In this post, we\u2019ll explain how categories work in relation to web content. Then we\u2019ll walk you through how to create and set them in WordPress in three simple steps. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
What Is a Subcategory in WordPress?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before we get into how to create categories and how to get a subcategory out of a parent category in WordPress, it\u2019s important to first understand what these terms mean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Categories are a WordPress feature that let you group related blog posts together:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re commonly used to better organize site menus and navigation<\/a>. You can also create pages dedicated to each category so your visitors can see archives of related posts displayed in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also referred to as \u201cchild categories,\u201d subcategories are niche groups within your parent categories that get even more specific about the post topic. For example, you might have a parent category named \u201cExercise\u201d and a subcategory titled \u201cBeginner Yoga.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many benefits to using categories and subcategories in WordPress. As we mentioned, they can improve your visitors\u2019 experience by making it easier for them to find content they\u2019re looking for. It can also help boost your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)<\/a> by giving crawlers more context for your site\u2019s structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve discussed what they are, it\u2019s time to take a look at how to create categories in WordPress. Below, we\u2019ll take you through how to do so in three quick steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a couple of different ways you can add a new category in WordPress. We\u2019ll go over the quickest and easiest method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get started, you\u2019ll first want to browse to the WordPress post that you want to add the new category to. On the Block Editor screen, open the options menu by clicking on the gear icon at the top of the screen, then expand the Categories <\/em>section to view a list of the categories currently available on your site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that if you haven\u2019t created any categories for your site yet, your only option here will be Uncategorized<\/em>. WordPress adds this option by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, click on the Add New Category<\/em> link below the list of existing categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you do so, WordPress will display a few new fields you can fill out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first field to complete is New Category Name<\/em>, which is pretty self-explanatory. It should be different from any other category name on your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sticking with our example from earlier, let\u2019s say that we\u2019re starting a health and fitness blog. One of the main categories we might add is \u201cExercise,\u201d which will later be further broken down into additional subcategories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re not going to select a parent category from the dropdown menu below the Name<\/em> field. Finally, you can click on the Add New Category<\/em> button. You\u2019ll now be able to choose this category from the list in the options menu on future posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The steps above simply cover the basics. However, if you\u2019re interested in learning more, we recommend checking out our Benefits of WordPress Categories<\/a> article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The process for creating subcategories in WordPress is quite similar to that of adding categories as we just discussed above. However, there is a key difference. Let\u2019s take a look at how to set a subcategory of a parent category in WordPress in three steps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To get started, navigate to the WordPress post that you want to add to a new subcategory. In the Block Editor, expand the Categories <\/em>section in the Post<\/em> tab of the options menu to the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, the next step is to select the Add New Category <\/em>link below the list of existing categories. From here, you can add the new subcategory\u2019s name, making sure it\u2019s unique and specific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The third and arguably most important step in creating a subcategory is to assign it to a parent category. For example, let\u2019s say that we want to add the \u201cBeginner Yoga\u201d subcategory that we mentioned earlier to the \u201cExercise\u201d category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To do so, we\u2019ll enter \u201cBeginner Yoga\u201d as the name, then select Exercise<\/em> from the Parent Category <\/em>dropdown menu:<\/p>\n\n\n\n By assigning it a parent category, we\u2019ve now created a subcategory. Then you can click on the Add New Category <\/em>button to complete the setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can access these categories and assign your posts to them any time you\u2019re using WordPress. Additionally, you can locate, modify, and optimize your categories and subcategories by navigating to Posts > Categories<\/em> in your admin dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WordPress is a powerful CMS that can help you create a robust website. However, when you\u2019re continuously writing and publishing new content, it\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re staying organized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we discussed in this article, creating categories and subcategories in WordPress offers a quick and easy way to group related posts on your site. Not only can this help provide better UX for your visitors, but it can also enhance your SEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get the most out of WordPress and ensure you\u2019re consistently delivering seamless, reliable performance, you might also consider upgrading to a hosting solution that’s optimized for WordPress sites<\/a>. Check out the various plans we offer here at WP Engine<\/a> to learn more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The format and structure of your site is important to its overall User Experience (UX). However, as you add more content to your site over time, keeping it organized can become overwhelming. Fortunately, using a Content Management System (CMS) can make this easier by organizing your content into categories and subcategories. With these features, you…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":297,"featured_media":117634,"template":"","resource-topic":[901],"resource-role":[899],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-117633","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/No4bUhLmpDd1Wzokd1p_01CHTWhOhDi4b-J5Zwbg-d8MTdoMKfv6QO_fevzafYt5lWmkcGlRH_r2yg7tl_Pr6tPeT6sjrXiNm6JW26ps1kT1uFi5yPXqQu8D7hYlkeYq3rVWT968\")
How to Create Categories in WordPress (In 3 Steps)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Select the Categories<\/em> Option from the Block Editor Menu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/8SPt7xzpyKdnv9vxdyu4hX6OO5LpmeLlUL7863TXwzUNqEQCzuINB2VCZCO2OoDA_xI1KnjrvpzF1S0zSSUjAJ8dMxWAOdqHt4C0obLHBhTAjXg6ssyk0dXG1Dqmg1nhEWJW27Uw\")
Step 2: Click on the Add New Category<\/em> Link<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/2PVjfUGRIYQOzQ0SVP6zrvq6a6nEdwtqqWV_1XhLKOUYKjNEnFFTrKInVpLaLmBewJb_m-1A_0QhMYT-VEW2hJ48RyqvzKnWrsbPAlD6R5G2JvgSX4VlrSO5qGOBKHitzvzwA9TC\")
Step 3: Name and Save Your Category<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/6zQRpCU0EI6ICFUSS93wDBtQPZ4H6DMIPA9zxls7EduQnQY_rVzBe5yp5b3O_YCY4PCe84KZYt8m-yGxmjtWkIkJrMv59f1-79r5um1SAQIIMmUtvI7EjggWU9p_NUJN6CeFEfFR\")
How to Create Subcategories in WordPress (In 3 Steps)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Start Editing a Post & Select the Categories<\/em> Tab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Click on the Add New Category<\/em> Link<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Select a Parent Category for Your WordPress Subcategory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/x09remlMk99tnGwPl0GTENxrmHjDO84Ns_CTgDamTWwCs7SCtzGY57gDd1E-cPDF9RRNf1HaP7gtZ3SCM0UoiGjpSAOrj1lzLMSEg-Pn9IyqHB4xHttj9GALNwktfTG6rMOOqjcL\")
Do More With WP Engine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n