WordPress custom loop with pagination

<?php

if ( get_query_var('paged') ) {

	$paged = get_query_var('paged');

} elseif ( get_query_var('page') ) { // 'page' is used instead of 'paged' on Static Front Page

	$paged = get_query_var('page');

} else {

	$paged = 1;

}

 

$custom_query_args = array(

	'post_type' => 'post', 

	'posts_per_page' => get_option('posts_per_page'),

	'paged' => $paged,

	'post_status' => 'publish',

	'ignore_sticky_posts' => true,

	//'category_name' => 'custom-cat',

	'order' => 'DESC', // 'ASC'

	'orderby' => 'date' // modified | title | name | ID | rand

);

$custom_query = new WP_Query( $custom_query_args );

 

if ( $custom_query->have_posts() ) :

	while( $custom_query->have_posts() ) : $custom_query->the_post(); ?>

 

		<article <?php post_class(); ?>>

			<h3><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h3>

			<small><?php the_time('F jS, Y') ?> by <?php the_author_posts_link() ?></small>

			<div><?php the_excerpt(); ?></div>

		</article>

 

	<?php

	endwhile;

	?>

	

	<?php if ($custom_query->max_num_pages > 1) : // custom pagination  ?>

		<?php

		$orig_query = $wp_query; // fix for pagination to work

		$wp_query = $custom_query;

		?>

		<nav class="prev-next-posts">

			<div class="prev-posts-link">

				<?php echo get_next_posts_link( 'Older Entries', $custom_query->max_num_pages ); ?>

			</div>

			<div class="next-posts-link">

				<?php echo get_previous_posts_link( 'Newer Entries' ); ?>

			</div>

		</nav>

		<?php

		$wp_query = $orig_query; // fix for pagination to work

		?>

	<?php endif; ?>

 

<?php

	wp_reset_postdata(); // reset the query 

else:

	echo '<p>'.__('Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.').'</p>';

endif;

?>

• query_posts() is overly simplistic and problematic way to modify main query of a page by replacing it with new instance of the query. It is inefficient (re-runs SQL queries) and will outright fail in some circumstances (especially often when dealing with posts pagination). Any modern WP code should use more reliable methods, like making use ofpre_get_posts hook, for this purpose. TL;DR don't use query_posts() ever;

• get_posts() is very similar in usage and accepts same arguments (with some nuances, like different defaults), but returns array of posts, doesn't modify global variables and is safe to use anywhere;

• WP_Query class powers both behind the scenes, but you can also create and work with own object of it. Bit more complex, less restrictions, also safe to use anywhere.

• wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/1753/when-should-you-use-wp-query-vs-query-posts-vs-get-posts