> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/nk-crew/visual-portfolio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Content Sources

> Understanding how Visual Portfolio retrieves and displays different types of content

## Overview

Visual Portfolio supports three primary content sources for building galleries and portfolios. Each source type has its own configuration options and use cases.

<Note>
  Content sources are defined in the `content_source` control at classes/class-admin.php:1309
</Note>

## Content Source Types

### Post-Based Content

Display WordPress posts, pages, custom post types, or portfolio items.

**Configuration:**

```php theme={null}
// Located in: classes/class-admin.php:1313
'post-based' => array(
    'value' => 'post-based',
    'title' => esc_html__( 'Posts', 'visual-portfolio' ),
    'icon'  => '<svg>...</svg>',
)
```

**Post Source Options:**

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Post Types">
    Select from available WordPress post types:

    ```php theme={null}
    'posts_source' => 'post',      // Standard posts
    'posts_source' => 'page',      // Pages
    'posts_source' => 'portfolio', // Portfolio items
    'posts_source' => 'product',   // WooCommerce products
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Post Types Set">
    Query multiple post types simultaneously:

    ```php theme={null}
    'posts_source' => 'post_types_set',
    'post_types_set' => array('post', 'portfolio', 'page'),
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Manual Selection">
    Hand-pick specific posts by ID:

    ```php theme={null}
    'posts_source' => 'ids',
    'posts_ids' => array(123, 456, 789),
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Current Query">
    Use the current WordPress query (for archives):

    ```php theme={null}
    'posts_source' => 'current_query',
    ```

    <Note>
      Used in Archive Mapping at classes/class-archive-mapping.php
    </Note>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Custom Query">
    Build advanced custom queries:

    ```php theme={null}
    'posts_source' => 'custom_query',
    'posts_custom_query' => 'post_type=post&posts_per_page=12&orderby=date',
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

**Query Controls:**

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Filtering Options">
    ```php theme={null}
    // Taxonomy filters
    'posts_taxonomies_' . $taxonomy => array(term_ids),

    // Author filter
    'posts_author' => array(author_ids),

    // Keyword search
    'posts_keyword' => 'search term',

    // Exclude posts
    'posts_excluded_ids' => array(post_ids),
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Ordering">
    ```php theme={null}
    'posts_order_by' => 'date',     // date, title, rand, menu_order
    'posts_order_direction' => 'DESC', // DESC or ASC

    // Avoid duplicates across multiple portfolios
    'posts_avoid_duplicate' => false,
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Advanced Filters">
    ```php theme={null}
    // Post meta query
    'posts_meta_query' => array(
        array(
            'key' => 'featured',
            'value' => 'yes',
        ),
    ),

    // Date query
    'posts_date_query' => array(
        'after' => '2023-01-01',
    ),
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Images Content

Display a custom gallery from WordPress Media Library images.

**Configuration:**

```php theme={null}
// Located in: classes/class-admin.php:1319
'images' => array(
    'value' => 'images',
    'title' => esc_html__( 'Images', 'visual-portfolio' ),
    'icon'  => '<svg>...</svg>',
)
```

**Image Options:**

```php theme={null}
// Select images from media library
'images' => array(
    array(
        'id'          => 123,
        'url'         => 'https://example.com/image.jpg',
        'title'       => 'Image Title',
        'description' => 'Image Description',
        'caption'     => 'Image Caption',
        'alt'         => 'Alt Text',
    ),
),
```

<Note>
  Images source is ideal for creating standalone galleries without requiring post content.
</Note>

**Image Attributes:**

* `id` - WordPress attachment ID
* `url` - Full image URL
* `title` - Image title from media library
* `description` - Full image description
* `caption` - Short caption text
* `alt` - Alternative text for accessibility
* `focal_point` - Custom focal point (Pro feature)

### Social Stream Content

Display content from social media platforms (Pro feature).

**Configuration:**

```php theme={null}
// Located in: classes/class-admin.php:1325
'social-stream' => array(
    'value' => 'social-stream',
    'title' => esc_html__( 'Social', 'visual-portfolio' ),
    'icon'  => '<svg>...</svg>',
)
```

<Warning>
  Social Stream is a premium feature available in Visual Portfolio Pro. See the [Pro documentation](https://www.visualportfolio.com/docs/) for details.
</Warning>

## Implementation Details

### Content Source Registration

```php theme={null}
// Located in: classes/class-admin.php:1305
Visual_Portfolio_Controls::register(
    array(
        'category'     => 'content-source',
        'type'         => 'icons_selector',
        'name'         => 'content_source',
        'setup_wizard' => true,
        'default'      => '',
        'options'      => array(
            'post-based'     => array(/* ... */),
            'images'         => array(/* ... */),
            'social-stream'  => array(/* ... */),
        ),
    )
);
```

### Query Building

The `Visual_Portfolio_Get` class handles query building:

```php theme={null}
// Located in: classes/class-get-portfolio.php
class Visual_Portfolio_Get {
    /**
     * Get portfolio query based on options
     */
    public static function get_options( $atts = array() ) {
        $id       = isset( $atts['id'] ) ? $atts['id'] : false;
        $block_id = isset( $atts['block_id'] ) ? $atts['block_id'] : false;
        
        // Get registered controls and their values
        $registered = Visual_Portfolio_Controls::get_registered_array();
        
        // Build result array with attribute values
        foreach ( $registered as $item ) {
            if ( isset( $atts[ $item['name'] ] ) ) {
                $result[ $item['name'] ] = $atts[ $item['name'] ];
            } else {
                $result[ $item['name'] ] = Visual_Portfolio_Controls::get_registered_value(
                    $item['name'], 
                    $block_id ? false : $id 
                );
            }
        }
        
        return $result;
    }
}
```

## Archive Mapping

Visual Portfolio can automatically replace WordPress archive pages with portfolio layouts:

```php theme={null}
// Located in: classes/class-archive-mapping.php
$is_archive_query = 
    'post-based' === $options['content_source'] &&
    'current_query' === $options['posts_source'];
```

**Archive Page Setup:**

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Portfolio Post Type">
    Enable the Portfolio post type in Settings > General

    ```php theme={null}
    'register_portfolio_post_type' => 'on',
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Archive Page">
    Choose a page to serve as your portfolio archive

    ```php theme={null}
    'portfolio_archive_page' => 42, // Page ID
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Items Per Page">
    Set pagination for archive:

    ```php theme={null}
    'archive_page_items_per_page' => 6,
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Extending Content Sources

Developers can add custom content sources:

```php theme={null}
add_filter( 'vpf_extend_posts_source', function( $sources ) {
    $sources['my_custom_source'] = array(
        'value' => 'my_custom_source',
        'title' => __( 'My Custom Source', 'text-domain' ),
        'icon'  => '<svg>...</svg>',
    );
    return $sources;
});
```

## Content Source Filters

Key filter hooks for content sources:

```php theme={null}
// Extend available post sources
apply_filters( 'vpf_extend_posts_source', array() );

// Filter portfolio options
apply_filters( 'vpf_get_options', $result, $atts );

// Filter taxonomy availability for filters
apply_filters( 'vpf_allow_taxonomy_for_filter', $allow, $taxonomy );
```

## Related AJAX Endpoints

Content source controls use these REST endpoints:

```php theme={null}
// Find available post types
class Visual_Portfolio_Admin {
    public function find_post_types_options() {
        // Returns: array of post type options
    }
    
    public function find_posts_select_control( $attributes, $control ) {
        // Returns: array of posts for selection
    }
    
    public function find_taxonomies_select_control( $attributes, $control ) {
        // Returns: array of taxonomy terms
    }
}
```

## Performance Considerations

<Warning>
  Large queries can impact performance. Consider:

  * Using pagination for post-based content
  * Limiting items per page
  * Enabling caching mechanisms
  * Avoiding complex custom queries when possible
</Warning>

## See Also

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Portfolio Post Type" icon="folder" href="/concepts/portfolio-post-type">
    Learn about the custom Portfolio post type
  </Card>

  <Card title="Layouts" icon="grid-2" href="/concepts/layouts">
    Choose the right layout for your content
  </Card>

  <Card title="REST API" icon="webhook" href="/api/rest-endpoints">
    Query content via REST API
  </Card>

  <Card title="Filters Reference" icon="filter" href="/developers/hooks-filters">
    View all available filter hooks
  </Card>
</CardGroup>