Question

Using WordPress, I need to generate an array of tags(terms) from posts in a particular category.

For instance, if I have two categories, “apple” and “orange”, I want an array of terms that are only used in posts in the apple category — not in the orange category. (though, if a term is used in both, that should be included)

I’ve tried using a handful of wordpress functions, but none return what I want (including tag_cloud function). My guess is I’m left with a Query call … but so far all my queries aren’t giving me the list I want.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

I’m not sure you can accomplish what you want using the functions WordPress provides. Here’s an SQL query that seems to do what you want:

SELECT tag_terms.name, COUNT(wp_posts.ID) FROM wp_posts 

INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships AS cat_term_relationships ON wp_posts.ID= cat_term_relationships.object_ID 
INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS cat_term_taxonomy ON cat_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id= cat_term_taxonomy.term_taxonomy_id 
INNER JOIN wp_terms AS cat_terms ON cat_term_taxonomy.term_id= cat_terms.term_id 

INNER JOIN wp_term_relationships AS tag_term_relationships ON wp_posts.ID= tag_term_relationships.object_ID 
INNER JOIN wp_term_taxonomy AS tag_term_taxonomy ON tag_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id= tag_term_taxonomy.term_taxonomy_id 
INNER JOIN wp_terms AS tag_terms ON tag_term_taxonomy.term_id= tag_terms.term_id 

WHERE cat_term_taxonomy.taxonomy='category' AND cat_terms.name='apple' AND tag_term_taxonomy.taxonomy='post_tag'
GROUP BY tag_terms.name

The gist of it is that you join the wp_posts table with the taxonomy tables a couple times to get the post IDs in your desired category and then join those IDs with the taxonomy tables a couple more times to get the related tags.