Display an image for each category associated with a post. Notes: This plugin provides the templates tag c2c_the_category_image() which basically reproduces and extends the functionality of WordPress’s core function the_category() to add the ability to display a category image instead of the categor
PricingFree downloadThe WordPress.org download is free. Pro versions, add-ons or external services may cost extra.
CompatibilityRequires WordPress 2.2.
SourceWordPress plugins · Oct 20, 2026
01 / Source details
About this tool.
Display an image for each category associated with a post.
Notes:
This plugin provides the templates tag c2c_the_category_image() which basically reproduces and extends the functionality of WordPress’s core function the_category() to add the ability to display a category image instead of the category name in the link to the category archive. With its $image_extensions argument defaulted to "" , the plugin could be a drop-in replacement for the_category() . As is done in the_category() , the image or text for each category is also a link back to that category’s archive.
Related info about the function:
If $image_extensions is defined, but no image is found for the category, then nothing is displayed for that category.
$image_extensions can be defined as a space separated list of image extensions. Files will be checked with the image extensions in the order those extensions were provided; default is ‘png gif jpg’.
The number of category links/images displayed can be limited via the $limit argument
Category image tags are defined with class=”catimage” for stylesheet manipulation.
The result can be filtered via the filter named “c2c_the_category_image”.
Must be run inside “the loop”. c2c_get_category_image_list() is another provided function, which is identical to c2c_the_category_image() except that it doesn’t echo the result.
This displays the image associated with a post’s categories.
Arguments
$separator Optional argument. The text and/or HTML to appear between each of a post’s category images.
$parents Optional argument. Allows you to specify if you want ancestor categories of a post’s category to be imaged and linked as well. Valid options are ‘multiple’, ‘single’, and ”. Default is ”.
$image_extensions Optional argument. A space-separated list of image extensions (case insensitive). If defined as ” then no image is retrieved and the category name is displayed instead (a la the_category() ). Default is ‘png gif jpg’.
$image_dir Optional argument. The directory in which the category image(s) reside. The value should be a location relative to the main URL of your blog. Default is ‘/wp-content/images/’
$use_name_if_no_image Optional argument. Boolean value (true or false) indicating if the name of the category should be displayed for each category that does not have an associated image. Default is false.
$start_from Optional argument. How to traverse the list of post’s categories; either ‘begin’ or ‘end’. Default is ‘begin’
$limit Optional argument. The maximum number of category images to be displayed. Default is 999 (basically, no limit)
$post_id Optional argument. The Post ID. If false, then use the current post (i.e. while in the loop). Default is false.
Examples
You can opt to treat only certain categories as having a graphical representation by defining an image for them but not creating images for the non-graphically represented categories (as in you can have a subset of categories that dictate what image to be displayed for the post).
You can take advantage of the $image_extension and/or $image_dir arguments to display different category icons under different contexts, i.e. if showing a $single post, choose to use a ‘png’ image, otherwise use ‘gif’; or locate your images in different directories ‘/wp-content/images/cat-images/small/’ and ‘/wp-content/images/cat-images/large/’ and decide based on context where to get the image(s) from: // In showing the post singularly, then use a larger image, else use a small image if ( is_single() ) { c2c_the_category_image(”, ”, ‘gif’, ‘/wp-content/images/cat-images/large/’); } else { c2c_the_category_image(”, ”, ‘gif’, ‘/wp-content/images/cat-images/small/’); }
Show all images in a comma-separated line:
Show all images in an unordered list:
Assuming one category per post, just show the category image without further HTML markup: < ?php c2c_the_category_image(' '); // note the space in the argument, necessary to turn off default markups ?> Filters The plugin exposes two filters and one action for hooking. Typically, customizations utilizing these hooks would be put into your active theme’s functions.php file, or used by another plugin.
c2c_get_category_image (filter)
The ‘c2c_get_category_image’ hook allows you to use an alternative approach to safely invoke c2c_get_category_image() in such a way that if the plugin were deactivated or deleted, then your calls to the function won’t cause errors in your site.
The ‘c2c_get_the_category_image_list’ hook allows you to use an alternative approach to safely invoke c2c_get_the_category_image_list() in such a way that if the plugin were deactivated or deleted, then your calls to the function won’t cause errors in your site.
The ‘c2c_the_category_image’ hook allows you to use an alternative approach to safely invoke c2c_the_category_image() in such a way that if the plugin were deactivated or deleted, then your calls to the function won’t cause errors in your site.
Arguments:
same as for c2c_the_category_image()
Example:
Instead of:
<?php c2c_the_category_image(); ?>
Do:
<?php do_action( 'c2c_the_category_image' ); ?>
02 / Source details
Getting started.
01Unzip category-images.zip inside the /wp-content/plugins/ directory (or install via the built-in WordPress plugin installer)
02Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ admin menu in WordPress
03Create category image (.png unless you specify the extension in your call to c2c_the_category_image() ) for each category you wish to have an image for, placing the image into the wp-content/images/ directory (unless you specify another location in your call to c2c_the_category_image() ). Remember to give the filename the nice-name version of the category name.
04Make use of the c2c_the_category_image() template function in your template (see examples below).
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