How To Create Categories In WordPress

Creating categories in WordPress helps you organise blog posts into clear sections so readers can find articles about specific topics more easily. Whether you run a news website, a personal blog or a business website, categories make it easier to manage your content as your site grows.

For example, a technology blog might have categories such as Tech News, Mobile Tips, Best Apps and Blogging Tips. A news website could organise its articles under Politics, Business, Sports and Entertainment.

WordPress allows you to create categories from your dashboard or directly from the post editor. Here is how to do it.

How To Create Categories From The WordPress Dashboard

The WordPress dashboard provides a dedicated page where you can create, edit and manage your post categories.

Follow these steps to create a new category.

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress dashboard

Open your website's WordPress admin area and sign in with an account that has permission to manage categories.

Step 2: Open the Categories page

From the dashboard menu, navigate to Posts → Categories.

This page displays your existing categories and provides a form for creating new ones.

Step 3: Enter the category name

Under the Add New Category section, enter the name you want to use in the Name field.

For example, if you want to organise articles about Android applications, you could create a category called Best Apps.

Choose a name that clearly describes the type of content readers will find in that section.

Step 4: Set the category slug

The slug determines the category's URL. For example, a category named Best Apps could use the slug best-apps.

WordPress can generate the slug automatically from the category name, so you can usually leave this field blank when creating a new category.

Step 5: Choose a parent category

The Parent Category option allows you to create a subcategory under an existing category.

For example, you could create Android Apps as a subcategory of Mobile Tips if that structure suits your website.

If you want the new category to stand on its own, leave the parent category set to None.

Step 6: Add a description

The Description field is optional. You can use it to explain what the category covers.

Depending on your WordPress theme, the description may appear on the category archive page or elsewhere on your website.

Step 7: Create the category

After entering the necessary information, click Add New Category.

WordPress will save the category and display it in your categories list. You can repeat the process whenever you need another category.

How To Create A Category While Writing A Post

You do not have to leave the post editor to create a new category. WordPress also allows you to add one while writing or editing an article.

Here is how it works.

Step 1: Open Posts → Add New Post, or edit an existing post.

Step 2: Open the post settings sidebar on the right side of the editor.

Step 3: Find the Categories section. If it is collapsed, click it to reveal the available options.

Step 4: Click Add New Category.

Step 5: Enter the category name and, if necessary, select an existing parent category.

Step 6: Click the button to add the category.

The new category should appear in the category list for that post. Select its checkbox to assign the post to it.

Finally, save your draft or update the post to retain your changes.

How To Assign A Category To A WordPress Post

Creating a category does not automatically organise all your existing articles into it. You must assign relevant posts to the appropriate categories.

To do this, open the post you want to organise and locate the Categories section in the editor sidebar. Tick the checkbox next to the category you want to use, then save or update the post.

You can assign a post to more than one category when it genuinely belongs in multiple sections. However, avoid selecting unrelated categories simply to increase the number of places where the article appears.

If you have already published several posts, you can also open Posts → All Posts, select the relevant articles and use the Bulk actions menu to edit their categories together.

How To Create A Subcategory In WordPress

WordPress supports parent categories and subcategories, allowing you to organise content into a hierarchy.

For example, a technology website might have Mobile Tips as a parent category and Android Tips as a subcategory.

To create a subcategory, go to Posts → Categories and enter its name. Under Parent Category, select the existing category you want it to belong to. Click Add New Category to save it.

The subcategory will then appear under its parent in the categories list.

Use subcategories when they provide a meaningful structure for your readers. You do not need to create them for every topic on your website.

How To Edit Or Delete A WordPress Category

You can manage your categories from the same Posts → Categories page.

To rename a category or change its settings, move your cursor over its name and select Edit or Quick Edit. Make the necessary changes and save them.

To delete a category, hover over its name and click Delete.

Deleting a category does not delete the posts assigned to it. However, posts that have no other category assigned to them will be moved to WordPress's default category.

WordPress requires every post to have a category, so check your assignments before deleting a category that contains published articles.

How To Choose The Right Categories For Your Website

Categories work best when they reflect the main subjects your website covers.

For a news website, categories might include Politics, Business, Sports and Entertainment. A technology blog might use Tech News, Mobile Tips, Best Apps, Tutorials and Troubleshooting.

Keep your category names clear and avoid creating several categories that cover almost exactly the same subject. This makes it easier for readers to navigate your website and helps you maintain a consistent publishing structure.

Remember that categories and tags serve different purposes. Categories group posts into broader subject areas, while tags identify more specific topics within those posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I Create Categories In WordPress Without Publishing A Post?

Yes. You can create categories from Posts → Categories in your WordPress dashboard without writing or publishing an article.

2. Can I Change A WordPress Category URL?

Yes. Go to Posts → Categories, select Edit under the category name and change the Slug field. Save your changes when you finish. If the old URL has already been indexed or linked elsewhere, set up a redirect to the new URL to help prevent broken links.

3. What Is The Difference Between Categories And Tags In WordPress?

Categories organise posts into broader subject areas, while tags identify more specific topics related to individual posts.

4. Can A WordPress Post Belong To Multiple Categories?

Yes. You can assign a post to multiple categories if they are relevant to its content.

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