The WP_Query class in WordPress is a powerful tool for retrieving and manipulating posts based on various parameters.
It's like a search engine for your website's content.
However, it does not have a direct way to order query results by taxonomy terms out of the box due to the design and purpose of the class.
Here are a few reasons why WP_Query does not provide a direct option to order by taxonomy terms:
Flexibility
WP_Query is designed to be flexible and accommodate a wide range of querying scenarios. It provides a set of parameters that cover common use cases for ordering posts, such as: 'orderby', 'order', and 'meta_key'. However, taxonomy-specific ordering may vary depending on the structure and requirements of each taxonomy, making it challenging to have a universal solution within WP_Query.
Taxonomy Term Ordering (such as Availability: For Sale, To Let or Sold, etc.)
The order of taxonomy terms within a taxonomy is not a built-in feature in WordPress. While you can assign a custom order to taxonomy terms using plugins or specific code, it is not part of the core functionality. Consequently, WP_Query does not provide a direct way to order by terms that have no inherent order defined.
Performance and Complexity
Ordering posts by taxonomy terms can be a complex task as it involves joining multiple database tables, especially when considering hierarchical taxonomies with parent-child relationships. Providing a direct option to order by taxonomy terms within WP_Query would require additional complex logic, potentially impacting performance and increasing the complexity of the class.
To overcome this limitation, developers often resort to custom SQL queries, hooks, and filters to modify the generated SQL statement and introduce custom ordering based on taxonomy terms. These methods provide a more flexible approach, allowing developers to handle taxonomy-specific ordering based on their specific requirements.