[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #65078: get_page_by_title should not be deprecated

[WordPress Trac]

#65078: get_page_by_title should not be deprecated
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 Reporter:  hybridwebdev       |      Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement        |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal             |  Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Posts, Post Types  |    Version:
 Severity:  normal             |   Keywords:  2nd-opinion
  Focuses:                     |
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 This ticket is in reference to #57041.

 While the original ticket was resolved, I believe deprecating
 get_page_by_title() introduces a gap in the API that is not fully
 addressed by WP_Query.

 The key issue is not convenience, but determinism.

 get_page_by_title() performs a direct database lookup using an exact match
 on title. This approach:

 - avoids global query filters such as pre_get_posts and posts_clauses
 - guarantees more consistent results immune to external modifications
 - provides a clear and narrowly scoped intent: retrieve a page/post by
 exact title

 In contrast, using WP_Query for this purpose introduces variability. Even
 when attempting to replicate exact-match behavior, the query remains
 subject to global hooks and filters, which may alter the SQL in ways that
 are outside the caller’s control. This makes it difficult to guarantee
 equivalent behavior in plugin-heavy environments. Additionally, this can
 be subject to performance degradation when lots of logic-heavy filters are
 present. This could even result in queries where posts the user cannot
 access are returned. Which is one of the issues this commit was meant to
 resolve.

 A previous attempt to migrate this function to WP_Query was reverted due
 to unintended side effects. While that specific issue related to ordering,
 it highlights a broader concern: WP_Query is not suitable as a drop-in
 replacement for this method.

 Deprecating this function effectively requires developers to reimplement
 its logic. This leads to duplicated boilerplate and inconsistent
 implementations across codebases.

 Finally, low level methods like this serve a specific purpose. They're not
 intended to catch edge cases. That responsibility is on the code that uses
 the method.

 Given this, it may be worth reconsidering whether get_page_by_title()
 should remain as a low-level helper for exact, unfiltered lookups.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/65078>
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