WordPress Links & URL Functions Reference

Last updated: February 12, 2026

Site URL Functions

`home_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )`

Returns the URL for the site’s front-end.

home_url();                    // https://example.com
home_url( '/about/' );         // https://example.com/about/
home_url( '/', 'https' );      // Force HTTPS
home_url( '/', 'relative' );   // /

Parameters:

$path (string) – Path relative to home URL
$scheme (string|null) – ‘http’, ‘https’, ‘relative’, ‘rest’, or null

Filter: home_url

`get_home_url( $blog_id = null, $path = '', $scheme = null )`

Returns home URL for a specific site (multisite-aware).

get_home_url( 2, '/page/' );  // Home URL for site ID 2

`site_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )`

Returns the URL where WordPress core files reside.

site_url();                        // https://example.com
site_url( 'wp-login.php' );        // https://example.com/wp-login.php
site_url( '/wp-admin/', 'admin' ); // Respects force_ssl_admin()

Note: On most installs, home_url() and site_url() are identical. They differ when WordPress is installed in a subdirectory.

Filter: site_url

`get_site_url( $blog_id = null, $path = '', $scheme = null )`

Multisite-aware version of site_url().

`admin_url( $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )`

Returns URL to the admin area.

admin_url();                          // https://example.com/wp-admin/
admin_url( 'edit.php' );              // https://example.com/wp-admin/edit.php
admin_url( 'post.php?action=edit&post=123' );

Scheme options:

'admin' – Respects force_ssl_admin() and is_ssl()
'http' – Force HTTP
'https' – Force HTTPS

Filter: admin_url

`get_admin_url( $blog_id = null, $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )`

Multisite-aware version of admin_url().

`includes_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )`

Returns URL to the wp-includes directory.

includes_url( 'js/jquery/jquery.min.js' );

Filter: includes_url

`content_url( $path = '' )`

Returns URL to the wp-content directory.

content_url( 'uploads/2024/02/image.jpg' );

Filter: content_url

`plugins_url( $path = '', $plugin = '' )`

Returns URL to a plugin file or directory.

// From within a plugin file:
plugins_url( 'assets/style.css', __FILE__ );

Filter: plugins_url

Network/Multisite URL Functions

`network_home_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )`

Returns the network home URL.

`network_site_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )`

Returns the network site URL.

`network_admin_url( $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )`

Returns URL to network admin.

network_admin_url( 'sites.php' );  // Network sites page

`user_admin_url( $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )`

Returns URL to user admin area.

`self_admin_url( $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )`

Returns context-aware admin URL (network, user, or site admin).

Permalink Functions

`get_permalink( $post = 0, $leavename = false )`

Returns the full permalink for a post.

get_permalink();           // Current post
get_permalink( 123 );      // Post ID 123
get_permalink( $post );    // WP_Post object

Parameters:

$post (int|WP_Post) – Post ID or object
$leavename (bool) – Keep %postname% placeholder unreplaced

Dispatches to:

get_page_link() for pages
get_attachment_link() for attachments
get_post_permalink() for custom post types

Filter: post_link

`the_permalink( $post = 0 )`

Echoes the permalink (escaped).

`get_the_permalink( $post = 0, $leavename = false )`

Alias for get_permalink().

`get_post_permalink( $post = 0, $leavename = false, $sample = false )`

Returns permalink for custom post types.

get_post_permalink( $book_id );

Filter: post_type_link

`get_page_link( $post = 0, $leavename = false, $sample = false )`

Returns permalink for a page, respecting front page settings.

Filter: page_link

`get_attachment_link( $post = null, $leavename = false )`

Returns permalink for an attachment.

Filter: attachment_link

Archive Permalink Functions

`get_year_link( $year )`

Returns URL to year archive.

get_year_link( 2024 );     // /2024/
get_year_link( false );    // Current year

Filter: year_link

`get_month_link( $year, $month )`

Returns URL to month archive.

get_month_link( 2024, 2 ); // /2024/02/

Filter: month_link

`get_day_link( $year, $month, $day )`

Returns URL to day archive.

get_day_link( 2024, 2, 9 ); // /2024/02/09/

Filter: day_link

`get_post_type_archive_link( $post_type )`

Returns URL to post type archive.

get_post_type_archive_link( 'book' );  // /books/
get_post_type_archive_link( 'post' );  // Blog page or home

Returns: false if post type doesn’t exist or has no archive.

Filter: post_type_archive_link

Taxonomy/Term Permalink Functions

`get_term_link( $term, $taxonomy = '' )`

Returns permalink for a term.

get_term_link( 15, 'category' );     // By ID
get_term_link( 'news', 'category' ); // By slug
get_term_link( $term_object );       // By object

Returns: URL string or WP_Error on failure.

`get_category_link( $category )`

Returns permalink for a category (wrapper for get_term_link()).

`get_tag_link( $tag )`

Returns permalink for a tag (wrapper for get_term_link()).

Author URL Functions

`get_author_posts_url( $author_id, $author_nicename = '' )`

Returns URL to author archive.

get_author_posts_url( 1 );  // /author/admin/

Filter: author_link

Feed URL Functions

`get_feed_link( $feed = '' )`

Returns URL to the site feed.

get_feed_link();           // Default feed
get_feed_link( 'rss2' );   // RSS 2.0
get_feed_link( 'atom' );   // Atom

Filter: feed_link

`get_post_comments_feed_link( $post_id = 0, $feed = '' )`

Returns URL to a post’s comments feed.

`get_author_feed_link( $author_id, $feed = '' )`

Returns URL to an author’s posts feed.

`get_category_feed_link( $cat, $feed = '' )`

Returns URL to a category feed.

Filter: category_feed_link

`get_tag_feed_link( $tag, $feed = '' )`

Returns URL to a tag feed.

Filter: tag_feed_link

`get_term_feed_link( $term, $taxonomy = '', $feed = '' )`

Returns URL to a term feed.

`get_post_type_archive_feed_link( $post_type, $feed = '' )`

Returns URL to post type archive feed.

Search URL Functions

`get_search_link( $query = '' )`

Returns URL for search results.

get_search_link( 'hello world' );  // /?s=hello+world or /search/hello+world/

Filter: search_link

`get_search_feed_link( $search_query = '', $feed = '' )`

Returns URL for search results feed.

Edit Link Functions

`get_edit_post_link( $post = 0, $context = 'display' )`

Returns URL to edit a post.

get_edit_post_link( 123 );           // /wp-admin/post.php?post=123&action=edit
get_edit_post_link( 123, 'url' );    // Without HTML entity encoding

Filter: get_edit_post_link

`edit_post_link( $text = null, $before = '', $after = '', $post = 0, $css_class = 'post-edit-link' )`

Outputs edit link with wrapper.

`get_delete_post_link( $post = 0, $deprecated = '', $force_delete = false )`

Returns URL to delete/trash a post.

`get_edit_term_link( $term, $taxonomy = '', $object_type = '' )`

Returns URL to edit a term.

Filter: get_edit_term_link

`get_edit_comment_link( $comment_id = 0, $context = 'display' )`

Returns URL to edit a comment.

`get_edit_user_link( $user_id = null )`

Returns URL to edit a user.

`get_edit_bookmark_link( $link = 0 )`

Returns URL to edit a bookmark.

Navigation Functions

`get_previous_post( $in_same_term = false, $excluded_terms = '', $taxonomy = 'category' )`

Returns previous post object.

`get_next_post( $in_same_term = false, $excluded_terms = '', $taxonomy = 'category' )`

Returns next post object.

`get_adjacent_post( $in_same_term = false, $excluded_terms = '', $previous = true, $taxonomy = 'category' )`

Returns adjacent post (previous or next).

`get_previous_post_link( $format = '« %link', $link = '%title', ... )`

Returns formatted previous post link.

`get_next_post_link( $format = '%link »', $link = '%title', ... )`

Returns formatted next post link.

`get_the_post_navigation( $args = array() )`

Returns navigation markup for previous/next posts.

`get_the_posts_navigation( $args = array() )`

Returns navigation for previous/next set of posts (older/newer).

`paginate_links( $args = '' )`

Returns paginated numeric links.

echo paginate_links( array(
    'total'   => $total_pages,
    'current' => $current_page,
) );

Shortlink Functions

`wp_get_shortlink( $id = 0, $context = 'post', $allow_slugs = true )`

Returns shortlink for a post.

wp_get_shortlink();      // Current post: ?p=123
wp_get_shortlink( 123 ); // Specific post

Filters: pre_get_shortlink, get_shortlink

`the_shortlink( $text = '', $title = '', $before = '', $after = '' )`

Outputs shortlink anchor tag.

`wp_shortlink_wp_head()`

Outputs <link rel="shortlink"> in head.

`wp_shortlink_header()`

Sends Link: <shortlink>; rel=shortlink HTTP header.

Canonical URL Functions

`wp_get_canonical_url( $post = null )`

Returns canonical URL for a post.

wp_get_canonical_url();      // Current post
wp_get_canonical_url( 123 ); // Specific post

Handles pagination (page, cpage) automatically.

Filter: get_canonical_url

`rel_canonical()`

Outputs <link rel="canonical"> tag for singular pages.

`redirect_canonical( $requested_url = null, $do_redirect = true )`

Redirects to canonical URL when needed.

Filter: redirect_canonical – Return false to cancel redirect.

`redirect_guess_404_permalink()`

Attempts to guess correct URL for 404 pages.

Filters:

do_redirect_guess_404_permalink – Enable/disable guessing
pre_redirect_guess_404_permalink – Short-circuit with custom URL
strict_redirect_guess_404_permalink – Exact match only

Utility Functions

`set_url_scheme( $url, $scheme = null )`

Sets URL scheme (protocol).

set_url_scheme( $url, 'https' );    // Force HTTPS
set_url_scheme( $url, 'relative' ); // Strip scheme and host
set_url_scheme( $url, 'admin' );    // Respects force_ssl_admin()

Scheme options: http, https, login, login_post, admin, relative, rest, rpc

Filter: set_url_scheme

`user_trailingslashit( $url, $type_of_url = '' )`

Adds or removes trailing slash based on permalink settings.

user_trailingslashit( '/category/news', 'category' );

Filter: user_trailingslashit

`wp_force_plain_post_permalink( $post = null, $sample = null )`

Determines if post should use plain ?p= permalink.

Returns true for:

Unpublished posts
Private posts (unless user can read them)
Invalid post types

`get_dashboard_url( $user_id = 0, $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )`

Returns dashboard URL for a user.

`get_edit_profile_url( $user_id = 0, $scheme = 'admin' )`

Returns profile edit URL.

`get_privacy_policy_url()`

Returns URL to privacy policy page.

Filter: privacy_policy_url

`wp_is_internal_link( $link )`

Checks if URL is internal (same host).

wp_is_internal_link( 'https://example.com/page' );  // true
wp_is_internal_link( 'https://other.com/page' );    // false

`wp_internal_hosts()`

Returns array of internal hostnames.

Filter: wp_internal_hosts

Bookmark (Links) Functions

`get_bookmark( $bookmark, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw' )`

Retrieves a single bookmark.

$link = get_bookmark( 1 );
echo $link->link_url;

`get_bookmark_field( $field, $bookmark, $context = 'display' )`

Retrieves a specific bookmark field.

`get_bookmarks( $args = '' )`

Retrieves list of bookmarks.

$links = get_bookmarks( array(
    'orderby'        => 'name',
    'order'          => 'ASC',
    'limit'          => 10,
    'category'       => '5,7',
    'hide_invisible' => 1,
    'search'         => 'blog',
) );

Filter: get_bookmarks

`sanitize_bookmark( $bookmark, $context = 'display' )`

Sanitizes all bookmark fields.

`sanitize_bookmark_field( $field, $value, $bookmark_id, $context )`

Sanitizes a single bookmark field.

Contexts: raw, edit, db, display, attribute, js

`clean_bookmark_cache( $bookmark_id )`

Clears bookmark cache.

Theme URL Functions

`get_theme_file_uri( $file = '' )`

Returns URL to file in theme (checks child theme first).

get_theme_file_uri( 'assets/js/app.js' );

Filter: theme_file_uri

`get_parent_theme_file_uri( $file = '' )`

Returns URL to file in parent theme.

Filter: parent_theme_file_uri

`get_theme_file_path( $file = '' )`

Returns path to file in theme.

Filter: theme_file_path

`get_parent_theme_file_path( $file = '' )`

Returns path to file in parent theme.

Filter: parent_theme_file_path

Avatar URL Functions

`get_avatar_url( $id_or_email, $args = null )`

Returns Gravatar URL.

get_avatar_url( 1 );                  // User ID
get_avatar_url( '[email protected]' ); // Email
get_avatar_url( $comment );           // Comment object

Args:

size – Pixel size (default 96)
default – Fallback type: ‘mm’, ‘identicon’, ‘monsterid’, ‘wavatar’, ‘retro’, ‘robohash’, ‘blank’, ‘404’
rating – Max rating: ‘g’, ‘pg’, ‘r’, ‘x’

Filter: get_avatar_url

`get_avatar_data( $id_or_email, $args = null )`

Returns complete avatar data array including URL and metadata.

Filter: get_avatar_data

Comment Link Functions

`get_comments_pagenum_link( $pagenum = 1, $max_page = 0 )`

Returns URL for specific comments page.

`get_next_comments_link( $label = '', $max_page = 0, $page = null )`

Returns link to next comments page.

`get_previous_comments_link( $label = '', $page = null )`

Returns link to previous comments page.

`paginate_comments_links( $args = array() )`

Returns paginated comments navigation.

`get_the_comments_navigation( $args = array() )`

Returns comments navigation markup (prev/next).

`get_the_comments_pagination( $args = array() )`

Returns comments pagination markup (numbered).

WordPress Links & URL Functions Reference

Site URL Functions

home_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )

get_home_url( $blog_id = null, $path = '', $scheme = null )

site_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )

get_site_url( $blog_id = null, $path = '', $scheme = null )

admin_url( $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )

get_admin_url( $blog_id = null, $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )

includes_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )

content_url( $path = '' )

plugins_url( $path = '', $plugin = '' )

Network/Multisite URL Functions

network_home_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )

network_site_url( $path = '', $scheme = null )

network_admin_url( $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )

user_admin_url( $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )

self_admin_url( $path = '', $scheme = 'admin' )

Permalink Functions

get_permalink( $post = 0, $leavename = false )

the_permalink( $post = 0 )

get_the_permalink( $post = 0, $leavename = false )

get_post_permalink( $post = 0, $leavename = false, $sample = false )

get_page_link( $post = 0, $leavename = false, $sample = false )

get_attachment_link( $post = null, $leavename = false )

Archive Permalink Functions

get_year_link( $year )

get_month_link( $year, $month )

get_day_link( $year, $month, $day )

get_post_type_archive_link( $post_type )

Taxonomy/Term Permalink Functions

get_term_link( $term, $taxonomy = '' )

get_category_link( $category )

get_tag_link( $tag )

Author URL Functions

get_author_posts_url( $author_id, $author_nicename = '' )

Feed URL Functions

get_feed_link( $feed = '' )

get_post_comments_feed_link( $post_id = 0, $feed = '' )

get_author_feed_link( $author_id, $feed = '' )

get_category_feed_link( $cat, $feed = '' )

get_tag_feed_link( $tag, $feed = '' )

get_term_feed_link( $term, $taxonomy = '', $feed = '' )

get_post_type_archive_feed_link( $post_type, $feed = '' )