# Export Posts to a JSON File (WP-CLI)

> Adds a "wp export-json" command that writes published posts with their title, slug, dates, content, excerpt, categories, tags, featured image and author to a JSON file, for static sites, apps or archiving.

- Type: PHP
- Runs: Run everywhere
- Category: [Developer](https://wpide.com/library/category/developer/)
- Tags: wp-cli, export, json
- Author: WPIDE Team
- Installs: 0
- Updated: 2026-10-28
- Page: https://wpide.com/library/cli-export-posts-json/

## Code

```php
if ( ! defined( 'WP_CLI' ) || ! WP_CLI ) {
    return;
}

WP_CLI::add_command( 'export-json', function ( $args, $assoc_args ) {
    $post_type = sanitize_key( $assoc_args['post_type'] ?? 'post' );
    $limit     = isset( $assoc_args['limit'] ) ? max( 1, (int) $assoc_args['limit'] ) : -1;
    $items     = array();
    $paged     = 1;

    do {
        $posts = get_posts( array(
            'post_type'      => $post_type,
            'post_status'    => 'publish',
            'posts_per_page' => -1 === $limit ? 200 : min( 200, $limit ),
            'paged'          => $paged++,
            'no_found_rows'  => true,
            'orderby'        => 'ID',
            'order'          => 'ASC',
        ) );

        foreach ( $posts as $post ) {
            $items[] = array(
                'id'       => $post->ID,
                'title'    => get_the_title( $post ),
                'slug'     => $post->post_name,
                'url'      => get_permalink( $post ),
                'date'     => get_post_time( 'c', true, $post ),
                'modified' => get_post_modified_time( 'c', true, $post ),
                'author'   => get_the_author_meta( 'display_name', $post->post_author ),
                'excerpt'  => wp_strip_all_tags( get_the_excerpt( $post ) ),
                'content'  => apply_filters( 'the_content', $post->post_content ),
                'image'    => get_the_post_thumbnail_url( $post, 'full' ) ? get_the_post_thumbnail_url( $post, 'full' ) : null,
                'terms'    => array(
                    'categories' => wp_list_pluck( (array) get_the_category( $post->ID ), 'name' ),
                    'tags'       => is_array( get_the_tags( $post->ID ) ) ? wp_list_pluck( get_the_tags( $post->ID ), 'name' ) : array(),
                ),
            );
            if ( -1 !== $limit && count( $items ) >= $limit ) {
                break 2;
            }
        }
    } while ( count( $posts ) === 200 );

    $json = wp_json_encode( $items, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT | JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES | JSON_UNESCAPED_UNICODE );

    if ( empty( $assoc_args['file'] ) ) {
        WP_CLI::line( $json );
        return;
    }

    if ( false === file_put_contents( $assoc_args['file'], $json ) ) {
        WP_CLI::error( 'Could not write the file.' );
    }
    WP_CLI::success( sprintf( 'Exported %d items to %s.', count( $items ), $assoc_args['file'] ) );
}, array(
    'shortdesc' => 'Exports published posts as JSON.',
    'synopsis'  => array(
        array( 'type' => 'assoc', 'name' => 'post_type', 'optional' => true, 'default' => 'post' ),
        array( 'type' => 'assoc', 'name' => 'limit', 'optional' => true ),
        array( 'type' => 'assoc', 'name' => 'file', 'optional' => true, 'description' => 'Path of the JSON file to write.' ),
    ),
) );
```

## Notes

Example "wp export-json --post_type=page --file=pages.json"; without --file the JSON is printed.

## How to use it

Install the free WPIDE plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpide/), find "Export Posts to a JSON File (WP-CLI)" in its snippet library and add it in one click; or create a new PHP snippet in WPIDE (or any code snippets plugin) and paste the code above. More snippets: https://wpide.com/library/