How to set default featured image in WordPress?

WordPress is a well-known and respected content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage various types of websites. One of the key elements of any WordPress post or page is the featured image. This image is often the first thing users see when viewing a website, so it is crucial to the impression a website makes. However, sometimes we would like to set a default featured image for our posts. Here are some ways that can help you accomplish this task.

1. Setting the default image using the plugin

One of the easiest ways to set a default featured image is to use a plugin. The “Default Featured Image” plugin is a very popular tool for this task. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin panel.
2. Go to the “Plugins” section and click “Add New”.
3. Enter “Default Featured Image” in the search engine and install the plugin.
4. Once the installation is complete, activate the plugin.
5. Go to “Settings” -> “Media” where you will find a section to set the default featured image.

2. Set the default featured image using the function

If you don't want to add extra burden to your site with a plugin, the default featured image can also be set using a function. To do this, add the following code to the functions.php file in your theme:

function default_featured_image() { global $post; $default_image = get_bloginfo(&#039;template_directory&#039;) . &#039;/images/default-image.jpg&#039;; // path to your default image if (!has_post_thumbnail($post-&gt;ID)) { echo &#039;<img src="' . $default_image . '" alt="Domyślny obraz" />&#039;; } else { the_post_thumbnail(); } } add_action(&#039;the_post&#039;, &#039;default_featured_image&#039;);

This snippet will check if the post has a featured image set, and if not, it will use the default image you have defined.

3. Set the default featured image using the theme

Some WordPress themes have a built-in feature to set a default featured image. Typically, these options are available in the theme settings panel. You should check your theme's documentation to find out if it has this feature.

Managing featured images is important to maintaining a consistent and professional look for your site. Whether you choose to use a plugin, code, or theme settings, remember to always choose high-quality images that will well represent the content of your posts.

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