Title: query_posts codex correct or not?
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# query_posts codex correct or not?

 *  [tsalagi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tsalagi/)
 * (@tsalagi)
 * [16 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/query_posts-codex-correct-or-not/)
 * During the course of my delving into WordPress and getting to know it fairly 
   intimately I”ve become confused about the loop due to conflicting information
   around the web and possibly in the codex section on [query_posts](http://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Tags/query_posts).
   
   The codex states
 * > The query_posts function is intended to be used to modify the main page Loop
   > only. It is not intended as a means to create secondary Loops on the page. 
   > If you want to create separate Loops outside of the main one, you should create
   > separate WP_Query objects and use those instead. Use of query_posts on Loops
   > other than the main one can result in your main Loop becoming incorrect and
   > possibly displaying things that you were not expecting.
 * The query_posts function overrides and replaces the main query for the page. 
   To save your sanity, do not use it for any other purpose.
 * Now I’ve visited many sites and purchased a book or two about WordPress and they
   all use the query_posts as a means for creating multiple loops on a page. One
   book recently released by two very prominent WordPress aficionados/gurus, uses
   examples of query_posts as a significant way to include multiple loops on a page.
   If someone could please shed some light on this I’d appreciate it. I have been
   relying very heavily on the codex for reference and example but if it’s not correct
   I’ll have to spend my time with google searches grrrr. Thanks Much.

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 *  Thread Starter [tsalagi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tsalagi/)
 * (@tsalagi)
 * [16 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/query_posts-codex-correct-or-not/page/2/#post-1353781)
 * Michael. I read the short post in the link you provided. I didn’t see any reset
   used in either example. Here is an excellent post about this subject that some
   may find useful.
    [Undocumented WordPress Query Function: wp_reset_query()](http://webstractions.com/wordpress/undocumented-wordpress-query-function-wp_reset_query/comment-page-1/)
   I agree that using wp_reset_query is the most effecient way to get things done
   allowing the multiple use of query_posts. I’m assuming that is why the wp_reset_query
   was created in the first place. Changing the codex may clear up some of the confusion
   and misconceptions. [query_posts](http://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Tags/query_posts).
   Removing
 * >  Important note
   >  The query_posts function is intended to be used to modify 
   > the main page Loop only. It is not intended as a means to create secondary 
   > Loops on the page. If you want to create separate Loops outside of the main
   > one, you should create separate WP_Query objects and use those instead. Use
   > of query_posts on Loops other than the main one can result in your main Loop
   > becoming incorrect and possibly displaying things that you were not expecting.
 * The query_posts function overrides and replaces the main query for the page. 
   To save your sanity, do not use it for any other purpose.
    , and replacing it
   with correct usage and the requiring the inclusion of wp_reset_query.
 * There still seems to be some confusion about the use of wp_reset_query with $
   WP_Query. Does every instance of query_posts and $WP_Query need to be reset? 
   Should the reset be used at the beginning of every new custom loop? For the sake
   of clarity, I think these issues need to be addressed before adding specific 
   usage instruction to the wp_reset_query page in the codex.
 * Cheers
 *  [Mark / t31os](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t31os_/)
 * (@t31os_)
 * [16 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/query_posts-codex-correct-or-not/page/2/#post-1353782)
 * Codex is maintained by several people, of which may have very different ideas
   of code usage, or justifications for why they do things one way over another..
 * If you feel that strongly about the information, drop an email onto the codex
   mailing list, where your request will get the attention it requires.
    [http://lists.automattic.com/mailman/listinfo/wp-docs](http://lists.automattic.com/mailman/listinfo/wp-docs)
 * Alternatively submit a revised version (would need to read codex rules/guidelines
   for doing that) and submit it to the codex team for approval.
 * What’s ideally needed here, is just some input from the user(s) who initially
   implemented or wrote said function(s), so their usage can be explained definitively,
   rather then us just making assumptions on what usage could or should be, because
   i’ll be honest… i don’t really know what’s correct or not… i’m just making an
   educated guess here.
 *  [MichaelH](https://wordpress.org/support/users/michaelh/)
 * (@michaelh)
 * [16 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/query_posts-codex-correct-or-not/page/2/#post-1353783)
 * Tsalagi – as far as I understand it, `wp_reset_query` should be put at the end
   of any custom query that uses `the_post()` so as to reset the values back to 
   what the ‘main query’ might use.
 *  [richarduk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/richarduk/)
 * (@richarduk)
 * [16 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/query_posts-codex-correct-or-not/page/2/#post-1353793)
 * What do people think of this? Based on code from here:
 *  [http://weblogtoolscollection.com/archives/2008/04/13/define-your-own-wordpress-loop-using-wp_query/](http://weblogtoolscollection.com/archives/2008/04/13/define-your-own-wordpress-loop-using-wp_query/)
 * In particular look at the first two lines and the last line.
 * Is there any need to use `<?php wp_reset_query();?>`? Should I add that after
   the last line as an extra safety measure?
 *     ```
       <?php
       $temp = $second_loop;
       $second_loop= null;
       $second_loop = new WP_Query();
       $second_loop->query('posts_per_page=1&cat=8,7'.'&paged='.$paged);
       ?>
   
       <?php if ($second_loop->have_posts()) :?>
       <?php  while ($second_loop->have_posts()) : $second_loop->the_post(); ?>   
   
       <?php endwhile; ?>  
   
       <?php endif; ?>
   
       <?php else : ?>        
   
       <h2 class="no-posts">Sorry! </h2>
   
       <?php endif; ?>    
   
       <?php $second_loop = null; $second_loop = $temp;?>
       ```
   

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## Tags

 * [correct](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/correct/)
 * [multiple loops](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/multiple-loops/)
 * [query_posts](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/query_posts/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 19 replies
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 * Last reply from: [richarduk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/richarduk/)
 * Last activity: [16 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/query_posts-codex-correct-or-not/page/2/#post-1353793)
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