Retrieves the name of the highest priority template file that exists.

Searches in the STYLESHEETPATH before TEMPLATEPATH and wp-includes/theme-compat so that themes which inherit from a parent theme can just overload one file.

$template_names string|array Required

Template file(s) to search for, in order.

$load bool Optional

If true the template file will be loaded if it is found.

Default: false

$require_once bool Optional

Whether to require_once or require. Has no effect if $load is false.

Default: true

$args array Optional

Additional arguments passed to the template.

Default: array()

string The template filename if one is located.

File: wp-includes/template.php. View all references

function locate_template( $template_names, $load = false, $require_once = true, $args = array() ) {
	$located = '';
	foreach ( (array) $template_names as $template_name ) {
		if ( ! $template_name ) {
			continue;
		}
		if ( file_exists( STYLESHEETPATH . '/' . $template_name ) ) {
			$located = STYLESHEETPATH . '/' . $template_name;
			break;
		} elseif ( file_exists( TEMPLATEPATH . '/' . $template_name ) ) {
			$located = TEMPLATEPATH . '/' . $template_name;
			break;
		} elseif ( file_exists( ABSPATH . WPINC . '/theme-compat/' . $template_name ) ) {
			$located = ABSPATH . WPINC . '/theme-compat/' . $template_name;
			break;
		}
	}

	if ( $load && '' !== $located ) {
		load_template( $located, $require_once, $args );
	}

	return $located;
}