How to trigger 404 for custom query var?

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How can you trigger a 404 when using custom query vars? I’ve got re-write rules written for a custom query var, but if you were to request a URL for the query var that should technically be a 404 it returns a normal WP page, but no content, because nothing technically exists for the URL.

2 Answers
2

There is an action specifically for this:

function my_parse_query( $wp_query ) {
    if ( $wp_query->get( 'my_custom_var' ) > 42 ) {
        $wp_query->set_404();
        status_header( 404 );
    }
}
add_action( 'parse_query', 'my_parse_query' );

That should load the 404.php template in your theme, if you have it. Otherwise, it will fall back to index.php.

This will also trigger a HTTP 404 status code.

For more information see parse_query.

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