To display authors from a WordPress site, use the built-in wp_list_authors() function in a theme template or other PHP context. It outputs an author list and can control which users appear, how names are sorted, and whether post counts are shown. If you need to place the list directly in page content without writing PHP, use a shortcode-based plugin instead.
Decide who should count as an author
“All authors” can mean different things: WordPress user accounts with published posts, everyone assigned an author role, administrators who also write, or guest contributors stored by a separate plugin. The core function lists site users; by default, it hides users without posts and excludes an account whose login is admin, if one exists. Guest-author records that are not WordPress users may need a separate solution.
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Before adding a list, decide whether it should include users with no posts and accounts outside the usual author roles. That definition determines whether the default output is complete for your site.
Use WordPress’s built-in author-list function
WordPress Developer Resources describes wp_list_authors() as displaying site authors and linking the names of users who have authored posts to their posts. In a theme template or another PHP context, the simplest call is:
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wp_list_authors();By default, the function sorts by name in ascending order, hides users with no posts, excludes the admin login if present, and outputs an HTML list. It does not show post counts or full names by default.
Choose which users and details to show
Pass an array of options to change the defaults. This example includes users with no posts and the admin account, displays full names and post counts, and sorts by post count from highest to lowest:
wp_list_authors( array(
'hide_empty' => false,
'exclude_admin' => false,
'show_fullname' => true,
'optioncount' => true,
'orderby' => 'post_count',
'order' => 'DESC',
) );Only set hide_empty or exclude_admin to false if those accounts belong on a public author page. The function also accepts number to limit results, include and exclude to select user IDs, and options for feeds and output style. Its default style is list, which wraps each author in an <li>; another style separates names with commas. The default html and echo settings are both true. Set echo to false if you need the returned string for further handling.
Put the PHP in an appropriate place
Raw PHP is not ordinarily executed when pasted into a WordPress page or post. Add the function to an appropriate theme template or a site-specific plugin if you control the code. Avoid editing a parent theme directly if the change needs to survive theme updates.
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For custom HTML, additional user fields, or a specifically defined role set, retrieve matching users with get_users() and render the results yourself in a template or shortcode. The query should match your definition of “author”: a user role, users who have published posts, or another set of WordPress accounts. A guest-author system that stores contributors separately may require its own retrieval method.
When generating custom output, escape displayed text and URLs. This approach offers more control than wp_list_authors(), but you are responsible for writing and maintaining the selection logic and markup.
Use a shortcode plugin for editor placement
If you want to insert a list in page content without adding PHP to a template, the Authors List plugin advertises the shortcode [authors_list]. Its WordPress.com Plugins listing describes list and grid layouts, with options for columns, entry count, title, author count, bio, links, and ordering. Check the listing and compatibility with your WordPress version and other plugins before installing; the directory details are not a guarantee that it will work with your particular setup.
Quick Recap
Choose the method that fits your site
| Method | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
wp_list_authors() |
A theme template or another PHP-controlled location, with common sorting and display options. | Quick to add, but it follows the function’s user-based behavior and default exclusions unless you change its arguments. |
get_users() |
A custom role or user selection, or author markup that the built-in function does not provide. | More control, but you must implement and maintain the query and output. |
| Authors List shortcode | Placing a list or grid in page content without writing PHP. | Adds a plugin dependency; compatibility should be checked for your installation. |
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