Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To create an A–Z index of WordPress content, use a purpose-built listing plugin for the quickest no-code setup: add its block or shortcode to a page, select the content to list, and test the letter links. For a fully custom design, use WordPress’s Query Loop as the content query and add your own letter navigation and grouping. The Query Loop alone is not a complete A–Z index.
Choose the approach that fits your site
| Approach | Best suited to | What it provides | What you must check |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-Z Listing plugin | Editors who want an A–Z list without building navigation from scratch | A block, shortcode, and widget for posts, pages, multiple post types, or taxonomy terms; options include filtering and alternate alphabets. Project documentation | Confirm current compatibility with your WordPress and PHP setup and test the output with your content. |
| AlphaListing plugin | Sites considering an alternative plugin with a block, shortcode, or widget | The directory describes support for posts, pages, custom post types, and taxonomy terms. Plugin directory entry | The directory says it is based on the original A-Z Listing, which it describes as no longer maintained, and warns that custom templates built for the original may not work reliably with AlphaListing. |
| Alphabetical Pagination plugin | Sites where language-specific alphabets, filtering, or pagination are key requirements | The directory describes a block, shortcode, template tag, configurable post types and taxonomy filters, and language alphabet packs. Plugin directory entry | Check the live documentation for current feature details before depending on a particular capability. |
| Query Loop plus custom development | Sites needing a bespoke layout and able to maintain theme code | The core block queries and displays posts, including custom post types. Query Loop documentation | The documented Query Loop is not a ready-made A–Z navigation system; you must create letter links, grouping, and any language-specific behavior. |
Set up an A–Z index with a plugin
Use A-Z Listing
A-Z Listing is the most directly documented option for creating a browsable index of different kinds of WordPress content. Choose its block when configuring the listing in the editor, or use a shortcode when you want to embed it in a page or post. Its documentation gives [a-z-listing] as basic usage and shows examples such as:
[a-z-listing display="posts" post-type="post"]
[a-z-listing display="terms" taxonomy="category"]The first example lists posts; the second lists category terms. The documentation also describes options for selecting post types, filtering by taxonomy, setting parent-page or parent-term constraints, grouping numbers, and using an alternate alphabet. Check the project documentation for the exact option names and syntax for the combination you need: A-Z Listing documentation.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Check alternatives before migrating
AlphaListing and Alphabetical Pagination describe similar ways to add listings, but their stated features and plugin lineage differ. In particular, the AlphaListing directory entry cautions that templates made for the original A-Z Listing may not work reliably with AlphaListing. If a site already has custom templates or depends on an existing plugin configuration, test on a staging copy before switching.
#1 Best Overall
Alphabetical Pagination may be worth evaluating when language alphabet packs or pagination matter. Its directory result mentions a REST API, but verify current details in its live documentation rather than assuming the feature or its behavior: Alphabetical Pagination directory entry.
Build a custom index with WordPress core
The Query Loop block lets you display posts according to query parameters and visual settings, including custom post types. It can be the content-display part of a custom index, but WordPress’s documentation does not describe it as a complete A–Z index with letter navigation. You will need to build the navigation and ensure each letter points to the right group. See the Query Loop documentation.
Rank #2
A theme-level implementation can sort content alphabetically and render a custom layout. The WordPress Codex discusses alphabetic title ordering, while A-Z Listing’s project documentation notes that its PHP helpers accept WP_Query parameters. A custom solution gives you more control, but you—not a ready-made listing interface—are responsible for connecting the query to working letter links, deciding how empty letters behave, and maintaining the code. See Alphabetizing Posts and the A-Z Listing documentation.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsDecide what belongs in the index
Before configuring the listing or writing code, define what visitors should be able to browse. An index of blog posts is a different query from one of pages, products or other custom post types, or taxonomy terms such as categories and tags. Plugin settings may let you select these content sources and apply filters; a custom implementation must express the same choices in its query.
- Content type: Select posts, pages, a custom post type, taxonomy terms, or an appropriate combination.
- Scope: Decide whether to include everything or limit the index to particular categories, tags, parent pages, or parent terms.
- Alphabet: Check whether the default letters meet your audience’s needs, especially if the index uses a non-English or custom alphabet.
- Navigation behavior: Decide how to handle letters with no matching titles, whether to group numbers, and whether visitors need pagination.
- Presentation and upkeep: Choose between editor-configurable settings and code that gives more control but requires ongoing maintenance.
Test the index before publishing
Do not assume a list is usable just because it appears on the page. Test it with representative content, including the titles and terms most likely to expose sorting or filtering problems.
Quick Recap
- Confirm the source: Check that the output includes the intended content type and excludes content outside the chosen scope.
- Check letter placement: Look at titles beginning with several letters, including one with no matching items, and verify the displayed grouping matches the title.
- Follow the navigation: Click letter links and confirm they reach the corresponding group rather than an incorrect or missing target.
- Test filters and constraints: If you set a taxonomy filter or parent restriction, confirm the listing contains only the intended items.
- Review the installed setup: Check the plugin’s current release and compatibility with your WordPress and PHP environment. The available documentation does not establish a head-to-head test of security, speed, accessibility, or compatibility across these options.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
