How to display random posts in one single category in wordpress

Question

I need to be able to randomize the posts in one single category. I have the following code at the moment in functions.php:

    <?php

add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'generate_random_category_posts', 100 );
function generate_random_category_posts( $query ) {
    $catto = get_queried_object();
    if ( $query->is_category() && $query->is_main_query() && $catto->term_id = 9 ) {
        $query->set( 'orderby', 'rand' );
    }
}

?>

But the problem is that it randomizes posts in all the categories. Can someone please help me with this and tell me how I can randomize posts only in category number 9?

Answer 1

You're using an assignment operator $catto->term_id = 9 in your conditional instead of a conditional operator like so: $catto->term_id === 9 .

Help you avoid these mistakes, yoda conditions will...

Answer 2

You can display posts from this category with two different ways write category name

<?php
   // write category name that you will display it
 $the_query = new WP_Query( array ( 'orderby' => 'rand', 'posts_per_page' => '5' ,'category_name'=>'your_category_name') );
                                    // output the random post
                                    while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : $the_query->the_post();?>
                                       <li>
                                        <a href="#">
                                            <?php the_post_thumbnail();
                                            ?>
                                       </a>
                                       <h3><a href="<?php echo esc_url( get_permalink() ); ?>"><?php echo limit_word_count(the_title()); ?></a></h3>
                                    <div class="meta-post">
                                        <a href="<?php echo the_author_link(); ?>">
                                            <?php the_author(); ?>
                                        </a>
                                        <em></em>
                                        <span>
                                            <?php echo get_the_date('d M Y');  ?>
                                        </span>

                                    </div>
                                </li>  

Second way write category id for more information open this link random posts if you want display random posts from functions.php view the link random posts