To let visitors browse WordPress content by its first letter, the simplest route is an A–Z listing plugin: add its block or shortcode to a page, select the content to include, and test the letter links. WordPress’s Query Loop can supply a custom post list, but it does not by itself provide a complete alphabet index with letter navigation.
Choose the content your index should list
Decide what visitors need to browse before choosing a tool. An index can list ordinary posts or pages, custom post types such as products, or taxonomy terms such as categories and tags. Also decide whether it should include all items or filter to selected categories, tags, parent pages, or terms.
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- Posts or pages: Useful for an archive of articles, guides, or site pages.
- Custom post types: A fit for content stored separately from standard posts, if the chosen plugin supports that type.
- Taxonomy terms: Useful when visitors need to browse categories, tags, or another taxonomy rather than individual posts.
Think through empty letters, grouping, pagination, and the alphabet your audience uses. These choices affect the experience just as much as the visual design.
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Add an index with a purpose-built plugin
A-Z Listing
A-Z Listing’s project documentation describes a block, shortcode, and widget for creating alphabetical listings. It supports posts, pages, multiple post types, and taxonomy terms. Use the block when you want to configure the listing in the editor, or use a shortcode when you need to place it within page or post content.
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The basic shortcode is [a-z-listing]. For example, to list posts or category terms, the documentation gives these forms:
[a-z-listing display="posts" post-type="post"ies]Use the appropriate shortcode syntax from the plugin documentation for your chosen content source, then preview the page. Options documented by the project include post-type selection, taxonomy filtering, parent-page or parent-term constraints, number groups, and an alternate alphabet. These options can help narrow the index or adapt it to a different set of letters.
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Other plugin approaches
AlphaListing describes a block, shortcode, and widget for posts, pages, custom post types, and taxonomy terms. Its WordPress.org listing says it is based on the original A-Z Listing and that the original is no longer maintained. It also cautions that templates created for the original may not work reliably with AlphaListing. If you are changing plugins, check whether your site has custom templates that depend on the original.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallAlphabetical Pagination is another option; its directory listing describes a block, shortcode, or template tag, configurable post types and taxonomy filters, and language alphabet packs. Consider it when language-specific letter handling, filtering, or pagination is important. The directory result also mentions a REST API, but check the plugin’s current documentation before relying on that feature.
Use WordPress core or custom code
Query Loop for a custom layout
The WordPress Query Loop block displays posts according to query parameters and visual settings, including custom post types. It can be the content-query part of a custom index, but the core documentation does not describe a finished A–Z navigation control. You would still need to build the letters, connect each letter to the matching group, and decide how to handle letters with no results.
Theme templates and PHP
For a theme-level implementation, the WordPress Codex guide to alphabetizing posts covers templates and alphabetical title ordering. A-Z Listing’s project documentation also describes PHP helpers that accept WP_Query parameters. Custom code gives you more control over presentation and querying, but your site must also maintain the letter navigation, grouping, and any language-specific behavior.
Compare the approaches against your requirements
| Approach | What it provides | What you still need to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose-built plugin | Documented block or shortcode options for alphabetical listings; capabilities vary by plugin. | Check the content types, filters, alphabet, and presentation options you need, plus compatibility with your site. |
| Query Loop block | A configurable query and visual display for posts, including custom post types. | The cited core documentation does not establish letter navigation or a complete A–Z index. |
| Theme template or PHP | Control over the query and the rendered layout. | You are responsible for building and maintaining navigation, grouping, and language handling. |
The available documentation describes features, not a controlled comparison of security, speed, accessibility, or compatibility. Check the plugin’s current release information against your WordPress and PHP environment, and test with representative titles and taxonomy terms before publishing the index.
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Quick Recap
Test the index before launch
- Install and configure the chosen plugin, or build the custom query. Select the intended content type and apply any category, taxonomy, or parent constraints.
- Add the block or shortcode to a dedicated page. Confirm that it renders on the public-facing page, not just in the editor preview.
- Check letter navigation. Try letters with several matching entries, letters with one entry, and letters with none. Confirm each link leads to the correct group and that empty letters behave as intended.
- Review real content variations. Test titles and terms with punctuation, numbers, accented characters, or other characters relevant to your site’s language and alphabet.
- Test the page at launch size. Check pagination or long lists, and verify the index remains usable on the screen sizes and with the assistive technology your audience uses.
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