Using a different template for posts within a specific category

Do you want it for a single post template (single.php) or for a category archive page?

You can use conditional tags (has_term) and the get_template_part function in your theme’s single.php to include different template parts. Here is an example:

<?php
// 'cat-1' and 'cat-2' are category slugs

if(has_term('cat-1', 'category', $post)) {
  // use template file single-template-cat-1.php
  get_template_part('single-template', 'cat-1');
}
elseif(has_term('cat-2', 'category', $post)) {
  // use template file single-template-cat-2.php
  get_template_part('single-template', 'cat-2');
} else {
  // use default template file single-template.php
  get_template_part('single-template');
}
?>

For this example you need to create tree new template files: ‘single-template.php’, ‘single-template-cat-1.php’ and ‘single-template-cat-2.php’.

Or do it from your theme’s functions.php by selecting what template file to use for single posts based on the category that is assigned to the post. Another example:

add_action('template_include', 'load_single_template');
  function load_single_template($template) {
    $new_template = '';

    // single post template
    if( is_single() ) {
      global $post;
      // 'cat-1' and 'cat-2' are category slugs

      if( has_term('cat-1', 'category', $post) ) {
        // use template file single-template-cat-1.php
        $new_template = locate_template(array('single-template-cat-1.php' ));
      }

      if( has_term('cat-2', 'category', $post) ) {
        // use template file single-template-cat-2.php
        $new_template = locate_template(array('single-template-cat-2.php' ));
      }

    }
    return ('' != $new_template) ? $new_template : $template;
  }

For this example you need to create two new single template files: ‘single-template-cat-1.php’ and ‘single-template-cat-2.php’.

Great answer, this is exactly what I was looking for. ?? Thanks!

The functions.php version came just after my comment. In this case I would not have to modify my single.php page. I think this one works even better. Or easier.

In this case I would not have to modify my single.php page.

That’s correct. I’ve made some edits to the functions.php code so if you use it use it and it’s different from the one you are using, update the (better) code.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing.