comments.php

Last updated: February 13, 2026

Fallback comments template for themes that do not provide their own.

Source: wp-includes/theme-compat/comments.php
Deprecated: 3.0.0
Subpackage: Theme_Compat

Purpose

Loaded by comments_template() when the active theme has no comments.php. Renders the comment list, navigation, and comment form for a post.

Calls _deprecated_file() — deprecation notice.
Direct access protection: If $_SERVER['SCRIPT_FILENAME'] basename is 'comments.php', calls die() with a message preventing direct loading.
Password-protected posts: If post_password_required() returns true, outputs a <p class="nocomments"> message asking for the password, then returns early.
If have_comments() is true:
If have_comments() is false:
- If comments_open(): outputs an empty HTML comment ("If comments are open, but there are no comments.")
- If comments closed: outputs <p class="nocomments">Comments are closed.</p>
Always calls comment_form() at the end (no arguments).

Function	Purpose
`_deprecated_file()`	Deprecation notice
`__()`, `_e()`, `_n()`	Translation (including pluralization)
`sprintf()`, `basename()`	String formatting
`post_password_required()`	Check if post needs password
`have_comments()`	Check if comments exist
`get_comments_number()`	Comment count
`get_the_title()`	Post title
`number_format_i18n()`	Localized number formatting
`previous_comments_link()`	Older comments pagination
`next_comments_link()`	Newer comments pagination
`wp_list_comments()`	Render comment list
`comments_open()`	Check if commenting is open
`comment_form()`	Render comment form

Variable	Purpose
`$_SERVER['SCRIPT_FILENAME']`	Direct access protection