WordPress View Config API

WordPress 7.1 builds DataViews-style defaults for an entity through wp_get_entity_view_config(). Plugins contribute versioned patches with WP_View_Config_Data; they do not replace REST controllers, entity data, or authorization.

Choose the exact entity hook

The filter is dynamic and its kind/name segments are lowercased. Generate it instead of guessing:

$hook = wp_get_entity_view_config_hook_name( 'postType', 'book' );
// get_entity_view_config_posttype_book

For a REST-exposed book post type:

add_filter(
    'get_entity_view_config_posttype_book',
    static function ( WP_View_Config_Data $data, array $entity ): WP_View_Config_Data {
        return $data->merge(
            array(
                'default_view' => array(
                    'type'    => 'table',
                    'perPage' => 30,
                    'fields'  => array( 'author', 'status', 'genre' ),
                ),
                'view_list' => array(
                    array(
                        'title' => __( 'Published', 'myplugin' ),
                        'slug'  => 'myplugin-published',
                        'view'  => array(
                            'filters' => array(
                                array(
                                    'field'    => 'status',
                                    'operator' => 'isAny',
                                    'value'    => 'publish',
                                ),
                            ),
                        ),
                    ),
                ),
            ),
            1
        );
    },
    10,
    2
);

Pass the schema version the patch was authored against—currently literal 1. Do not automatically substitute WP_View_Config_Data::LATEST_VERSION forever: a future schema bump should prompt review/migration of the patch.

Understand the four top-level keys

• default_view: initial type, filters, sorting, per-page, fields, title/media fields, and related view options.
• default_layouts: defaults for table/grid/list layout types.
• view_list: named view presets, merged by slug identity.
• form: DataForm field/layout configuration for the entity.

The container exposes mutation methods, not a public read accessor. Do not reflect into private data or branch on an undocumented materialized shape. Contribute a minimal patch.

Pick the least destructive method

Method	Effect	Normal use
merge( $patch, 1 )	Deeply composes maps; merges lists by id, slug, field, or scalar identity	Default choice for plugins
replace( $patch, 1 )	Like merge, but named lists are replaced wholesale	Pin an exact list while preserving surrounding maps
set( $patch, 1 )	Replaces every named top-level key wholesale	A plugin truly owns that full key
remove( $spec, 1 )	Removes selected nested members; top-level removal resets the core default	Remove a precise inherited member

Prefer merge(). Broad set()/replace() patches can erase core additions and other plugins' contributions.

Examples:

// Remove one field from the inherited default fields list.
return $data->remove(
    array( 'default_view' => array( 'fields' => array( 'author' ) ) ),
    1
);

// Replace only the fields list, not the whole default_view key.
return $data->replace(
    array( 'default_view' => array( 'fields' => array( 'title', 'status' ) ) ),
    1
);

A nested null deletes that leaf. A top-level null or top-level remove() resets the key to its original default rather than leaving the response key absent. Shape mismatches are rejected with a notice; do not merge a map where a list is expected.

Compose correctly with other callbacks

Every filter callback must return the WP_View_Config_Data object it received. Mutation methods return the object for chaining. Returning an array, null, or a new unrelated container breaks later priorities.

Use prefixed view slugs and field IDs. Make additions deterministic; the filter may run more than once in a request. Do not perform database writes or remote calls while building configuration.

The API keeps only documented top-level keys. Attaching arbitrary top-level plugin data will not survive materialization.

REST route and permissions

GET /wp-json/wp/v2/view-config?kind=postType&name=book exposes the built configuration and schema version. It is not anonymous:

• a post type requires that the type exists, has show_in_rest, and the user has its edit_posts capability;
• a taxonomy requires show_in_rest and its manage_terms capability;
• root requires manage_options;
• other custom kinds fall back to edit_posts.

The response is configuration only. Register the entity's REST fields/data separately and apply their own authorization. Hiding a field from a view config is not a data-access control.

Audit checklist

• Exact dynamic hook for the intended kind/name.
• Entity is registered and REST-exposed when a core post type/taxonomy route is expected.
• Literal authored schema version is supplied.
• merge() used unless replacement ownership is explicit.
• View/field identities are stable and plugin-prefixed where custom.
• Callback returns the same container and has no side effects.
• Fields referenced by configuration actually exist in the entity/DataViews definition.
• REST capability is tested with allowed, lower-privileged, and logged-out users.
• Other plugin/core patches still compose at different priorities.

Critical rules

• Treat view config as presentation defaults, never authorization.
• Return WP_View_Config_Data, not the materialized array.
• Use small merge() patches for interoperability.
• Review patches when the schema version changes.
• Do not depend on private container state or undocumented keys.

Cross-references

• Use wp-rest-api for the entity data and permission contract.
• Use wp-metadata-api when view fields depend on registered REST meta.
• Use wp-block-editor-iframe-compatibility for DOM/UI extensions around DataViews screens.

References

• Read references/patch-semantics.md for merge identities, removal shapes, REST behavior, and source paths.
• View Config dev note: https://make.wordpress.org/core/2026/07/31/filtering-site-editor-screens-in-wordpress-7-1/
• Core sources: wp-includes/view-config.php, wp-includes/class-wp-view-config-data.php, wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-view-config-controller.php.