Creating custom post types and fields in WordPress allows you to extend the platform's default content management capabilities, enabling specialized content structures like portfolios, products, or pet listings. The process involves two core components: registering a custom post type to define a new content category, then adding custom fields to capture specific data for that category. WordPress provides multiple approaches—from manual coding to plugin-based solutions—to achieve this without requiring advanced technical expertise.

Key findings from the search results:

• The registerposttype() function is the foundational method for creating custom post types programmatically, with best practices recommending plugin implementation over theme files ^[1]
• Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is the most frequently recommended plugin for managing both custom post types and fields, offering a user-friendly interface for non-developers ^[2]
• Custom fields can be added either through plugins (ACF, Types) or manually via functions.php with metaboxes and save hooks ^[3]
• Three primary methods exist: plugin-based (Custom Post Type UI, ACF), manual coding in functions.php, or creating a dedicated plugin ^[7]

Implementing Custom Post Types and Fields in WordPress

Registering Custom Post Types

The first step in extending WordPress's content structure is creating a custom post type. This establishes a new content category that appears in the admin dashboard alongside default posts and pages. The process can be accomplished through code or plugins, with each method offering distinct advantages for different user needs.

For developers or those comfortable with code, the registerposttype() function provides complete control over the post type's behavior and appearance. This function should be called during the init action hook to ensure proper WordPress initialization. The Plugin Handbook emphasizes placing this code in a custom plugin rather than the theme's functions.php file for better portability and update safety ^[1]. A basic implementation requires specifying the post type name, labels for admin UI elements, and public visibility settings. For example, creating a 'Products' post type with a custom slug involves:

• Using a unique prefix (e.g., 'lumba_products') to avoid naming conflicts with core or other plugins
• Defining singular and plural labels for admin menus and UI elements
• Setting the public parameter to true for frontend visibility
• Specifying has_archive to enable archive pages for the post type
• Including rewrite rules to customize the URL structure (e.g., '/products/%product%')

The example from the Plugin Handbook demonstrates this with a complete code snippet that registers a 'Products' post type with all necessary parameters ^[1]. For non-developers, plugins like Custom Post Type UI provide a graphical interface to configure these same settings without writing code ^[6]. These plugins generate the underlying registerposttype() code automatically, making them ideal for users who need custom post types but lack programming experience.

Adding Custom Fields to Post Types

Once a custom post type is registered, the next step is adding custom fields to capture specialized data. These fields enable storing additional information like product prices, pet weights, or property details that don't fit within WordPress's default content structure. The Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin emerges as the dominant solution across multiple sources, praised for its flexibility and user-friendly interface ^[2].

ACF allows creating field groups that can be assigned to specific post types. For a 'Cars' custom post type, you might create fields for:

• Price (number field)
• Mileage (number field)
• Color (select dropdown)
• Features (checkbox group)
• Vehicle history (WYSIWYG editor) ^[4]

The process involves installing ACF, then navigating to Custom Fields > Add New to create a field group. Each field type (text, number, dropdown, etc.) can be configured with specific validation rules and display settings. The Bluehost guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough for creating a "Property Details" field group with fields like square footage and number of bedrooms, demonstrating how to assign this group to a custom 'Properties' post type ^[9].

For developers preferring manual implementation, WordPress's metabox API provides the necessary functions. The StackExchange discussion outlines a two-step process: creating a metabox to hold custom fields, then saving those fields to the database ^[3]. This requires adding code to functions.php that:

1. Registers the metabox using addmetabox()
2. Defines the metabox content with HTML form elements
3. Saves field data using the save_post action hook
4. Includes 'custom-fields' in the post type's supports array during registration

The manual approach offers complete control but requires PHP knowledge. Plugins like ACF abstract this complexity while still allowing advanced customization through PHP filters and actions for developers who need them.

Displaying Custom Content on the Frontend

After creating custom post types and fields, the final step is displaying this content on your website. Both ACF and manual implementations require template modifications to properly render the specialized data. The YouTube tutorial demonstrates creating dynamic templates that pull custom field values for each pet listing, showing how to separate content management from presentation ^[2]. This typically involves:

• Creating a custom template file named after your post type (e.g., single-cars.php for a 'Cars' post type)
• Using WordPress template tags like the_title() and the_content() for standard fields
• Accessing custom field values with ACF's get_field() function or WordPress's getpostmeta()
• Implementing conditional logic to handle cases where fields might be empty

The ACF documentation provides specific examples for outputting custom field data in themes, showing how to display car details like price and mileage in a structured format ^[4]. For more complex displays, you might create custom shortcodes or Gutenberg blocks that pull and format the custom field data. The Bluehost guide emphasizes planning your display strategy during the initial setup phase, suggesting you map out how each field will appear on different page templates before implementation ^[9].