How to Display Child Pages in WordPress

The wp_list_pages() function is the standard way to display child pages of a page in WordPress. This is useful for building navigation menus, sidebars, or displaying page hierarchies.

Basic Implementation

Here’s a working example that displays all child pages of the current page:

<h3>Pages under <?php the_title(); ?></h3>
<div class="entry">
  <ul>
    <?php 
      wp_list_pages(array(
        'title_li'    => '',
        'child_of'    => get_the_ID(),
        'sort_column' => 'menu_order',
      ));
    ?>
  </ul>
</div>

Note the shift from global $id to get_the_ID(). The global $id variable isn’t reliable in all contexts (like custom queries or Gutenberg blocks), so get_the_ID() is the safer modern approach.

Common Parameters

wp_list_pages() accepts an array of arguments. Here are the most useful ones:

title_li: Sets the list item wrapper (empty string '' removes it)
child_of: Parent page ID — use get_the_ID() for the current page
sort_column: Order by menu_order, post_title, post_date, etc.
exclude: Comma-separated page IDs to exclude
echo: Set to false to return the HTML instead of echoing it
depth: How many levels deep to display (-1 for unlimited)
link_before / link_after: Wrap page titles with custom HTML

Advanced Example with Modified Dates

To display child pages with their last modified date:

<?php 
  wp_list_pages(array(
    'title_li'     => '',
    'child_of'     => get_the_ID(),
    'sort_column'  => 'menu_order',
    'show_date'    => 'modified',
    'date_format'  => get_option('date_format'),
  ));
?>

Using get_option('date_format') respects the site’s date settings rather than hardcoding a format.

Excluding Pages

To skip specific pages from the list:

<?php 
  wp_list_pages(array(
    'title_li' => '',
    'child_of' => get_the_ID(),
    'exclude'  => '42, 99, 156',
  ));
?>

Capturing Output Instead of Echoing

If you need to manipulate the output before displaying it:

<?php 
  $pages = wp_list_pages(array(
    'title_li' => '',
    'child_of' => get_the_ID(),
    'echo'     => false,
  ));

  if (!empty($pages)) {
    echo '<nav class="child-pages">';
    echo $pages;
    echo '</nav>';
  }
?>

Template Tag Considerations

For block-based themes using Gutenberg, avoid using wp_list_pages() directly in templates. Use the built-in Page List block instead, or register a custom block that wraps the function. If you need wp_list_pages() in a block, use do_blocks() or create a dynamic block with a render callback.

Alternatives

For more control over output HTML, use get_pages() with a custom loop:

<?php 
  $child_pages = get_pages(array(
    'parent' => get_the_ID(),
    'sort_column' => 'menu_order',
  ));

  if (!empty($child_pages)) {
    echo '<ul>';
    foreach ($child_pages as $page) {
      echo '<li>';
      echo '<a href="' . get_permalink($page->ID) . '">';
      echo esc_html($page->post_title);
      echo '</a>';
      echo '</li>';
    }
    echo '</ul>';
  }
?>

This approach gives you complete control over HTML structure and lets you access additional page properties like post_excerpt or custom fields.

2026 Best Practices and Advanced Techniques

For How to Display Child Pages in WordPress, understanding both the fundamentals and modern practices ensures you can work efficiently and avoid common pitfalls. This guide extends the core article with practical advice for 2026 workflows.

Troubleshooting and Debugging

When issues arise, a systematic approach saves time. Start by checking logs for error messages or warnings. Test individual components in isolation before integrating them. Use verbose modes and debug flags to gather more information when standard output is not enough to diagnose the problem.

Performance Optimization

Monitor system resources to identify bottlenecks
Use caching strategies to reduce redundant computation
Keep software updated for security patches and performance improvements
Profile code before applying optimizations
Use connection pooling and keep-alive for network operations

Security Considerations

Security should be built into workflows from the start. Use strong authentication methods, encrypt sensitive data in transit, and follow the principle of least privilege for access controls. Regular security audits and penetration testing help maintain system integrity.

Related Tools and Commands

These complementary tools expand your capabilities:

Monitoring: top, htop, iotop, vmstat for system resources
Networking: ping, traceroute, ss, tcpdump for connectivity
Files: find, locate, fd for searching; rsync for syncing
Logs: journalctl, dmesg, tail -f for real-time monitoring
Testing: curl for HTTP requests, nc for ports, openssl for crypto

Integration with Modern Workflows

Consider automation and containerization for consistency across environments. Infrastructure as code tools enable reproducible deployments. CI/CD pipelines automate testing and deployment, reducing human error and speeding up delivery cycles.

Quick Reference

This extended guide covers the topic beyond the original article scope. For specialized needs, refer to official documentation or community resources. Practice in test environments before production deployment.