locate_template( string|array $template_names, bool $load = false, bool $require_once = true )

Retrieve the name of the highest priority template file that exists.


Description Description

Searches in the STYLESHEETPATH before TEMPLATEPATH and wp-includes/theme-compat so that themes which inherit from a parent theme can just overload one file.


Parameters Parameters

$template_names

(string|array) (Required) Template file(s) to search for, in order.

$load

(bool) (Optional) If true the template file will be loaded if it is found.

Default value: false

$require_once

(bool) (Optional) Whether to require_once or require. Has no effect if $load is false.

Default value: true


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Return Return

(string) The template filename if one is located.


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Source Source

File: wp-includes/template.php

function locate_template( $template_names, $load = false, $require_once = true ) {
	$located = '';
	foreach ( (array) $template_names as $template_name ) {
		if ( ! $template_name ) {
			continue;
		}
		if ( file_exists( STYLESHEETPATH . '/' . $template_name ) ) {
			$located = STYLESHEETPATH . '/' . $template_name;
			break;
		} elseif ( file_exists( TEMPLATEPATH . '/' . $template_name ) ) {
			$located = TEMPLATEPATH . '/' . $template_name;
			break;
		} elseif ( file_exists( ABSPATH . WPINC . '/theme-compat/' . $template_name ) ) {
			$located = ABSPATH . WPINC . '/theme-compat/' . $template_name;
			break;
		}
	}

	if ( $load && '' != $located ) {
		load_template( $located, $require_once );
	}

	return $located;
}

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Changelog Changelog

Changelog
Version Description
2.7.0 Introduced.


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User Contributed Notes User Contributed Notes

  1. Skip to note 1 content
    Contributed by Paul Ryan

    Note that locate_template() does not prevent directory traversal attacks, so if you’re passing a user-provided template name to the function, be sure to verify that it’s from one of the three appropriate locations (active theme directory, parent theme directory, or /wp-includes/theme-compat/ directory).

    Example:

    $template = locate_template( $template_filename_from_unsanitized_user_input );
    
    // Only allow templates that are in the active theme directory, parent theme
    // directory, or the /wp-includes/theme-compat/ directory (prevent directory 
    // traversal attacks).
    $template_in_theme_or_parent_theme_or_compat = (
    	// Template is in current theme folder.
    	0 === strpos( realpath( $template ), realpath( STYLESHEETPATH ) ) ||
    	// Template is in current or parent theme folder.
    	0 === strpos( realpath( $template ), realpath( TEMPLATEPATH ) ) ||
    	// Template is in theme-compat folder.
    	0 === strpos( realpath( $template ), realpath( ABSPATH . WPINC . '/theme-compat/' ) )
    );
    
    if ( $template_in_theme_or_parent_theme_or_compat ) {
    	require_once( $template );
    }

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