Paginate Your WordPress Site Without Plugins

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Post: Paginate Your WordPress Site Without Plugins

To paginate your WordPress site without plugins, you can manually insert pagination into your theme’s code. This involves editing your theme files, so it’s a good idea to backup your site before making any changes. Here’s a basic approach to manually add pagination to your WordPress site:

Step 1: Edit Your Theme’s `functions.php` File

Enable WordPress Numeric Pagination: Add the following function to your theme’s functions.php file. These functions work together to generate the numeric pagination:

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function numeric_posts_nav($wp_query = null) {
    if (is_singular()) return;
    if (!$wp_query) global $wp_query;
    if ($wp_query->max_num_pages <= 1) return;

$paged = get_query_var('paged') ? absint(get_query_var('paged')) : 1;
    $max = intval($wp_query->max_num_pages);

$links = collect_links($paged, $max);
    $output = generate_pagination_html($links, $paged, $max);

echo $output;
}

function collect_links($current_page, $max_pages, $range = 2) {
    $links = [];

// Collect links based on range
    for ($i = $current_page - $range; $i <= $current_page + $range; $i++) {
        if ($i > 0 && $i <= $max_pages) {
            $links[] = $i;
        }
    }
    return $links;
}

function generate_pagination_html($links, $current_page, $max_pages) {
    ob_start();
    echo "<ul>\n";

// Previous Page Link
    if ($prev_link = get_previous_posts_link()) {
        printf("<li>%s</li>\n", $prev_link);
    }

// Link to first page and ellipses
    page_link(1, $current_page, $max_pages, $links);

// Middle links
    foreach ($links as $link) {
        page_link($link, $current_page, $max_pages, $links);
    }

// Link to last page and ellipses
    page_link($max_pages, $current_page, $max_pages, $links);

// Next Page Link
    if ($next_link = get_next_posts_link()) {
        printf("<li>%s</li>\n", $next_link);
    }

echo "</ul>\n";
    return ob_get_clean();
}

Let’s break down the refactored version of the numeric_posts_nav function and its auxiliary functions to understand their purposes and operations:

1. numeric_posts_nav Function

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Explanation:

Check for singular pages: If the page is singular (like a single post or a static page), the function exits early (return;) because pagination isn’t needed.
Global variable fallback: Checks if a custom $wp_query is passed; if not, it uses the global $wp_query object. This makes the function more flexible and testable.
Early exit for single-page queries: If there’s only one page of posts, no pagination is needed, so it exits.
Calculating the current page: Determines the current page number. If the ‘paged’ query var is not set, it defaults to 1.
Maximum pages calculation: Fetches the total number of pages available.
Collect page links: Calls collect_links to get an array of the page numbers that should be linked in the navigation.
Generate HTML: Calls generate_pagination_html to create the actual HTML output for the pagination.
Output the HTML: Echoes the generated HTML.

2. `collect_links` Function

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Explanation:

Initializing the links array: Prepares an array to store the page numbers.
Loop over a range around the current page: Iterates from 2 pages before to 2 pages after the current page (configurable by the $range parameter).
Conditional inclusion: Only includes page numbers that are valid (i.e., within the bounds of 1 and the maximum number of pages).

3. `generate_pagination_html` Function

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Explanation:

Start output buffering: This captures all echoed content into a buffer, allowing it to be returned as a string.
Generate previous link: If there’s a previous page link available, it is added.
First and last page links: Ensures the first and last pages are always linked for easy navigation to the bounds of the pagination.
Iterate over links: For each page number in the $links array, generates a link using page_link.
End output buffering: The content of the buffer is returned, keeping the function output clean and manageable.

4. `page_link` Function

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Explanation:

Active class assignment: Marks the current page with an “active” class for CSS styling.
Generate page link URL: Safely generates a URL for the page number.
Conditional ellipses: Adds ellipses if there are gaps in the sequence of displayed pages.

Each function serves a specific purpose, helping make the main function cleaner and the entire pagination mechanism more modular and maintainable. This approach is beneficial for debugging and future enhancements.

WordPress Pagination: How to Add Pagination Manually or With Plugins : Videos

The lesser plugins the better. Having numerous WordPress Plugins on your site is detrimental for several reasons, and here’s why:

Performance Issues: Each plugin adds some load to your website. More plugins mean more code for the server to execute, which can significantly slow down your website’s loading time. This slow performance can negatively affect user experience and SEO rankings.
Security Risks: Plugins can introduce security vulnerabilities. Not all plugins are developed with strict security standards, and keeping many plugins increases the risk of your site being compromised. Moreover, the more plugins you have, the higher the likelihood that some of them might not be regularly updated, leaving your site exposed to known vulnerabilities.
Compatibility Issues: With each plugin, there’s a risk of compatibility issues either with the WordPress core, the theme, or other plugins. Such conflicts can cause parts of your website to malfunction or not display correctly, leading to a poor user experience.
Maintenance Overhead: More plugins mean more maintenance. Each plugin needs to be updated regularly to ensure compatibility with the latest version of WordPress and to patch any security vulnerabilities. This can become time-consuming and cumbersome, especially if you have a lot of plugins.
Resource Usage: Plugins consume resources like CPU time and memory. If your hosting plan has limited resources, too many plugins could exhaust those resources, causing your website to be throttled or even taken offline.
Quality over Quantity: Not all plugins are created equal. Some are poorly coded or no longer maintained. It’s essential to choose high-quality plugins that are actively supported and updated. However, sifting through numerous plugins to determine which are necessary and well-crafted can be a daunting task.

To mitigate these issues, it’s advisable to:

Only use plugins that are absolutely necessary for your site’s functionality.
Regularly review and audit your plugins to ensure they’re all in use and up to date.
Opt for high-quality, well-supported plugins, even if they cost more.
Consider custom development for specific functionalities to reduce the number of plugins needed.

This approach not only enhances the performance and security of your WordPress site but also improves the overall site management experience.

About the Author: Bernard Aybout (Virii8)

I am a dedicated technology enthusiast with over 45 years of life experience, passionate about computers, AI, emerging technologies, and their real-world impact. As the founder of my personal blog, MiltonMarketing.com, I explore how AI, health tech, engineering, finance, and other advanced fields leverage innovation—not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a tool to enhance it. My focus is on bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical applications, ensuring ethical, responsible, and transformative use across industries. MiltonMarketing.com is more than just a tech blog—it's a growing platform for expert insights. We welcome qualified writers and industry professionals from IT, AI, healthcare, engineering, HVAC, automotive, finance, and beyond to contribute their knowledge. If you have expertise to share in how AI and technology shape industries while complementing human skills, join us in driving meaningful conversations about the future of innovation. 🚀

Paginate Your WordPress Site Without Plugins