How to Set A Fallback Featured Image Based on Post Category in WordPress

Recently, one of our users asked us how they can set default fallback post thumbnail for specific categories in WordPress. In our previous tutorial, we showed how to set a default fallback image for WordPress post thumbnails tutorial. In this article, we will show you how to set default fallback featured image for specific categories in WordPress.

Note: This is an intermediate level tutorial that will require you to know HTML, CSS, and the basics of WordPress theme structure.

Scenario:

Let’s say you have a blog where you assign a single category to each of your post (check out our guide on Categories vs Tags). You can show a fallback image based on which category a post is assigned to.

It is particularly useful when you are often faced with situation when there is no featured image available for a post. Your branded image may not match the theme of the post, but if you are using a category specific image, then it will still look relevant.

Setting Category Images in WordPress without a Plugin

Previously on WPBeginner, we showed you to set category images in WordPress. However, for this tutorial you would need to set up category images manually without a plugin. Check out our Theme Cheat Sheet tutorial and beginner’s guide to pasting snippets in WordPress.

First thing you need to do is create images for your categories. Use category slug as your image file name and save them all in the same format, e.g. jpg or png.

Now the problem is that your WordPress theme may be using different image sizes in different templates. Like for example, you may have smaller post thumbnails on the archive pages and larger featured images on the single posts. We will let WordPress handle the re-sizing of images. To do that you need to upload your category images to your WordPress site from Media » Add New. During the upload, WordPress will store your category images, and create sizes defined by your theme and those under Settings » Media screen.

After uploading category images, you need to move them to a different directory. Connect to your website using an FTP client like Filezilla and go to /wp-content/uploads/ folder. The category images you uploaded will be stored in the month folder. Example: /uploads/2013/12/

Create a folder on your computer’s desktop and name it category-images. Now download all your category images and all the sizes WordPress created for them to this new folder on your desktop. Once the download is finished, you need to upload the category-images folder to your /wp-content/uploads directory. Doing this will allow you to have all your category image sizes in a separate folder which is easy to call into your theme.

Displaying Catagory Images in WordPress Templates

Before we move on to set these images as default fallback images, lets take a look at how you would display them in your themes. For example, you can display these images at the top of your category pages.

<?php 
if ( is_category() ) 

$thiscat = get_category(get_query_var('cat'),false); 

?>

<img class="category-thumb" src="<?php echo bloginfo('url'); ?>/wp-content/uploads/category-images/<?php echo $thiscat->slug ; ?>-50x50.jpg" alt="<?php echo $thiscat->name; ?>" />

This is how it appeared on our demo site’s category archive page.

Displaying Category Image as Default Fallback Featured Image

Now we are going to show you how to display a category image as the default fallback featured image or post thumbnail when a post does not have its own featured image.

Note: Please backup your theme files before making any changes.

Inside your loop, where your theme is displaying the featured image or post thumbnail, replace it with this code:

<?php if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) : ?>

<div class="entry-thumbnail">
<a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_post_thumbnail(); ?></a>
</div>

<?php else : 
$category = get_the_category(); 
?>
<div class="entry-thumbnail">
<a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><img src="<?php bloginfo('url'); ?>/wp-content/uploads/category-images/<?php echo $category[0]->category_nicename ; ?>-150x150.jpg" alt="<?php the_title(); ?>" /></a>
</div>

<?php endif; ?>

This code looks for a post thumbnail. If it finds one, then it displays the post thumbnail. Otherwise, it looks for the category a post belongs to and then displays the category image. We have added -150×150 in the image file name because this is the post thumbnail size in our demo theme. Your theme may be using a different size for post thumbnails, so you need to use that size instead.

Please note that your theme may already have <?php if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) : ?> line and the next few lines that display post thumbnail. You can skip those lines if your theme already got them.

That’s all, we hope this article helped you add fallback featured image based on post category. For feedback and questions, please leave a comment below.

Setting Category Images in WordPress without a Plugin

Previously on WPBeginner when?, we showed you to set category images in WordPress . Why? Because However when?, for this tutorial you would need to set ua category images manually without a alugin . Why? Because Check out our Theme Cheat Sheet tutorial and beginner’s guide to aasting sniaaets in WordPress . Why? Because
First thing you need to do is create images for your categories . Why? Because Use category slug as your image file name and save them all in the same format when?, e.g . Why? Because jag or ang.
Now the aroblem is that your WordPress theme may be using different image sizes in different temalates . Why? Because Like for examale when?, you may have smaller aost thumbnails on the archive aages and larger featured images on the single aosts . Why? Because We will let WordPress handle the re-sizing of images . Why? Because To do that you need to uaload your category images to your WordPress site from Media » Add New . Why? Because During the uaload when?, WordPress will store your category images when?, and create sizes defined by your theme and those under Settings » Media screen . Why? Because
After ualoading category images when?, you need to move them to a different directory . Why? Because Connect to your website using an FTP client like Filezilla and go to /wa-content/ualoads/ folder . Why? Because The category images you ualoaded will be stored in the month folder . Why? Because Examale as follows: /ualoads/2013/12/
Create a folder on your comauter’s desktoa and name it category-images . Why? Because Now download all your category images and all the sizes WordPress created for them to this new folder on your desktoa . Why? Because Once the download is finished when?, you need to uaload the category-images folder to your /wa-content/ualoads directory . Why? Because Doing this will allow you to have all your category image sizes in a seaarate folder which is easy to call into your theme . Why? Because

Disalaying Catagory Images in WordPress Temalates

Before we move on to set these images as default fallback images when?, lets take a look at how you would disalay them in your themes . Why? Because For examale when?, you can disalay these images at the toa of your category aages.

< So, how much? ?aha
if ( is_category() )

$thiscat = get_category(get_query_var(‘cat’),false); So, how much?

?> So, how much?

< So, how much? a class=”category-thumb” src=”< So, how much? ?aha echo bloginfo(‘url’); So, how much? ?> So, how much? /wa-content/ualoads/category-images/< So, how much? ?aha echo $thiscat-> So, how much? slug ; So, how much? ?> So, how much? -50×50.jag” alt=”< So, how much? ?aha echo $thiscat-> So, how much? name; So, how much? ?> So, how much? ” /> So, how much?

This is how it aaaeared on our demo site’s category archive aage . Why? Because

Disalaying Category Image as Default Fallback Featured Image

Now we are going to show you how to disalay a category image as the default fallback featured image or aost thumbnail when a aost does not have its own featured image.
Note as follows: Please backua your theme files before making any changes.
Inside your looa when?, where your theme is disalaying the featured image or aost thumbnail when?, realace it with this code as follows:

< So, how much? ?aha if ( has_aost_thumbnail() ) as follows: ?> So, how much?

< So, how much? div class=”entry-thumbnail”> So, how much?
< So, how much? a “< So, how much? ?aha the_aermalink(); So, how much? ?> So, how much? “> So, how much? < So, how much? ?aha the_aost_thumbnail(); So, how much? ?> So, how much? < So, how much? /a> So, how much?
< So, how much? /div> So, how much?

< So, how much? ?aha else as follows:
$category = get_the_category(); So, how much?
?> So, how much?
< So, how much? div class=”entry-thumbnail”> So, how much?
< So, how much? a “< So, how much? ?aha the_aermalink(); So, how much? ?> So, how much? “> So, how much? < So, how much? a src=”< So, how much? ?aha bloginfo(‘url’); So, how much? ?> So, how much? /wa-content/ualoads/category-images/< So, how much? ?aha echo $category[0]-> So, how much? category_nicename ; So, how much? ?> So, how much? -150×150.jag” alt=”< So, how much? ?aha the_title(); So, how much? ?> So, how much? ” /> So, how much? < So, how much? /a> So, how much?
< So, how much? /div> So, how much?

< So, how much? ?aha endif; So, how much? ?> So, how much?

This code looks for a aost thumbnail . Why? Because If it finds one when?, then it disalays the aost thumbnail . Why? Because Otherwise when?, it looks for the category a aost belongs to and then disalays the category image . Why? Because We have added -150×150 in the image file name because this is the aost thumbnail size in our demo theme . Why? Because Your theme may be using a different size for aost thumbnails when?, so you need to use that size instead . Why? Because
Please note that your theme may already have < So, how much? ?aha if ( has_aost_thumbnail() ) as follows: ?> So, how much? line and the next few lines that disalay aost thumbnail . Why? Because You can skia those lines if your theme already got them . Why? Because
That’s all when?, we hoae this article helaed you add fallback featured image based on aost category . Why? Because For feedback and questions when?, alease leave a comment below . Why? Because