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#CustomPostTypes #Taxonomies #MetaFields #PHP8.3 WordPress 6.9

📦 WordPress 6.9 Custom Post Types & Taxonomies: Complete Guide 2026

Master custom post types in WordPress 6.9 with PHP 8.3. Create portfolios, products, listings, and complex content structures with advanced meta queries. 25+ examples with production-ready code.

25+

Code Examples

10+

CPT Examples

100%

PHP 8.3 Ready

Blogs Team

WordPress Developers • 2026 Edition

📋 Jump to section (25 tips):

🔰 CPT Basics (1-5) 🏷️ Taxonomies (6-10) 📊 Meta Boxes (11-15) ⚡ Meta Queries (16-20) 💡 Real Examples (21-25)

🔰 Custom Post Type Fundamentals (Tips 1-5)

Basic CPT Registration (Portfolio Example)

// functions.php
add_action('init', function() {
    $labels = [
        'name' => 'Portfolio',
        'singular_name' => 'Portfolio Item',
        'add_new' => 'Add New Item',
        'add_new_item' => 'Add New Portfolio Item',
        'edit_item' => 'Edit Portfolio Item',
        'new_item' => 'New Portfolio Item',
        'view_item' => 'View Portfolio Item',
        'search_items' => 'Search Portfolio',
        'not_found' => 'No portfolio items found',
        'not_found_in_trash' => 'No portfolio items found in trash',
        'menu_name' => 'Portfolio',
    ];

    $args = [
        'labels' => $labels,
        'public' => true,
        'publicly_queryable' => true,
        'show_ui' => true,
        'show_in_menu' => true,
        'query_var' => true,
        'rewrite' => ['slug' => 'portfolio'],
        'capability_type' => 'post',
        'has_archive' => true,
        'hierarchical' => false,
        'menu_position' => 5,
        'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-portfolio',
        'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'thumbnail', 'excerpt', 'custom-fields'],
        'show_in_rest' => true, // Enable Gutenberg
    ];

    register_post_type('portfolio', $args);
});

Naming Conventions Best Practices

// Good examples
register_post_type('portfolio_item');     // ✓
register_post_type('team_member');        // ✓
register_post_type('job_listing');        // ✓

// Bad examples
register_post_type('portfolio-item');     // ✗ (hyphens)
register_post_type('Portfolio');          // ✗ (uppercase)
register_post_type('a_very_long_name');   // ✗ (>20 chars)
register_post_type('post');               // ✗ (reserved)

Complete CPT Registration with All Parameters

add_action('init', function() {
    register_post_type('product', [
        'labels' => ['name' => 'Products', 'singular_name' => 'Product'],
        'public' => true,
        'hierarchical' => false,
        'exclude_from_search' => false,
        'publicly_queryable' => true,
        'show_ui' => true,
        'show_in_menu' => true,
        'show_in_nav_menus' => true,
        'show_in_admin_bar' => true,
        'show_in_rest' => true,
        'rest_base' => 'products',
        'menu_position' => 5,
        'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-cart',
        'capability_type' => 'post',
        'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'thumbnail', 'excerpt'],
        'taxonomies' => ['category'],
        'has_archive' => true,
        'rewrite' => ['slug' => 'shop'],
        'query_var' => 'product',
        'can_export' => true,
    ]);
});

PHP 8.3 Named Arguments for CPT Registration

// PHP 8.3 - Using named arguments
add_action('init', function() {
    register_post_type(
        post_type: 'event',
        args: [
            'labels' => ['name' => 'Events', 'singular_name' => 'Event'],
            'public' => true,
            'has_archive' => true,
            'rewrite' => ['slug' => 'events'],
            'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'thumbnail'],
            'show_in_rest' => true,
            'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-calendar',
        ]
    );
});

Template Hierarchy for CPTs

// Single CPT: single-{post_type}.php
// Example: single-portfolio.php

// Archive: archive-{post_type}.php
// Example: archive-portfolio.php

// Taxonomy: taxonomy-{taxonomy}-{term}.php
// Example: taxonomy-project_type-design.php

// Taxonomy: taxonomy-{taxonomy}.php
// Example: taxonomy-project_type.php

// Example single-portfolio.php
get_header();
while (have_posts()) : the_post();
    $client = get_post_meta(get_the_ID(), 'project_client', true);
    ?>
    <article id="post-<?php the_ID(); ?>">
        <h1><?php the_title(); ?></h1>
        <?php if ($client): ?>
            <p>Client: <?php echo esc_html($client); ?></p>
        <?php endif; ?>
        <?php the_content(); ?>
    </article>
<?php
endwhile;
get_footer();

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🏷️ Creating Custom Taxonomies (Tips 6-10)

Registering a Custom Taxonomy

add_action('init', function() {
    $labels = [
        'name' => 'Genres',
        'singular_name' => 'Genre',
        'search_items' => 'Search Genres',
        'all_items' => 'All Genres',
        'parent_item' => 'Parent Genre',
        'edit_item' => 'Edit Genre',
        'update_item' => 'Update Genre',
        'add_new_item' => 'Add New Genre',
        'new_item_name' => 'New Genre Name',
        'menu_name' => 'Genres',
    ];

    register_taxonomy(
        taxonomy: 'genre',
        object_type: ['book'],
        args: [
            'labels' => $labels,
            'hierarchical' => true,
            'public' => true,
            'show_ui' => true,
            'show_admin_column' => true,
            'show_in_nav_menus' => true,
            'show_in_rest' => true,
            'rest_base' => 'genres',
            'query_var' => 'genre',
            'rewrite' => ['slug' => 'genre'],
        ]
    );
});

Hierarchical vs Non-Hierarchical Taxonomies

// Hierarchical (like categories)
register_taxonomy('location', 'property', [
    'hierarchical' => true,
    // Parent-child relationships
    // Dropdown UI in admin
]);

// Non-Hierarchical (like tags)
register_taxonomy('amenities', 'property', [
    'hierarchical' => false,
    // Flat structure
    // Tag input UI
]);

Attaching Taxonomies to Multiple Post Types

// During taxonomy registration
register_taxonomy(
    'feature',
    ['post', 'page', 'portfolio_item'], // Multiple post types
    [
        'labels' => ['name' => 'Features'],
        'hierarchical' => false,
        'show_in_rest' => true,
    ]
);

// After registration
register_taxonomy('department', ['employee'], [
    'labels' => ['name' => 'Departments'],
    'hierarchical' => true,
]);

// Also attach to 'project' post type
register_taxonomy_for_object_type('department', 'project');

Get Terms with Counts

// Get all terms with post counts
$terms = get_terms([
    'taxonomy' => 'genre',
    'hide_empty' => false, // Include empty terms
]);

// Get terms sorted by count
$popular_terms = get_terms([
    'taxonomy' => 'genre',
    'orderby' => 'count',
    'order' => 'DESC',
    'number' => 10,
]);

// Display as dropdown
wp_dropdown_categories([
    'taxonomy' => 'genre',
    'show_option_none' => 'Select Genre',
    'option_none_value' => '',
    'name' => 'genre',
]);

Add Custom Fields to Taxonomies

// Add fields to taxonomy term form
add_action('genre_add_form_fields', function() {
    ?>
    <div class="form-field">
        <label for="genre_color">Color</label>
        <input type="color" name="genre_color" id="genre_color">
        <p class="description">Choose a color for this genre</p>
    </div>
    <?php
});

// Save custom field
add_action('created_genre', function($term_id) {
    if (isset($_POST['genre_color'])) {
        update_term_meta($term_id, 'color', sanitize_hex_color($_POST['genre_color']));
    }
});

// Display in admin edit form
add_action('genre_edit_form_fields', function($term) {
    $color = get_term_meta($term->term_id, 'color', true);
    ?>
    <tr class="form-field">
        <th><label for="genre_color">Color</label></th>
        <td>
            <input type="color" name="genre_color" id="genre_color" value="<?php echo esc_attr($color); ?>">
        </td>
    </tr>
    <?php
});

📊 Meta Boxes & Custom Fields (Tips 11-15)

Adding Meta Boxes

add_action('add_meta_boxes', function() {
    add_meta_box(
        id: 'property_details',
        title: 'Property Details',
        callback: 'render_property_details_meta_box',
        screen: 'property',
        context: 'normal',
        priority: 'high'
    );
});

function render_property_details_meta_box($post) {
    wp_nonce_field('save_property_details', 'property_details_nonce');
    
    $price = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'property_price', true);
    $bedrooms = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'property_bedrooms', true);
    ?>
    <p>
        <label for="property_price">Price ($):</label><br>
        <input type="number" id="property_price" name="property_price" value="<?php echo esc_attr($price); ?>" class="widefat">
    </p>
    <p>
        <label for="property_bedrooms">Bedrooms:</label><br>
        <input type="number" id="property_bedrooms" name="property_bedrooms" value="<?php echo esc_attr($bedrooms); ?>" class="widefat">
    </p>
    <?php
}

Saving Meta Box Data

add_action('save_post_property', function($post_id, $post, $update) {
    // Security checks
    if (!isset($_POST['property_details_nonce']) || 
        !wp_verify_nonce($_POST['property_details_nonce'], 'save_property_details')) {
        return;
    }
    
    if (defined('DOING_AUTOSAVE') && DOING_AUTOSAVE) {
        return;
    }
    
    if (!current_user_can('edit_post', $post_id)) {
        return;
    }
    
    // Save fields
    $fields = [
        'property_price' => 'floatval',
        'property_bedrooms' => 'intval',
    ];
    
    foreach ($fields as $field => $sanitizer) {
        if (isset($_POST[$field])) {
            $value = $sanitizer($_POST[$field]);
            update_post_meta($post_id, $field, $value);
        }
    }
}, 10, 3);

Different Field Types in Meta Boxes

// Text field
<input type="text" name="text_field" value="<?php echo esc_attr($value); ?>">

// Textarea
<textarea name="textarea_field" rows="5"><?php echo esc_textarea($value); ?></textarea>

// Select dropdown
<select name="select_field">
    <option value="option1" <?php selected($value, 'option1'); ?>>Option 1</option>
    <option value="option2" <?php selected($value, 'option2'); ?>>Option 2</option>
</select>

// Checkbox
<input type="checkbox" name="checkbox_field" value="1" <?php checked($value, 1); ?>>

// Radio buttons
<input type="radio" name="radio_field" value="yes" <?php checked($value, 'yes'); ?>> Yes
<input type="radio" name="radio_field" value="no" <?php checked($value, 'no'); ?>> No

// Date picker
<input type="date" name="date_field" value="<?php echo esc_attr($value); ?>">

// Color picker
<input type="color" name="color_field" value="<?php echo esc_attr($value); ?>">

Custom Columns in Admin List

// Add custom columns
add_filter('manage_portfolio_posts_columns', function($columns) {
    $columns['featured_image'] = 'Image';
    $columns['client'] = 'Client';
    $columns['year'] = 'Year';
    return $columns;
});

// Populate custom columns
add_action('manage_portfolio_posts_custom_column', function($column, $post_id) {
    switch ($column) {
        case 'featured_image':
            if (has_post_thumbnail($post_id)) {
                echo get_the_post_thumbnail($post_id, [50, 50]);
            }
            break;
            
        case 'client':
            echo esc_html(get_post_meta($post_id, 'project_client', true));
            break;
            
        case 'year':
            echo esc_html(get_post_meta($post_id, 'project_year', true));
            break;
    }
}, 10, 2);

// Make columns sortable
add_filter('manage_edit-portfolio_sortable_columns', function($columns) {
    $columns['client'] = 'client';
    $columns['year'] = 'year';
    return $columns;
});

Quick Edit & Bulk Edit Support

// Add to quick edit
add_action('quick_edit_custom_box', function($column_name, $post_type) {
    if ($post_type !== 'portfolio') return;
    
    if ($column_name === 'client') {
        ?>
        <fieldset class="inline-edit-col-right">
            <div class="inline-edit-col">
                <label>
                    <span class="title">Client</span>
                    <input type="text" name="project_client" value="">
                </label>
            </div>
        </fieldset>
        <?php
    }
}, 10, 2);

// Save quick edit
add_action('save_post_portfolio', function($post_id) {
    if (defined('DOING_AUTOSAVE') && DOING_AUTOSAVE) return;
    if (!current_user_can('edit_post', $post_id)) return;
    
    if (isset($_POST['project_client'])) {
        update_post_meta($post_id, 'project_client', sanitize_text_field($_POST['project_client']));
    }
});

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⚡ Advanced Meta Queries (Tips 16-20)

Basic Meta Query Examples

// Simple meta query
$properties = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'property',
    'meta_key' => 'price',
    'meta_value' => 500000,
    'meta_compare' => '>'
]);

// Multiple conditions (AND)
$properties = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'property',
    'meta_query' => [
        [
            'key' => 'price',
            'value' => 500000,
            'compare' => '>=',
            'type' => 'NUMERIC'
        ],
        [
            'key' => 'bedrooms',
            'value' => 3,
            'compare' => '>=',
            'type' => 'NUMERIC'
        ]
    ]
]);

// OR relationship
$properties = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'property',
    'meta_query' => [
        'relation' => 'OR',
        [
            'key' => 'featured',
            'value' => 'yes',
            'compare' => '='
        ],
        [
            'key' => 'price',
            'value' => [200000, 400000],
            'type' => 'NUMERIC',
            'compare' => 'BETWEEN'
        ]
    ]
]);

Complex Nested Meta Queries

$properties = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'property',
    'posts_per_page' => 10,
    'meta_query' => [
        'relation' => 'AND',
        // Price condition
        [
            'key' => 'price',
            'value' => [300000, 800000],
            'type' => 'NUMERIC',
            'compare' => 'BETWEEN'
        ],
        // Location conditions (OR)
        [
            'relation' => 'OR',
            [
                'key' => 'city',
                'value' => 'Manhattan',
                'compare' => '='
            ],
            [
                'key' => 'city',
                'value' => 'Brooklyn',
                'compare' => '='
            ]
        ],
        // Features conditions (AND)
        [
            'relation' => 'AND',
            [
                'key' => 'bedrooms',
                'value' => 2,
                'type' => 'NUMERIC',
                'compare' => '>='
            ],
            [
                'key' => 'bathrooms',
                'value' => 1,
                'type' => 'NUMERIC',
                'compare' => '>='
            ]
        ]
    ]
]);

Meta Query with EXISTS/NOT EXISTS

// Find posts with a specific meta key
$posts_with_gallery = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'portfolio',
    'meta_query' => [
        [
            'key' => 'gallery_images',
            'compare' => 'EXISTS'
        ]
    ]
]);

// Find posts without a specific meta key
$posts_without_price = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'product',
    'meta_query' => [
        [
            'key' => 'price',
            'compare' => 'NOT EXISTS'
        ]
    ]
]);

// Combine with other conditions
$featured_without_image = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'portfolio',
    'meta_query' => [
        'relation' => 'AND',
        [
            'key' => 'featured',
            'value' => 'yes',
            'compare' => '='
        ],
        [
            'key' => '_thumbnail_id',
            'compare' => 'NOT EXISTS'
        ]
    ]
]);

Meta Query with Date Comparisons

// Events in next 30 days
$upcoming_events = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'event',
    'posts_per_page' => 10,
    'meta_key' => 'event_date',
    'orderby' => 'meta_value',
    'order' => 'ASC',
    'meta_query' => [
        [
            'key' => 'event_date',
            'value' => date('Y-m-d'),
            'compare' => '>=',
            'type' => 'DATE'
        ],
        [
            'key' => 'event_date',
            'value' => date('Y-m-d', strtotime('+30 days')),
            'compare' => '<=',
            'type' => 'DATE'
        ]
    ]
]);

// Events in specific month
$month_events = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'event',
    'meta_query' => [
        [
            'key' => 'event_date',
            'value' => ['2026-03-01', '2026-03-31'],
            'compare' => 'BETWEEN',
            'type' => 'DATE'
        ]
    ]
]);

Optimize CPT Queries

// Bad - loads all data
$posts = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'portfolio',
    'posts_per_page' => -1
]);

// Good - only needed fields
$posts = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'portfolio',
    'posts_per_page' => -1,
    'fields' => 'ids',  // Only get IDs
    'no_found_rows' => true,  // Skip pagination count
    'update_post_meta_cache' => false,  // Skip meta cache
    'update_post_term_cache' => false,  // Skip term cache
]);

// Cache expensive meta queries
function get_featured_projects() {
    $cache_key = 'featured_projects';
    $cached = wp_cache_get($cache_key, 'portfolio');
    
    if ($cached !== false) {
        return $cached;
    }
    
    $results = get_posts([
        'post_type' => 'portfolio',
        'meta_key' => 'featured',
        'meta_value' => 'yes',
        'posts_per_page' => 10
    ]);
    
    wp_cache_set($cache_key, $results, 'portfolio', HOUR_IN_SECONDS);
    
    return $results;
}

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💡 Real-World CPT Examples (Tips 21-25)

Real Estate Listings CPT

// Register Property CPT
add_action('init', function() {
    register_post_type('property', [
        'labels' => [
            'name' => 'Properties',
            'singular_name' => 'Property',
        ],
        'public' => true,
        'has_archive' => true,
        'rewrite' => ['slug' => 'properties'],
        'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'thumbnail'],
        'show_in_rest' => true,
    ]);
    
    register_taxonomy('property_type', 'property', [
        'labels' => ['name' => 'Property Types'],
        'hierarchical' => true,
        'show_in_rest' => true,
    ]);
});

// Property meta fields
add_action('add_meta_boxes', function() {
    add_meta_box('property_details', 'Property Details', 'render_property_details', 'property');
});

function render_property_details($post) {
    $fields = [
        'price' => 'Price ($)',
        'bedrooms' => 'Bedrooms',
        'bathrooms' => 'Bathrooms',
        'area' => 'Area (sq ft)',
        'year_built' => 'Year Built',
    ];
    
    foreach ($fields as $key => $label) {
        $value = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'property_' . $key, true);
        ?>
        <p>
            <label for="property_<?php echo $key; ?>"><?php echo $label; ?>:</label><br>
            <input type="text" id="property_<?php echo $key; ?>" 
                   name="property_<?php echo $key; ?>" 
                   value="<?php echo esc_attr($value); ?>" 
                   class="widefat">
        </p>
        <?php
    }
}

Events Calendar CPT

// Register Event CPT
add_action('init', function() {
    register_post_type('event', [
        'labels' => [
            'name' => 'Events',
            'singular_name' => 'Event',
        ],
        'public' => true,
        'has_archive' => true,
        'rewrite' => ['slug' => 'events'],
        'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'thumbnail'],
        'show_in_rest' => true,
    ]);
});

// Event date handling
add_action('save_post_event', function($post_id) {
    if (isset($_POST['event_start_date'])) {
        update_post_meta($post_id, 'event_start_date', sanitize_text_field($_POST['event_start_date']));
    }
    if (isset($_POST['event_end_date'])) {
        update_post_meta($post_id, 'event_end_date', sanitize_text_field($_POST['event_end_date']));
    }
});

// Query upcoming events
function get_upcoming_events($count = 5) {
    $today = current_time('Y-m-d H:i:s');
    
    return get_posts([
        'post_type' => 'event',
        'posts_per_page' => $count,
        'meta_key' => 'event_start_date',
        'orderby' => 'meta_value',
        'order' => 'ASC',
        'meta_query' => [
            [
                'key' => 'event_start_date',
                'value' => $today,
                'compare' => '>=',
                'type' => 'DATETIME'
            ]
        ]
    ]);
}

Job Listings CPT

// Register Job CPT
register_post_type('job', [
    'labels' => [
        'name' => 'Jobs',
        'singular_name' => 'Job',
    ],
    'public' => true,
    'has_archive' => true,
    'rewrite' => ['slug' => 'careers'],
    'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'excerpt'],
]);

// Job meta fields
$job_fields = ['location', 'type', 'salary', 'department'];
foreach ($job_fields as $field) {
    add_action('add_meta_boxes', function() use ($field) {
        add_meta_box(
            'job_' . $field,
            ucfirst($field),
            function($post) use ($field) {
                $value = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'job_' . $field, true);
                ?>
                <input type="text" name="job_<?php echo $field; ?>" 
                       value="<?php echo esc_attr($value); ?>" class="widefat">
                <?php
            },
            'job'
        );
    });
}

// Query open jobs
$open_jobs = get_posts([
    'post_type' => 'job',
    'meta_query' => [
        [
            'key' => 'job_status',
            'value' => 'open',
            'compare' => '='
        ]
    ]
]);

Team Members CPT

register_post_type('team_member', [
    'labels' => [
        'name' => 'Team Members',
        'singular_name' => 'Team Member',
        'add_new' => 'Add Member',
    ],
    'public' => true,
    'supports' => ['title', 'editor', 'thumbnail'],
    'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-groups',
]);

// Team member meta
add_action('add_meta_boxes', function() {
    add_meta_box('team_details', 'Member Details', function($post) {
        $position = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'position', true);
        $email = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'email', true);
        $phone = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'phone', true);
        $linkedin = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'linkedin', true);
        ?>
        <p>
            <label>Position:<br>
                <input type="text" name="position" value="<?php echo esc_attr($position); ?>" class="widefat">
            </label>
        </p>
        <p>
            <label>Email:<br>
                <input type="email" name="email" value="<?php echo esc_attr($email); ?>" class="widefat">
            </label>
        </p>
        <p>
            <label>Phone:<br>
                <input type="text" name="phone" value="<?php echo esc_attr($phone); ?>" class="widefat">
            </label>
        </p>
        <p>
            <label>LinkedIn:<br>
                <input type="url" name="linkedin" value="<?php echo esc_attr($linkedin); ?>" class="widefat">
            </label>
        </p>
        <?php
    }, 'team_member');
});

Testimonials CPT with Rating

register_post_type('testimonial', [
    'labels' => [
        'name' => 'Testimonials',
        'singular_name' => 'Testimonial',
    ],
    'public' => true,
    'supports' => ['title', 'editor'],
    'menu_icon' => 'dashicons-testimonial',
]);

// Testimonial meta
add_action('add_meta_boxes', function() {
    add_meta_box('testimonial_details', 'Testimonial Details', function($post) {
        $client = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'client_name', true);
        $company = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'client_company', true);
        $rating = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'rating', true);
        ?>
        <p>
            <label>Client Name:<br>
                <input type="text" name="client_name" value="<?php echo esc_attr($client); ?>" class="widefat">
            </label>
        </p>
        <p>
            <label>Company:<br>
                <input type="text" name="client_company" value="<?php echo esc_attr($company); ?>" class="widefat">
            </label>
        </p>
        <p>
            <label>Rating (1-5):<br>
                <select name="rating">
                    <?php for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++): ?>
                        <option value="<?php echo $i; ?>" <?php selected($rating, $i); ?>>
                            <?php echo $i; ?> Stars
                        </option>
                    <?php endfor; ?>
                </select>
            </label>
        </p>
        <?php
    }, 'testimonial');
});

// Display testimonials
function display_testimonials($count = 5) {
    $testimonials = get_posts([
        'post_type' => 'testimonial',
        'posts_per_page' => $count,
        'meta_key' => 'rating',
        'orderby' => 'meta_value_num',
        'order' => 'DESC'
    ]);
    
    foreach ($testimonials as $testimonial) {
        $rating = get_post_meta($testimonial->ID, 'rating', true);
        $client = get_post_meta($testimonial->ID, 'client_name', true);
        ?>
        <div class="testimonial">
            <div class="rating">⭐ x <?php echo $rating; ?></div>
            <p><?php echo $testimonial->post_content; ?></p>
            <p>- <?php echo esc_html($client); ?></p>
        </div>
        <?php
    }
}