get_category

The timeline below displays how wordpress function get_category has changed across different WordPress versions. If a version is not listed, refer to the next available version below.

WordPress Version: 5.5

/**
 * Retrieves category data given a category ID or category object.
 *
 * If you pass the $category parameter an object, which is assumed to be the
 * category row object retrieved the database. It will cache the category data.
 *
 * If you pass $category an integer of the category ID, then that category will
 * be retrieved from the database, if it isn't already cached, and pass it back.
 *
 * If you look at get_term(), then both types will be passed through several
 * filters and finally sanitized based on the $filter parameter value.
 *
 * @since 1.5.1
 *
 * @param int|object $category Category ID or category row object.
 * @param string     $output   Optional. The required return type. One of OBJECT, ARRAY_A, or ARRAY_N, which
 *                             correspond to a WP_Term object, an associative array, or a numeric array,
 *                             respectively. Default OBJECT.
 * @param string     $filter   Optional. How to sanitize category fields. Default 'raw'.
 * @return object|array|WP_Error|null Category data in type defined by $output parameter.
 *                                    WP_Error if $category is empty, null if it does not exist.
 */
function get_category($category, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw')
{
    $category = get_term($category, 'category', $output, $filter);
    if (is_wp_error($category)) {
        return $category;
    }
    _make_cat_compat($category);
    return $category;
}

WordPress Version: 5.4

/**
 * Retrieves category data given a category ID or category object.
 *
 * If you pass the $category parameter an object, which is assumed to be the
 * category row object retrieved the database. It will cache the category data.
 *
 * If you pass $category an integer of the category ID, then that category will
 * be retrieved from the database, if it isn't already cached, and pass it back.
 *
 * If you look at get_term(), then both types will be passed through several
 * filters and finally sanitized based on the $filter parameter value.
 *
 * @since 1.5.1
 *
 * @param int|object $category Category ID or Category row object
 * @param string $output Optional. The required return type. One of OBJECT, ARRAY_A, or ARRAY_N, which correspond to a
 *                       WP_Term object, an associative array, or a numeric array, respectively. Default OBJECT.
 * @param string $filter Optional. Default is raw or no WordPress defined filter will applied.
 * @return object|array|WP_Error|null Category data in type defined by $output parameter.
 *                                    WP_Error if $category is empty, null if it does not exist.
 */
function get_category($category, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw')
{
    $category = get_term($category, 'category', $output, $filter);
    if (is_wp_error($category)) {
        return $category;
    }
    _make_cat_compat($category);
    return $category;
}

WordPress Version: 4.7

/**
 * Retrieves category data given a category ID or category object.
 *
 * If you pass the $category parameter an object, which is assumed to be the
 * category row object retrieved the database. It will cache the category data.
 *
 * If you pass $category an integer of the category ID, then that category will
 * be retrieved from the database, if it isn't already cached, and pass it back.
 *
 * If you look at get_term(), then both types will be passed through several
 * filters and finally sanitized based on the $filter parameter value.
 *
 * The category will converted to maintain backward compatibility.
 *
 * @since 1.5.1
 *
 * @param int|object $category Category ID or Category row object
 * @param string $output Optional. The required return type. One of OBJECT, ARRAY_A, or ARRAY_N, which correspond to a
 *                       WP_Term object, an associative array, or a numeric array, respectively. Default OBJECT.
 * @param string $filter Optional. Default is raw or no WordPress defined filter will applied.
 * @return object|array|WP_Error|null Category data in type defined by $output parameter.
 *                                    WP_Error if $category is empty, null if it does not exist.
 */
function get_category($category, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw')
{
    $category = get_term($category, 'category', $output, $filter);
    if (is_wp_error($category)) {
        return $category;
    }
    _make_cat_compat($category);
    return $category;
}

WordPress Version: 4.6

/**
 * Retrieves category data given a category ID or category object.
 *
 * If you pass the $category parameter an object, which is assumed to be the
 * category row object retrieved the database. It will cache the category data.
 *
 * If you pass $category an integer of the category ID, then that category will
 * be retrieved from the database, if it isn't already cached, and pass it back.
 *
 * If you look at get_term(), then both types will be passed through several
 * filters and finally sanitized based on the $filter parameter value.
 *
 * The category will converted to maintain backward compatibility.
 *
 * @since 1.5.1
 *
 * @param int|object $category Category ID or Category row object
 * @param string $output Optional. Constant OBJECT, ARRAY_A, or ARRAY_N
 * @param string $filter Optional. Default is raw or no WordPress defined filter will applied.
 * @return object|array|WP_Error|null Category data in type defined by $output parameter.
 *                                    WP_Error if $category is empty, null if it does not exist.
 */
function get_category($category, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw')
{
    $category = get_term($category, 'category', $output, $filter);
    if (is_wp_error($category)) {
        return $category;
    }
    _make_cat_compat($category);
    return $category;
}

WordPress Version: 4.3

/**
 * Retrieves category data given a category ID or category object.
 *
 * If you pass the $category parameter an object, which is assumed to be the
 * category row object retrieved the database. It will cache the category data.
 *
 * If you pass $category an integer of the category ID, then that category will
 * be retrieved from the database, if it isn't already cached, and pass it back.
 *
 * If you look at get_term(), then both types will be passed through several
 * filters and finally sanitized based on the $filter parameter value.
 *
 * The category will converted to maintain backwards compatibility.
 *
 * @since 1.5.1
 *
 * @param int|object $category Category ID or Category row object
 * @param string $output Optional. Constant OBJECT, ARRAY_A, or ARRAY_N
 * @param string $filter Optional. Default is raw or no WordPress defined filter will applied.
 * @return object|array|WP_Error|null Category data in type defined by $output parameter.
 *                                    WP_Error if $category is empty, null if it does not exist.
 */
function get_category($category, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw')
{
    $category = get_term($category, 'category', $output, $filter);
    if (is_wp_error($category)) {
        return $category;
    }
    _make_cat_compat($category);
    return $category;
}

WordPress Version: 4.1

/**
 * Retrieves category data given a category ID or category object.
 *
 * If you pass the $category parameter an object, which is assumed to be the
 * category row object retrieved the database. It will cache the category data.
 *
 * If you pass $category an integer of the category ID, then that category will
 * be retrieved from the database, if it isn't already cached, and pass it back.
 *
 * If you look at get_term(), then both types will be passed through several
 * filters and finally sanitized based on the $filter parameter value.
 *
 * The category will converted to maintain backwards compatibility.
 *
 * @since 1.5.1
 *
 * @param int|object $category Category ID or Category row object
 * @param string $output Optional. Constant OBJECT, ARRAY_A, or ARRAY_N
 * @param string $filter Optional. Default is raw or no WordPress defined filter will applied.
 * @return object|array|WP_Error|null Category data in type defined by $output parameter. WP_Error if $category is empty, null if it does not exist.
 */
function get_category($category, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw')
{
    $category = get_term($category, 'category', $output, $filter);
    if (is_wp_error($category)) {
        return $category;
    }
    _make_cat_compat($category);
    return $category;
}

WordPress Version: 3.9

/**
 * Retrieves category data given a category ID or category object.
 *
 * If you pass the $category parameter an object, which is assumed to be the
 * category row object retrieved the database. It will cache the category data.
 *
 * If you pass $category an integer of the category ID, then that category will
 * be retrieved from the database, if it isn't already cached, and pass it back.
 *
 * If you look at get_term(), then both types will be passed through several
 * filters and finally sanitized based on the $filter parameter value.
 *
 * The category will converted to maintain backwards compatibility.
 *
 * @since 1.5.1
 * @uses get_term() Used to get the category data from the taxonomy.
 *
 * @param int|object $category Category ID or Category row object
 * @param string $output Optional. Constant OBJECT, ARRAY_A, or ARRAY_N
 * @param string $filter Optional. Default is raw or no WordPress defined filter will applied.
 * @return object|array|WP_Error|null Category data in type defined by $output parameter. WP_Error if $category is empty, null if it does not exist.
 */
function get_category($category, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw')
{
    $category = get_term($category, 'category', $output, $filter);
    if (is_wp_error($category)) {
        return $category;
    }
    _make_cat_compat($category);
    return $category;
}

WordPress Version: 3.7

/**
 * Retrieves category data given a category ID or category object.
 *
 * If you pass the $category parameter an object, which is assumed to be the
 * category row object retrieved the database. It will cache the category data.
 *
 * If you pass $category an integer of the category ID, then that category will
 * be retrieved from the database, if it isn't already cached, and pass it back.
 *
 * If you look at get_term(), then both types will be passed through several
 * filters and finally sanitized based on the $filter parameter value.
 *
 * The category will converted to maintain backwards compatibility.
 *
 * @since 1.5.1
 * @uses get_term() Used to get the category data from the taxonomy.
 *
 * @param int|object $category Category ID or Category row object
 * @param string $output Optional. Constant OBJECT, ARRAY_A, or ARRAY_N
 * @param string $filter Optional. Default is raw or no WordPress defined filter will applied.
 * @return mixed Category data in type defined by $output parameter.
 */
function get_category($category, $output = OBJECT, $filter = 'raw')
{
    $category = get_term($category, 'category', $output, $filter);
    if (is_wp_error($category)) {
        return $category;
    }
    _make_cat_compat($category);
    return $category;
}