WordPress offers several post formats that are made available through any theme as long as the theme has support for each one. Unfortunately, creating a custom post format is not possible, so we are limited to the following formats:
- Standard Post Format
- Aside Post Format
- Image Post Format
- Gallery Post Format
- Audio Post Format
- Quote Post Format
- Status Post Format
- Video Post Format
- Link Post Format
If you would like to read more about WordPress Post Formats, you can visit the Codex page:
If you would like to see the available post formats on a live site, you can check out the demo website for Pure & Simple by going to the “WordPress” menu link and visit each submenu:
You do not have to use all the post formats that are listed above, but they are there for you if your website needs them. The Standard Post Format is probably the most common one because this is the default option when you write blog posts — it’s automatically set for that one. How you use the other formats is up to you. For example, you could use the “Quote Post Format” as a way to post client or customer testimonials. The Link Post Format could be used to create a type of link directory. The Status Post Format could be used as a way to publish quick updates to your site or other notations that you want to inform others of things that are happening.
When you use a post format, some of them will be styled a little different from the other, but what I’ve done with this theme is create a “linked” label that goes just before the title of the post that lets the reader know what kind of post it is. For example, the “Quote” post format will look like the screenshot you see below…notice the small label “Quote”? When you click on this label, it acts like a filter and will load up all the posts that are this post format.
Screencast – Intro to Post Formats