Shaun's WP Query Shortcode
This extensible plugin allows you to run a custom WP_Query using a simple shortcode, then display the results using compatible nested shortcodes.
Consider an alternative
Shaun's WP Query Shortcode shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 14 years ago, and scores 30/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 13 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.4 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Shaun's WP Query Shortcode stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| custom | >100 |
| page | >100 |
| post | >100 |
| query | >100 |
| type | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
About Shaun's WP Query Shortcode
From the official readme · v1.2Description
Written as a platform for plugin developers, this simple-yet-powerful plugin allows you to run a custom WP_Query using shortcode, then display the results any way imaginable using compatible nested shortcodes.
How It Works
Add the following shortcode to any WordPress post or page:
[wpquery orderby="rand"] [wpq_index] [/wpquery]
In the example above, the [wpquery] shortcode performs a WP_Query using orderby=”rand” to display the results in random order. A full list of query parameters can be found here: WP_Query.
Next, the nested [wpq_index] shortcode displays the results of the custom WP_Query as an unordered list of post title links.
Why It Rocks
Written as a platform for plugin developers, this simple-yet-powerful plugin allows developers to write compatible plugins that manipulate the way post data is displayed – without needing to write functions and shortcode parameters to first retrieve the post data.
The [wpq_index] shortcode function included in this plugin is just a simple example of what it can do. Any plugin that performs a WP_Query could be rewrtitten and optimized to work with this plugin, eliminating a lot of unnecessary code.
Best of all, this plugin gives users total control over the WP_Query being performed!
Installation
- Upload
shauns-wp-query-shortcode.phpto the/wp-content/plugins/directory - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- In a post or page, place the nested shortcode:
[wpquery] [wpq_index] [/wpquery] - Replace
[wpq_index]with shortcode from any other compatible plugin
Changelog
1.2
- Modified the
wpq_indexshortcode function to exclude the current post/page from the list.
1.1
- Added function to detect array expressions in shortcode parameters and convert them to arrays. This allows you to set WP_Query parameters such as
category__and,category__in,category__not_in, etc. - Thanks to Netcoder for providing this solution!
1.0
- First public release.
Screenshots
For developers
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FAQ
Shaun's WP Query Shortcode: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 15, 2026
Is Shaun's WP Query Shortcode free?
Yes. Shaun's WP Query Shortcode is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Shaun's WP Query Shortcode safe to use in 2026?
Shaun's WP Query Shortcode shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 14 years ago, and scores 30/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Shaun's WP Query Shortcode?
Shaun's WP Query Shortcode is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 2,918 times since it launched in June 2012. It was downloaded 57 times in the last 30 days.
Does Shaun's WP Query Shortcode work with WordPress 7.1?
Shaun's WP Query Shortcode is officially tested up to WordPress 3.4.2, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Shaun's WP Query Shortcode last updated?
The latest version, 1.2, was released on October 20, 2012 (14 years ago).
Who makes Shaun's WP Query Shortcode?
Shaun's WP Query Shortcode is developed and maintained by Shaun Scovil.
What are the best alternatives to Shaun's WP Query Shortcode?
The most popular alternatives to Shaun's WP Query Shortcode are White Label CMS (200K+ installs), Simple Custom CSS Plugin (100K+ installs) and ACF Photo Gallery Field (60K+ installs).
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