apply_filters( 'excerpt_length', int $number )

Filters the maximum number of words in a post excerpt.

Contents

Description Description

Parameters Parameters

$number

(int) The maximum number of words. Default 55.

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Source Source

File: wp-includes/formatting.php

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Changelog Changelog

Changelog
Version Description
2.7.0 Introduced.

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More Information More Information

Use this filter if you want to change the default excerpt length.

To change excerpt length, add the following code to functions.php file in your theme adjusting the “20” to match the number of words you wish to display in the excerpt:

function mytheme_custom_excerpt_length( $length ) {
    return 20;
}
add_filter( 'excerpt_length', 'mytheme_custom_excerpt_length', 999 );

Make sure to set the priority correctly, such as 999, otherwise the default WordPress filter on this function will run last and override what you set here.

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User Contributed Notes User Contributed Notes

  1. Skip to note 1 content
    You must log in to vote on the helpfulness of this noteVote results for this note: 2You must log in to vote on the helpfulness of this note
    Contributed by acosmin —

    Set the excerpt length based on a theme mod, through the Customizer.

    prefix_custom_excerpt_length( $length ) {
	$custom = get_theme_mod( 'custom_excerpt_length' );
	if( $custom != '' ) {
		return $length = intval( $custom );
	} else {
		return $length;
	}
}
add_filter( 'excerpt_length', 'prefix_custom_excerpt_length', 999 );
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    Contributed by Karmegaraja Subramaniam — 
    /**
 * Filter the excerpt length to 50 words.
 *
 * @param int $length Excerpt length.
 * @return int (Maybe) modified excerpt length.
 */
function theme_slug_excerpt_length( $length ) {
        if ( is_admin() ) {
                return $length;
        }
        return 50;
}
add_filter( 'excerpt_length', 'theme_slug_excerpt_length', 999 );

    This will help to apply the excerpt_length on front end only.

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    Contributed by prashaddey — 
    /**
 * Filter the excerpt length to 20 words.
 *
 * @param int $length Excerpt length.
 * @return int (Maybe) modified excerpt length.
 */
add_filter( 'excerpt_length', function( $length ) { return 20; } );
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    Contributed by Metallicarosetail — 
    /**
 * Filter the excerpt length to 30 words.
 *
 * @param int $length Excerpt length.
 * @return int (Maybe) modified excerpt length.
 */
function wp_example_excerpt_length( $length ) {
    return 30;
}
add_filter( 'excerpt_length', 'wp_example_excerpt_length');

    Notes: This will display your excerpt text up to 30 words using excerpt_length filter. By default the number of words is 55.

    Example:- 

    <?php the_excerpt(); ?>

    This will display your post excerpt up to 30 words.

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