I'm doing a WP_Query with a date_query parameter after, and I want the nearest post after that date, but I get the farest ones in the future from the date. Is there any parameter to control this? something like 'near_to' => 'past/future', or WP_Query always retrieve the most recent? This is my code:

$my_query = new WP_Query(array(
    'post_type' => 'event',
    'posts_per_page' => 1,
    'date_query' => array(
        'after' => date('Y-m-d h:i',time())
    )
));

I have an events site, and I want to show the next one, not the farest one.

Ignore the fact that the date checked is today and the post that I search for are in the future. It doesn't matter (no?).

I have been loking at the Codex but I didn't find anything. Have I to query for ALL post and the go to the last one in the $my_query->posts array?

Edit: I don't want to order my results, I want to limit them by older posts, not by newest (default). I have several posts with a future date (events), and I want the next event. If I do a query with only this parameter 'posts_per_page' => 1 I get the latest post, and I want the oldest.

Thanks!

---

The solution is to use the parameter 'order' => 'ASC'. Thanks to @PieterGoosen and @webtoure. Now let me explain why my question was not 100% correct, and why it works.

I didn't test with 'order' because I only have 1 wrong post (that was I thought), I had nothing to order, but WP_Query does not works that way. As I myself explained on this answer, WP_Query first finds the posts that match the criteria, and then orders them, do the pagination, etc. So you can search for posts 'after' a date (all of them), order then by 'ASC', and get only 1 post with 'posts_per_page' => 1.

I'm doing a WP_Query with a date_query parameter after, and I want the nearest post after that date, but I get the farest ones in the future from the date. Is there any parameter to control this? something like 'near_to' => 'past/future', or WP_Query always retrieve the most recent? This is my code:

$my_query = new WP_Query(array(
    'post_type' => 'event',
    'posts_per_page' => 1,
    'date_query' => array(
        'after' => date('Y-m-d h:i',time())
    )
));

I have an events site, and I want to show the next one, not the farest one.

Ignore the fact that the date checked is today and the post that I search for are in the future. It doesn't matter (no?).

I have been loking at the Codex but I didn't find anything. Have I to query for ALL post and the go to the last one in the $my_query->posts array?

Edit: I don't want to order my results, I want to limit them by older posts, not by newest (default). I have several posts with a future date (events), and I want the next event. If I do a query with only this parameter 'posts_per_page' => 1 I get the latest post, and I want the oldest.

Thanks!

---

The solution is to use the parameter 'order' => 'ASC'. Thanks to @PieterGoosen and @webtoure. Now let me explain why my question was not 100% correct, and why it works.

I didn't test with 'order' because I only have 1 wrong post (that was I thought), I had nothing to order, but WP_Query does not works that way. As I myself explained on this answer, WP_Query first finds the posts that match the criteria, and then orders them, do the pagination, etc. So you can search for posts 'after' a date (all of them), order then by 'ASC', and get only 1 post with 'posts_per_page' => 1.

• wp-query
• date-query

Share Improve this question edited Aug 12, 2019 at 17:06 Elías Gómez asked Aug 12, 2015 at 7:38 Elías GómezElías Gómez 73222 gold badges77 silver badges1414 bronze badges 7

• Your question is ambiguous. Are the post dates in the future, or are these dates you are talking about dates in a custom fields. File an edit with this required info – Pieter Goosen Commented Aug 12, 2015 at 10:41
• @PieterGoosen The dates that I'm am talking about are the post_date. That's why I am talking about date_query, and why I don't mention custom fields. I use the No Future Posts plugin. – Elías Gómez Commented Aug 12, 2015 at 10:47
• You see, missing info :-). What does the plugin do, how does it change post dates and post status. Normally posts in the future have a status of future, so you need to change your post status parameter then – Pieter Goosen Commented Aug 12, 2015 at 11:01
• @PieterGoosen My question has nothing to do with post status. My code is working fine and give me posts, but newer instead of older. I think you guys are not understanding the question (because it's strange). – Elías Gómez Commented Aug 12, 2015 at 11:07
• 1 If you want the oldest post, then you need 'order' => 'ASC' – Pieter Goosen Commented Aug 12, 2015 at 11:20

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1 Answer 1

Sorted by: Reset to default 3

Are you actually using 'after' => date('Y-m-d h:i',time()) in your code? That will always ask for posts older newer that the exact current time when that query is run. Something like this:

'after' => date( 'Y-m-d h:i', time() - 60 * 60 * 24 )

would give you a reference for 24 hours in the past.

The above part is for history's sake. The solution in this answer is and was right all along though.

As for the results being "backwords" (newest to oldest instead of vice versa) you might want to add an order clause to your snippet (I haven't tested it):

$my_query = new WP_Query( array(
    'post_type' => 'post',
    'order' => 'ASC',
    'posts_per_page' => 1,
    'date_query' => array(
        array(
            'after' => date( 'Y-m-d h:i', time() ),
        )
    ),
) );

Final edit (tested and working). You need the order clause since WordPress queries posts 'DESC' by default. Test the code and see for yourself.