How to Search WordPress Post IDs and Cocoon Post Memos Instantly

[Admin Search] Instantly Search Post Memos and IDs

The WordPress theme Cocoon includes a useful “Post Memo” section on each post editing screen, making it easy to leave private notes and reminders for yourself.

If it is not visible, open [Screen Options] at the top right of the screen and check [Note].

If you cannot find the Notes checkbox under [Screen Options], go to Cocoon Settings ➔ Admin [Tab] ➔ Display columns, check Display note, and save the changes.

However, as the number of posts grows, this memo feature has one major weakness: you may find yourself wondering, “Which post did I write that note in?” Unfortunately, entering text from a memo into the standard [Search Posts] box does not include the memo field in the search.

That limits how useful the memo feature can be, so the code below adds two types of search:

1 Enter a number to search for an exact “Post ID.”
2 Enter text to search the standard fields together with the contents of the “Post Memo” field.

Pattern A: [For Cocoon Users] Search Post IDs and Post Memos Together

If you are using the Cocoon theme, paste the following code at the very end of your child theme’s functions.php file.

Please note: The the_page_memo meta key used in this snippet is a built-in feature of the Cocoon theme. This code has been tested in the administrator’s environment, but please use it at your own risk.

/**
 * [Cocoon Only] Customize Admin Post Search
 * Numeric input: Searches only for an exact Post ID match.
 * Text input: Searches the standard title/content fields plus the "Post Memo (the_page_memo)" field.
 */
function extend_admin_search_to_id_and_memo_exclusive( $search, $wp_query ) {
    global $wpdb;

    // Exclude anything other than a main query search in the admin panel
    if ( ! is_admin() || ! $wp_query->is_main_query() || ! $wp_query->is_search() ) {
        return $search;
    }

    // Exclude searches with no keyword
    if (
        ! isset( $wp_query->query_vars['s'] )
        || '' === trim( (string) $wp_query->query_vars['s'] )
    ) {
        return $search;
    }

    // Apply only to the post listing (edit) screen for standard posts
    $screen = get_current_screen();

    if (
        ! $screen
        || 'edit' !== $screen->base
        || 'post' !== $screen->post_type
    ) {
        return $search;
    }

    $term = trim( (string) $wp_query->query_vars['s'] );

    // 1. Numeric input: exact Post ID match
    if ( ctype_digit( $term ) ) {
        return $wpdb->prepare(
            " AND ({$wpdb->posts}.ID = %d)",
            (int) $term
        );
    }

    // 2. Text input: add the Post Memo field to the standard search
    $like = '%' . $wpdb->esc_like( $term ) . '%';

    $memo_search = $wpdb->prepare(
        " OR EXISTS (
            SELECT 1
            FROM {$wpdb->postmeta}
            WHERE {$wpdb->postmeta}.post_id = {$wpdb->posts}.ID
            AND {$wpdb->postmeta}.meta_key = %s
            AND {$wpdb->postmeta}.meta_value LIKE %s
        )",
        'the_page_memo',
        $like
    );

    // Add the Post Memo condition to the standard WordPress search
    if ( ! empty( $search ) ) {
        $search = preg_replace(
            '/\)\s*$/',
            $memo_search . ')',
            $search,
            1
        );
    }

    return $search;
}
add_filter( 'posts_search', 'extend_admin_search_to_id_and_memo_exclusive', 10, 2 );

Pattern B: [For Other Themes] Simple Post ID Search Code

If you are using a theme without a built-in memo field, use the following code to search for an exact Post ID from the standard admin search box.

/**
 * Customize Admin Post Search to Include Post IDs
 * Numeric input: Searches only for an exact Post ID match.
 */
function extend_admin_search_to_post_id_exclusive( $search, $wp_query ) {
    global $wpdb;

    // Exclude anything other than a main query search in the admin panel
    if ( ! is_admin() || ! $wp_query->is_main_query() || ! $wp_query->is_search() ) {
        return $search;
    }

    // Exclude searches with no keyword
    if (
        ! isset( $wp_query->query_vars['s'] )
        || '' === trim( (string) $wp_query->query_vars['s'] )
    ) {
        return $search;
    }

    // Apply only to the post listing (edit) screen for standard posts
    $screen = get_current_screen();

    if (
        ! $screen
        || 'edit' !== $screen->base
        || 'post' !== $screen->post_type
    ) {
        return $search;
    }

    $term = trim( (string) $wp_query->query_vars['s'] );

    // Numeric input: exact Post ID match
    if ( ctype_digit( $term ) ) {
        return $wpdb->prepare(
            " AND ({$wpdb->posts}.ID = %d)",
            (int) $term
        );
    }

    return $search;
}
add_filter( 'posts_search', 'extend_admin_search_to_post_id_exclusive', 10, 2 );

A Quick Way to Find a Hidden “Post ID” Without Clicking

When managing a WordPress blog, you may need to exclude a specific post from a featured-post widget or remove it from a related-posts block.
In situations like these, you need the unique number assigned to each post: the Post ID.

However, WordPress does not display Post IDs in the standard post list by default.

You may be wondering, “How can users of themes other than Cocoon find a Post ID easily?”
Fortunately, there is a very simple way to check it.

Method: Hover Over the Edit Link

The quickest method is to hover your mouse pointer over the “Edit” link for the post whose ID you want to check.

Without clicking, wait a moment and the destination URL will appear in small text at the bottom-left corner of your browser window.

Look closely at the end of the URL and you will see something like post=13137. This lets you check the Post ID instantly without opening the editing screen.