Subpage List

Outputs a link formatted as a button.

How it Works

The Subpage List shortcode pulls subpages of the current page or of a specific post type, category, or parent page by ID. The shortcode displays a list of pages or posts in a clean, configurable layout.

You can control which subpages appear, how they’re sorted, what content is shown (title, excerpt, etc.), and whether to display them in columns.

Use it to create a “section index” for services, team bios, documentation, or any nested page structure.

Use Case Ideas

• Team Members Page: Show bios of each team member as individual subpages
• Service Categories: Group services into subpages with icons and short descriptions
• Documentation Index: List all subpages under a parent guide or topic

Shortcode Attributes

• cat: Accepts a single category ID (default: none)
• exclude: A comma-separated list of the page IDs to exclude from display. (default: none)
• include: A comma-separated list of the specific page IDs to include in the display. (default: none)
• layout: Set this attribute if you would like to list the pages in columns; accepts 2col, 3col or 4col. (default: 1 column)
• link: Hyperlink the page title; accepts true or false. (default: true)
• link_text: Text to show for the “more” link. (default: (…more) )
• meta_key: Accepts a single meta key and will only return posts where that meta_key exists, regardless of the meta_value. (default: none)
• orderby: Accepts any orderby parameter as defined in WordPress developer resources. (default: menu_order)
• order: Accepts ASC or DESC as defined in WordPress developer resources. (default: ASC)
• post_type: The post type to include in results. Accepts a single value or a comma-separate list of post types. (default: page)
• post_parent: Override the parent page ID to pull in a different list of subpages; accepts any page ID or -1 to include all pages. (default: current page ID)
• show: Display excerpt, content, or none. (default: excerpt)
• show_children: Optionally display an unordered list of the child page’s children; accepts true or false. (default: none)
• tag_id: Accepts a single tag ID (default: none)
• thumbnail: Optionally hide or show the subpage’s featured image or assigned page icon; accepts thumbnail, medium, large, icon, or false. (default: false)

Shortcode Example

Using the WordPress Block Editor Query Loop Instead

If you’re building pages using the core WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg), you can use the native Query Loop block to create lists of posts or pages instead of relying on shortcodes.

When to Use the Query Loop Block

Use the Query Loop block if you:

• Prefer a visual, drag-and-drop editing experience.
• Want full control over how subpages are displayed.
• Are using a block-friendly theme like Memberlite.
• Need to build custom layouts using core WordPress blocks.

How to Add a Query Loop Block

1. In the WordPress Block Editor, click the + icon.
2. Search for and add the Query Loop block.
3. Choose a layout (e.g., grid, list, cards).
4. Use the block settings sidebar to:
   • Filter by post type (e.g., Page)
   • Set the parent page to limit results to subpages
   • Order by title, date, or menu order
   • Choose number of items per page
5. Add inner blocks like Post Title, Featured Image, or Excerpt.

When You Should Still Use the Shortcode

Use the [memberlite_subpagelist] shortcode instead of blocks if:

• You’re adding content to masthead banners, bottom banners, or custom theme zones that don’t support blocks.
• You need a quick and consistent way to show child pages without configuring multiple blocks.
• You want to easily reuse subpage lists across multiple areas using a copy-paste shortcode.