Category vs. Tag Pages

What are the main differences between category and tag pages?

Categories are structured with a parent/child option and are often used for site navigation. Tags don’t follow the same structure – they are used to group content by keywords. For example, you might structure your site and categories based on general topics while tags would signal names, locations, or other key words.

Creating Categories

Add a New Category

There are two ways to add a category on Lunteer – from the category list page and from a post itself.

To navigate to the Category List page on the Left Menu hover over posts and click on Categories.

Add a Category through List Page

The category list page has two columns; the left column allows users to add new categories, the right column allows users to view, edit, and delete current categories.

1. In the right column, fill out the available fields – the Name field is the only requirement.
2. Click Add New Category to create a new category.

Category Elements

• Name (required)
• Slug – the slug is URL of the category page. For example: www.example.com/category/my-category

NOTE: The Slug field will auto populate when saving the category. It will automatically lowercase letters and replace spaces with dashes (“-“).

• Parent Category – You can select a parent category for the category you are creating. Think of it like creating subcategories.
• Description – This description can used to display on the category pages to help explain to users what content they will find within each category.
• Layout – You can choose a specific layout you like or default to the classic layout.

NOTE: Layouts that have images showing require that the posts have a Featured Image in order to optimize display. Check out our guide on adding Images to your posts.

• Select Panel – You can control what Head Menu, Footer, or Sidebars show on the category page by selecting which panel to use. Check out our Panel Sets tutorial.

Add a Category through Post Page

Adding a category on a post page is a simplified process.

1. Open a post or page
2. Scroll to the Categories box – on desktop, it is in the right-hand menu, on tablet it is before the editor

3. If Category already exists, check the box to select the category. When you save or update the post, the new category with be saved/updated.

4. Click Add New Category if you need to add a new category. Add the name of the new category and optionally select the parent category. Once you click Add New Category, the category is created and automatically added to the post.

5. Once you complete your post, you can go to the Category List page and edit the category as described above.

Edit Categories

1. Navigating to the Category List Page
2. In the right column with the list of categories, hover over the category name
3. When the option list appears, select your desired action

Advance Design and Settings

Design Custom Category Page

For most users the standard layouts offered by the Lunteer Platform work great. For other they need more design and advance text on the category page. Here is how to setup a custom category page:

1. Create new page for category (2 methods)

– Navigating to the Category List Page

1. In the right column with the list of categories, hover over the category name

2. When the option list appears, select Create Custom Page

– On the Category Edit Page

– Scroll down to the last Layout option and select the Custom layout

2. Edit the new page like you would any other page on the Lunteer Platform

– Here is our great guide on using the Lunteer Editor

– When you add the section for listing the posts select List Posts

– You know have the option of selecting; Category to Display, Number of Posts, Layout, and Advance Options.

Advance – Setting of Category URL

By default, all categories will appear under a default Category Base URL, /category/. For example: example.com/category/my-new-category/.

To change the default URL:

1. Navigate to Permalinks setting page

2. Scroll down to Optional setting and Category Base

3. Add the desired category base or add a period “.” to remove any Category Base.

Conclusion

Don’t let all of your hard work go to waste – make your website as user friendly as possible. That includes a seamless navigation so users can find exactly what they’re looking for, exactly when they’re looking for it.