to select for the terms query.
		 * @param array    $args       An array of term query arguments.
		 * @param string[] $taxonomies An array of taxonomy names.
		 */
		$fields = implode( ', ', apply_filters( 'get_terms_fields', $selects, $args, $taxonomies ) );

		$join .= " INNER JOIN $wpdb->term_taxonomy AS tt ON t.term_id = tt.term_id";

		if ( ! empty( $this->query_vars['object_ids'] ) ) {
			$join    .= " INNER JOIN {$wpdb->term_relationships} AS tr ON tr.term_taxonomy_id = tt.term_taxonomy_id";
			$distinct = 'DISTINCT';
		}

		$where = implode( ' AND ', $this->sql_clauses['where'] );

		$pieces = array( 'fields', 'join', 'where', 'distinct', 'orderby', 'order', 'limits' );

		/**
		 * Filters the terms query SQL clauses.
		 *
		 * @since 3.1.0
		 *
		 * @param string[] $clauses {
		 *     Associative array of the clauses for the query.
		 *
		 *     @type string $fields   The SELECT clause of the query.
		 *     @type string $join     The JOIN clause of the query.
		 *     @type string $where    The WHERE clause of the query.
		 *     @type string $distinct The DISTINCT clause of the query.
		 *     @type string $orderby  The ORDER BY clause of the query.
		 *     @type string $order    The ORDER clause of the query.
		 *     @type string $limits   The LIMIT clause of the query.
		 * }
		 * @param string[] $taxonomies An array of taxonomy names.
		 * @param array    $args       An array of term query arguments.
		 */
		$clauses = apply_filters( 'terms_clauses', compact( $pieces ), $taxonomies, $args );

		$fields   = isset( $clauses['fields'] ) ? $clauses['fields'] : '';
		$join     = isset( $clauses['join'] ) ? $clauses['join'] : '';
		$where    = isset( $clauses['where'] ) ? $clauses['where'] : '';
		$distinct = isset( $clauses['distinct'] ) ? $clauses['distinct'] : '';
		$orderby  = isset( $clauses['orderby'] ) ? $clauses['orderby'] : '';
		$order    = isset( $clauses['order'] ) ? $clauses['order'] : '';
		$limits   = isset( $clauses['limits'] ) ? $clauses['limits'] : '';

		$fields_is_filtered = implode( ', ', $selects ) !== $fields;

		if ( $where ) {
			$where = "WHERE $where";
		}

		$this->sql_clauses['select']  = "SELECT $distinct $fields";
		$this->sql_clauses['from']    = "FROM $wpdb->terms AS t $join";
		$this->sql_clauses['orderby'] = $orderby ? "$orderby $order" : '';
		$this->sql_clauses['limits']  = $limits;

		// Beginning of the string is on a new line to prevent leading whitespace. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/56841.
		$this->request =
			"{$this->sql_clauses['select']}
			 {$this->sql_clauses['from']}
			 {$where}
			 {$this->sql_clauses['orderby']}
			 {$this->sql_clauses['limits']}";

		$this->terms = null;

		/**
		 * Filters the terms array before the query takes place.
		 *
		 * Return a non-null value to bypass WordPress' default term queries.
		 *
		 * @since 5.3.0
		 *
		 * @param array|null    $terms Return an array of term data to short-circuit WP's term query,
		 *                             or null to allow WP queries to run normally.
		 * @param WP_Term_Query $query The WP_Term_Query instance, passed by reference.
		 */
		$this->terms = apply_filters_ref_array( 'terms_pre_query', array( $this->terms, &$this ) );

		if ( null !== $this->terms ) {
			return $this->terms;
		}

		if ( $args['cache_results'] ) {
			$cache_key = $this->generate_cache_key( $args, $this->request );
			$cache     = wp_cache_get( $cache_key, 'term-queries' );

			if ( false !== $cache ) {
				if ( 'ids' === $_fields ) {
					$cache = array_map( 'intval', $cache );
				} elseif ( 'count' !== $_fields ) {
					if ( ( 'all_with_object_id' === $_fields && ! empty( $args['object_ids'] ) )
					|| ( 'all' === $_fields && $args['pad_counts'] || $fields_is_filtered )
					) {
						$term_ids = wp_list_pluck( $cache, 'term_id' );
					} else {
						$term_ids = array_map( 'intval', $cache );
					}

					_prime_term_caches( $term_ids, $args['update_term_meta_cache'] );

					$term_objects = $this->populate_terms( $cache );
					$cache        = $this->format_terms( $term_objects, $_fields );
				}

				$this->terms = $cache;
				return $this->terms;
			}
		}

		if ( 'count' === $_fields ) {
			$count = $wpdb->get_var( $this->request ); // phpcs:ignore WordPress.DB.PreparedSQL.NotPrepared
			if ( $args['cache_results'] ) {
				wp_cache_set( $cache_key, $count, 'term-queries' );
			}
			return $count;
		}

		$terms = $wpdb->get_results( $this->request ); // phpcs:ignore WordPress.DB.PreparedSQL.NotPrepared

		if ( empty( $terms ) ) {
			if ( $args['cache_results'] ) {
				wp_cache_add( $cache_key, array(), 'term-queries' );
			}
			return array();
		}

		$term_ids = wp_list_pluck( $terms, 'term_id' );
		_prime_term_caches( $term_ids, false );
		$term_objects = $this->populate_terms( $terms );

		if ( $child_of ) {
			foreach ( $taxonomies as $_tax ) {
				$children = _get_term_hierarchy( $_tax );
				if ( ! empty( $children ) ) {
					$term_objects = _get_term_children( $child_of, $term_objects, $_tax );
				}
			}
		}

		// Update term counts to include children.
		if ( $args['pad_counts'] && 'all' === $_fields ) {
			foreach ( $taxonomies as $_tax ) {
				_pad_term_counts( $term_objects, $_tax );
			}
		}

		// Make sure we show empty categories that have children.
		if ( $hierarchical && $args['hide_empty'] && is_array( $term_objects ) ) {
			foreach ( $term_objects as $k => $term ) {
				if ( ! $term->count ) {
					$children = get_term_children( $term->term_id, $term->taxonomy );

					if ( is_array( $children ) ) {
						foreach ( $children as $child_id ) {
							$child = get_term( $child_id, $term->taxonomy );
							if ( $child->count ) {
								continue 2;
							}
						}
					}

					// It really is empty.
					unset( $term_objects[ $k ] );
				}
			}
		}

		// Hierarchical queries are not limited, so 'offset' and 'number' must be handled now.
		if ( $hierarchical && $number && is_array( $term_objects ) ) {
			if ( $offset >= count( $term_objects ) ) {
				$term_objects = array();
			} else {
				$term_objects = array_slice( $term_objects, $offset, $number, true );
			}
		}

		// Prime termmeta cache.
		if ( $args['update_term_meta_cache'] ) {
			$term_ids = wp_list_pluck( $term_objects, 'term_id' );
			wp_lazyload_term_meta( $term_ids );
		}

		if ( 'all_with_object_id' === $_fields && ! empty( $args['object_ids'] ) ) {
			$term_cache = array();
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$object            = new stdClass();
				$object->term_id   = $term->term_id;
				$object->object_id = $term->object_id;
				$term_cache[]      = $object;
			}
		} elseif ( 'all' === $_fields && $args['pad_counts'] ) {
			$term_cache = array();
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$object          = new stdClass();
				$object->term_id = $term->term_id;
				$object->count   = $term->count;
				$term_cache[]    = $object;
			}
		} elseif ( $fields_is_filtered ) {
			$term_cache = $term_objects;
		} else {
			$term_cache = wp_list_pluck( $term_objects, 'term_id' );
		}

		if ( $args['cache_results'] ) {
			wp_cache_add( $cache_key, $term_cache, 'term-queries' );
		}

		$this->terms = $this->format_terms( $term_objects, $_fields );

		return $this->terms;
	}

	/**
	 * Parse and sanitize 'orderby' keys passed to the term query.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 *
	 * @param string $orderby_raw Alias for the field to order by.
	 * @return string|false Value to used in the ORDER clause. False otherwise.
	 */
	protected function parse_orderby( $orderby_raw ) {
		$_orderby           = strtolower( $orderby_raw );
		$maybe_orderby_meta = false;

		if ( in_array( $_orderby, array( 'term_id', 'name', 'slug', 'term_group' ), true ) ) {
			$orderby = "t.$_orderby";
		} elseif ( in_array( $_orderby, array( 'count', 'parent', 'taxonomy', 'term_taxonomy_id', 'description' ), true ) ) {
			$orderby = "tt.$_orderby";
		} elseif ( 'term_order' === $_orderby ) {
			$orderby = 'tr.term_order';
		} elseif ( 'include' === $_orderby && ! empty( $this->query_vars['include'] ) ) {
			$include = implode( ',', wp_parse_id_list( $this->query_vars['include'] ) );
			$orderby = "FIELD( t.term_id, $include )";
		} elseif ( 'slug__in' === $_orderby && ! empty( $this->query_vars['slug'] ) && is_array( $this->query_vars['slug'] ) ) {
			$slugs   = implode( "', '", array_map( 'sanitize_title_for_query', $this->query_vars['slug'] ) );
			$orderby = "FIELD( t.slug, '" . $slugs . "')";
		} elseif ( 'none' === $_orderby ) {
			$orderby = '';
		} elseif ( empty( $_orderby ) || 'id' === $_orderby || 'term_id' === $_orderby ) {
			$orderby = 't.term_id';
		} else {
			$orderby = 't.name';

			// This may be a value of orderby related to meta.
			$maybe_orderby_meta = true;
		}

		/**
		 * Filters the ORDERBY clause of the terms query.
		 *
		 * @since 2.8.0
		 *
		 * @param string   $orderby    `ORDERBY` clause of the terms query.
		 * @param array    $args       An array of term query arguments.
		 * @param string[] $taxonomies An array of taxonomy names.
		 */
		$orderby = apply_filters( 'get_terms_orderby', $orderby, $this->query_vars, $this->query_vars['taxonomy'] );

		// Run after the 'get_terms_orderby' filter for backward compatibility.
		if ( $maybe_orderby_meta ) {
			$maybe_orderby_meta = $this->parse_orderby_meta( $_orderby );
			if ( $maybe_orderby_meta ) {
				$orderby = $maybe_orderby_meta;
			}
		}

		return $orderby;
	}

	/**
	 * Format response depending on field requested.
	 *
	 * @since 6.0.0
	 *
	 * @param WP_Term[] $term_objects Array of term objects.
	 * @param string    $_fields      Field to format.
	 *
	 * @return WP_Term[]|int[]|string[] Array of terms / strings / ints depending on field requested.
	 */
	protected function format_terms( $term_objects, $_fields ) {
		$_terms = array();
		if ( 'id=>parent' === $_fields ) {
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$_terms[ $term->term_id ] = $term->parent;
			}
		} elseif ( 'ids' === $_fields ) {
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$_terms[] = (int) $term->term_id;
			}
		} elseif ( 'tt_ids' === $_fields ) {
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$_terms[] = (int) $term->term_taxonomy_id;
			}
		} elseif ( 'names' === $_fields ) {
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$_terms[] = $term->name;
			}
		} elseif ( 'slugs' === $_fields ) {
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$_terms[] = $term->slug;
			}
		} elseif ( 'id=>name' === $_fields ) {
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$_terms[ $term->term_id ] = $term->name;
			}
		} elseif ( 'id=>slug' === $_fields ) {
			foreach ( $term_objects as $term ) {
				$_terms[ $term->term_id ] = $term->slug;
			}
		} elseif ( 'all' === $_fields || 'all_with_object_id' === $_fields ) {
			$_terms = $term_objects;
		}

		return $_terms;
	}

	/**
	 * Generate the ORDER BY clause for an 'orderby' param that is potentially related to a meta query.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 *
	 * @param string $orderby_raw Raw 'orderby' value passed to WP_Term_Query.
	 * @return string ORDER BY clause.
	 */
	protected function parse_orderby_meta( $orderby_raw ) {
		$orderby = '';

		// Tell the meta query to generate its SQL, so we have access to table aliases.
		$this->meta_query->get_sql( 'term', 't', 'term_id' );
		$meta_clauses = $this->meta_query->get_clauses();
		if ( ! $meta_clauses || ! $orderby_raw ) {
			return $orderby;
		}

		$allowed_keys       = array();
		$primary_meta_key   = null;
		$primary_meta_query = reset( $meta_clauses );
		if ( ! empty( $primary_meta_query['key'] ) ) {
			$primary_meta_key = $primary_meta_query['key'];
			$allowed_keys[]   = $primary_meta_key;
		}
		$allowed_keys[] = 'meta_value';
		$allowed_keys[] = 'meta_value_num';
		$allowed_keys   = array_merge( $allowed_keys, array_keys( $meta_clauses ) );

		if ( ! in_array( $orderby_raw, $allowed_keys, true ) ) {
			return $orderby;
		}

		switch ( $orderby_raw ) {
			case $primary_meta_key:
			case 'meta_value':
				if ( ! empty( $primary_meta_query['type'] ) ) {
					$orderby = "CAST({$primary_meta_query['alias']}.meta_value AS {$primary_meta_query['cast']})";
				} else {
					$orderby = "{$primary_meta_query['alias']}.meta_value";
				}
				break;

			case 'meta_value_num':
				$orderby = "{$primary_meta_query['alias']}.meta_value+0";
				break;

			default:
				if ( array_key_exists( $orderby_raw, $meta_clauses ) ) {
					// $orderby corresponds to a meta_query clause.
					$meta_clause = $meta_clauses[ $orderby_raw ];
					$orderby     = "CAST({$meta_clause['alias']}.meta_value AS {$meta_clause['cast']})";
				}
				break;
		}

		return $orderby;
	}

	/**
	 * Parse an 'order' query variable and cast it to ASC or DESC as necessary.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 *
	 * @param string $order The 'order' query variable.
	 * @return string The sanitized 'order' query variable.
	 */
	protected function parse_order( $order ) {
		if ( ! is_string( $order ) || empty( $order ) ) {
			return 'DESC';
		}

		if ( 'ASC' === strtoupper( $order ) ) {
			return 'ASC';
		} else {
			return 'DESC';
		}
	}

	/**
	 * Used internally to generate a SQL string related to the 'search' parameter.
	 *
	 * @since 4.6.0
	 *
	 * @global wpdb $wpdb WordPress database abstraction object.
	 *
	 * @param string $search Search string.
	 * @return string Search SQL.
	 */
	protected function get_search_sql( $search ) {
		global $wpdb;

		$like = '%' . $wpdb->esc_like( $search ) . '%';

		return $wpdb->prepare( '((t.name LIKE %s) OR (t.slug LIKE %s))', $like, $like );
	}

	/**
	 * Creates an array of term objects from an array of term IDs.
	 *
	 * Also discards invalid term objects.
	 *
	 * @since 4.9.8
	 *
	 * @param Object[]|int[] $terms List of objects or term ids.
	 * @return WP_Term[] Array of `WP_Term` objects.
	 */
	protected function populate_terms( $terms ) {
		$term_objects = array();
		if ( ! is_array( $terms ) ) {
			return $term_objects;
		}

		foreach ( $terms as $key => $term_data ) {
			if ( is_object( $term_data ) && property_exists( $term_data, 'term_id' ) ) {
				$term = get_term( $term_data->term_id );
				if ( property_exists( $term_data, 'object_id' ) ) {
					$term->object_id = (int) $term_data->object_id;
				}
				if ( property_exists( $term_data, 'count' ) ) {
					$term->count = (int) $term_data->count;
				}
			} else {
				$term = get_term( $term_data );
			}

			if ( $term instanceof WP_Term ) {
				$term_objects[ $key ] = $term;
			}
		}

		return $term_objects;
	}

	/**
	 * Generate cache key.
	 *
	 * @since 6.2.0
	 *
	 * @global wpdb $wpdb WordPress database abstraction object.
	 *
	 * @param array  $args WP_Term_Query arguments.
	 * @param string $sql  SQL statement.
	 *
	 * @return string Cache key.
	 */
	protected function generate_cache_key( array $args, $sql ) {
		global $wpdb;
		// $args can be anything. Only use the args defined in defaults to compute the key.
		$cache_args = wp_array_slice_assoc( $args, array_keys( $this->query_var_defaults ) );

		unset( $cache_args['cache_results'], $cache_args['update_term_meta_cache'] );

		if ( 'count' !== $args['fields'] && 'all_with_object_id' !== $args['fields'] ) {
			$cache_args['fields'] = 'all';
		}
		$taxonomies = (array) $args['taxonomy'];

		// Replace wpdb placeholder in the SQL statement used by the cache key.
		$sql = $wpdb->remove_placeholder_escape( $sql );

		$key          = md5( serialize( $cache_args ) . serialize( $taxonomies ) . $sql );
		$last_changed = wp_cache_get_last_changed( 'terms' );
		return "get_terms:$key:$last_changed";
	}
}

Changelog

VersionDescription
4.6.0Introduced.

User Contributed Notes

  1. Skip to note 9 content

    Basic usage: list all the terms of product_type taxonomy:

    $term_args = array(
    	'taxonomy'               => 'product_type',
    	'hide_empty'             => false,
    	'fields'                 => 'all',
    	'count'                  => true,
    );
    $term_query = new WP_Term_Query( $term_args );
    
    foreach ( $term_query->terms as $term ) {
    	echo "Term ID: {$term->term_id}<br>";
    	echo "Term Name: {$term->name}<br><br>";
    }
  2. Skip to note 10 content

    Get terms with a specific non-empty meta key from one or all public taxonomies, using the WP_Term_Meta class. Will return term object of false if nothing found.

    It will select all terms that has `$meta_key` value assigned and is not empty.

    The function:

    /**
     * Get terms with a specific non-empty meta key
     *
     * @param string $meta_key The meta key to check for.
     * @param string $taxonomy The taxonomy slug or `null` to query all public taxonomies
     * @return array|bool(false)
     */
    function wpdocs_get_terms_with_meta( $meta_key, $taxonomy = null ){
    	/* Do Query
    	----------------*/
    	$term_args = array(
    		'taxonomy'   => $taxonomy,
    		'hide_empty' => false,
    		'fields'     => 'all',
    		'count'      => true,
    		'meta_key'   => $meta_key,
    		'meta_value'   => '',
    		'meta_compare'   => '!=',
    	);
    
    	$term_query = new WP_Term_Query( $term_args );
    
    	/* Do we have any terms?
    	-----------------------------*/
    	if( empty( $term_query->terms ) ){
    		return false;
    	}
    
    	/* Get the terms :)
    	------------------------*/
    	return $term_query->terms;
    }

    Example usage:

    // Get all terms from all taxonomies
    $terms = wpdocs_get_terms_with_meta( 'example_field_key' );
    if( ! empty( $terms ) ){
    	foreach ($terms as $term) {
    		$meta_value = get_term_meta( $term->term_id, $meta_key, true );
    		echo $meta_value . '<br>';
    	}
    }
    // Get all terms from all `category` taxonomy
    $terms = wpdocs_get_terms_with_meta( 'example_field_key', 'category' );
    if( ! empty( $terms ) ){
    	foreach ($terms as $term) {
    		$meta_value = get_term_meta( $term->term_id, $meta_key, true );
    		echo $meta_value . '<br>';
    	}
    }
  3. Skip to note 11 content

    When running a search based query on terms, while the standard WP_Query uses 's' for its search argument, WP_Term_Query uses 'search':

    $term_args = array(
        'search'		=> 'desired search term',
    	'taxonomy'		=> 'category',
    	'hide_empty'	=> false
    );
    $term_results = new WP_Term_Query( $term_args );
  4. Skip to note 12 content

    Get all terms from multiple taxonomies and show only terms that are in English when you’re using Polylang.

    $args = array(
    	'taxonomy' => array('category', 'tax-1', 'tax-2', 'tax-3'),
    	'hide_empty' => false,
    );
    
    $terms_query = new WP_Term_Query( $args );
    
    $choices = [];
    
    foreach ( $terms_query->terms as $term ) {
    	$id = pll_get_term($term->term_id, 'en_US'); // Default to en_US locale
    	$choices[$id] = $term->name;
    }
    
    print_r($choices);

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