---
title: Modifying the Post Query
description: "This feature is still experimental. In some cases you may want to modify the post query so that it returns only posts that have tags which belong to certain [tag groups](https://publishpress.com/links/tag-groups). You can use the filters **tag_groups_modify_post_query_args** to modify the…"
url: "https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/modifying-the-post-query/"
updated: "2026-10-14"
category: "PublishPress Tag Groups / Tag Groups: For Developers"
---

# Modifying the Post Query

This feature is still experimental.

In some cases you may want to modify the post query so that it returns only posts that have tags which belong to certain [tag groups](https://publishpress.com/links/tag-groups). You can use the filters **tag_groups_modify_post_query_args** to modify the post arguments that you pass to [WP_Query](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/wp_query/) or [get_posts](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_posts/) and **tag_groups_modify_post_query** to modify the post query that you pass to [WP_Query](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/classes/wp_query/).

---

## 1st Method: Filter the arguments

The filter **tag_groups_modify_post_query_args** accepts up to three arguments:

- The array of arguments for the post query. The element with the key "meta_query" will be overwritten.
- An array or a comma-separated list of group IDs.
- The logic relation between the group IDs (default: OR), alternatively AND.

### Example

In the following example you show only posts with tags that belong to the groups with the IDs 1 or 5:

```
// create the array of query parameters as usual
$args = array( 'author' => 12 );
// apply the filter on it, with additional filter parameters
$args = apply_filters( 'tag_groups_modify_post_query_args', $args, array(1,5), 'OR');
// use the arguments in your query
$posts = get_posts( $args );
```

---

## 2nd Method: Filter the query

The filter **tag_groups_modify_post_query** accepts up to three arguments:

- The WP Query object. The element with the key "meta_query" will be overwritten.
- An array or a comma-separated list of group IDs.
- The logic relation between the group IDs (default: OR), alternatively AND.

### Example

In the following example you show only posts with tags that belong to the groups with the IDs 1 or 5:

```
// instantiate the query object with your query parameters
$post_query = new WP_Query(array( 'author' => 12 ));
// apply the filter on it, with additional filter parameters
$post_query = apply_filters( 'tag_groups_modify_post_query', $post_query, array(1,5), 'OR');
// use the query
```