Context detection for Query block

[ntsekouras]

We need to find a way to detect the context a Query block 'lives' and handle any settings needed appropriately. By context I mean FSE context (site-editor) or a page/post (post-editor). Moreover is valuable to even know the kind of template we are on FSE context (related: #29438).

Noting that we'll also have to take into account what happens when we are in post-editor and we edit the template from there.

There is an inherit property in Query which defaults to true and with that set, the Query's query for fetching results is inherited from the global query. In a single page there is no much use in having an inherit Query (doesn't fetch anything), but instead a custom one. On the other hand in an archive or index template proper results are shown without taking into account any other previously explicitly set options (like the number of posts).

Some prior art is here: #27972, where templateSlug is passed as context and is used for now in QueryLoop to set the proper postType if we are in an archive template.

[richtabor]

What would be the immediate advantage of this effort?

[felixarntz]

@richtabor When you use a query block e.g. in a page, with inherit: true it will render a query that includes only that same single page - which is pointless. That's because when you visit the page in the frontend, the current WordPress query (which will be used if inherit: true) is for just that page.

In other words: While having inherit: true as a default makes sense for usage in certain templates or template parts, it does not make sense when used within a singular piece of content (e.g. a post or page). That's why context detection would help, it would lead to a smarter default of inherit.

Potentially we could even go further and not even offer the inherit control when using the query block in a singular piece of content. From a UX perspective, that would probably be even better than using inherit: false as default.

[mikachan]

Thanks for giving all this context, @felixarntz 🙏 The Query Loop block has had some updates recently, with the last major one in #65820. The block will now:

• Automatically set inherit to true when inserted into non-singular content, such as an archive or category template.
• Automatically set inherit to false when in singular content, such as a post, page or the 404 template, as this setting is pointless in this context (as you said).
• When inserted into singular content, the full custom query controls will be shown in the block settings, which makes it more obvious to the user that it's a custom query.
• When inserted into non-singular content, the query can still be customised as before, by changing the query type to 'custom'.

With all these recent changes, perhaps we could close this issue?

[ntsekouras]

Okay, let's close this one. Thank you!