Dynamic Featured Image - WordPress - is not getting the first featured image

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07-10-2024

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Why Your WordPress Dynamic Featured Image Isn't Grabbing the First One

Let's face it, dynamic featured images are a lifesaver for WordPress developers. They let us display different images based on various conditions, making our websites more engaging. But sometimes, the code stubbornly refuses to pick up the first featured image, leaving you scratching your head.

Scenario: Imagine you've got a custom post type, "Products," with a featured image field. You want to use this image on the product page. However, your dynamic featured image code only pulls the last featured image from the post, not the first one.

Here's the Original Code:

<?php
  $product_images = get_field('product_images'); // Assuming your field name is 'product_images'

  if ($product_images) {
    $featured_image = $product_images[0]; // Grabbing the first image
    // Display the featured image here
  } else {
    // Handle the case where there are no images
  }
?>

So, what's going on?

The issue lies in how WordPress handles the "product_images" field. When you use the get_field('product_images') function, it retrieves an array of all the images associated with the post, but it does so in the order they were added to the post, not in the order they appear in the gallery.

Here's the solution:

We need to override this default order and ensure the featured image is the one displayed first. You can achieve this with a combination of the get_posts function and sorting by menu_order:

<?php
  $product_images = get_field('product_images');
  $image_ids = array_map(function($image) {
    return $image['ID'];
  }, $product_images); 
  $sorted_images = get_posts(array(
    'post_type' => 'attachment',
    'post__in' => $image_ids,
    'orderby' => 'menu_order',
    'order' => 'ASC'
  ));

  if (!empty($sorted_images)) {
    $featured_image = $sorted_images[0];
    // Display the featured image here
  } else {
    // Handle the case where there are no images
  }
?>

Explanation:

1. array_map: We use array_map to extract the image IDs from the $product_images array.
2. get_posts: This function fetches the images as post objects.
3. orderby & order: We use orderby to sort by the menu_order (which is used for the image order in the media library) and order to set the order as ascending (ASC).

Additional Tips:

• Always use the menu_order: In WordPress, it's best practice to use the menu_order for controlling the order of media attachments, as it's a consistent method that works well for both galleries and dynamic images.
• Check for empty arrays: Remember to handle cases where there might be no images associated with the post.
• Use the wp_get_attachment_image function: For displaying the image, use wp_get_attachment_image with the appropriate size:

  echo wp_get_attachment_image($featured_image->ID, 'medium'); 
  

By applying this solution, you can ensure your dynamic featured images always display the first featured image, creating a seamless and professional user experience.