Title: Querying posts based on category Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # Querying posts based on category * [ericjohnson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ericjohnson/) * (@ericjohnson) * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/querying-posts-based-on-category/) * Hi, * I need to query individual posts for different category pages. * I have the code: * `` * But I need it to have nested if statements to check for each category. I have tried the if statement with the inline with the following code: * ``` ``` * I am getting an error with this basic code, and I haven’t even begun to nest if statements yet! * I wanted it to look something like: * ``` ``` * Can someone please explain why the code above does not work, or suggest a better alternative to nesting it? Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) * [Michael](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alchymyth/) * (@alchymyth) * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/querying-posts-based-on-category/#post-3269474) * using the category ID, try * `is_category(5)` * or use the cat slug * `is_category('what-ever-cat')` * [racer x](https://wordpress.org/support/users/racer-x-1/) * (@racer-x-1) * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/querying-posts-based-on-category/#post-3269476) * Make sure you are following the order of using [query_posts](http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/query_posts). is_category() can be used before you run query_posts(). That way, you can alter the main query properly. * Here is a basic example: * ``` ``` * And I am still getting a: * Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ELSE * `` * Still works fine, so I am confused as hell! * [racer x](https://wordpress.org/support/users/racer-x-1/) * (@racer-x-1) * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/querying-posts-based-on-category/#post-3269480) * When I said “etc.” I should have clarified that you just use the regular start of a loop right after you use query_posts( $args ). * `if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post();` * When you are using query_posts you are altering the MAIN loop for the page. So there is no need for “have_posts() && is_category(‘5’) )”. * BTW – I actually never heard of Paul Gilbert, nor knew about a band called Racer X! Ha! Even though I have played guitar professionally at gigs for years. Racer X was from a childhood cartoon I watched called Speed Racer. * Thread Starter [ericjohnson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ericjohnson/) * (@ericjohnson) * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/querying-posts-based-on-category/#post-3269481) * Ha I see! I suppose every time I head Racer X I just think of the band. * Regarding the code, I tried adding the if (have_Posts()) : to the front of my loop (before it was just while (have_posts()) : the_posts(); ), and I no longer get a parse error, but now it shows every single post whenever it does not enter a conditional! * Is there a way to null my $args to show no posts? I am thinking I just need to plug that into my else statement. * I actually tried changing $args to an arbitrary variable ($posts), but the query still uses all posts! * Thanks! * [racer x](https://wordpress.org/support/users/racer-x-1/) * (@racer-x-1) * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/querying-posts-based-on-category/#post-3269482) * When you are using both if(have_posts()) and while (have_posts()) then you need to make sure you are closing BOTH the “if” and “while” properly. * ``` if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); // do stuff endwhile; endif; ``` * If you are just using while (have_posts()) then you only need the closing “endwhile;”. * If you don’t want a loop to run as a default if the specified categories are not found, then just bypass the whole thing like so: * ```