How to get the result of comments_number() as a string instead of printing it out?

2 comments

1. Easiest way:

   ob_start();
   comments_number();
   $data = ob_get_clean();
   

   $data will contain the text.

   Log in to Reply

2. Since WordPress 4.0, you can use the function get_comments_number_text(). See ticket #10177.

   ---

   Old answer

   Create a wrapper function: filter the result of comments_number(), store it in your wrapper, and return an empty string to the native function. return the real string in your wrapper function.

   /**
    * Wrapper for native comments_number().
    *
    * This has two functions:
    * 1. It is can be called from a theme or plugin to get the comments number
    *    string *returned* for a variable.
    * 2. It sets itself as a temorary filter to catch the string. The filter will
    *    be removed immediately afterwards.
    *
    * @wp-hook comments_number
    * @param   string $zero Template for no comments OR the parsed string
    *                       when used as filter.
    * @param   string $one
    * @param   string $more
    * @return  string
    */
   function t5_get_comments_number( $zero = FALSE, $one = FALSE, $more = FALSE )
   {
       static $output = '';
   
       if ( 'comments_number' === current_filter() )
       {
           remove_filter( current_filter(), __FUNCTION__ );
           $output = $zero;
           return '';
       }
       else
       {
           add_filter( 'comments_number', __FUNCTION__ );
           comments_number();
           return $output;
       }
   }
   

   Usage:

   $comm_num = t5_get_comments_number();
   print "We found $comm_num.";
   
   // Prints for example: We found 51 Comments.
   

   Log in to Reply