Can I dynamically output a list of 3 recent posts into default text in Wordpress editor?

Question

I was hoping someone could help me learn how to achieve this.

My idea is to generate a list of 3 recent posts from a category (top posts) as a default text in the wordpress editor.

I looked at several solutions to achieve something similar and kind of mixed them into the code below, but it doesn't seem to work.

add_filter('default_content', 'tp4567_default_list');
function tp4567_default_list( $content ) {
$content = new WP_Query( 'cat=2&posts_per_page=3' );
return $content;
} 

Is there any way I can achieve this, please?

Answer 1

Try this code in functions.php, it will work.

add_filter( 'default_content', 'wp_my_default_content', 10, 2 );
function wp_my_default_content( $content, $post ) 
{
// get the posts
$posts = get_posts(
    array(
        'numberposts'   => 3
    )
);

// No posts? run away!
if( empty( $posts ) ) return '';

$content = '<ul>';
foreach( $posts as $post )
{
    $content .= sprintf( 
        '<li><a href="%s" title="%s">%s</a></li>',
        get_permalink( $post ),
        esc_attr( $post->post_title ),
        esc_html( $post->post_title )
    );
}
$content .= '</ul>';
return $content;
}