Ability: acf/create-custom-post-type

Documentation Ability: acf/create-custom-post-type

Last updated Mar 30, 2026

Overview

Creates a new custom post type in ACF.

Description

Creates a new custom post type using ACF’s post type registration system. The post type is registered with WordPress and optionally enabled for AI access.

Input

{
  "post_type": "product",
  "label": "Product",
  "plural_label": "Products"
}

Required Properties

post_type (string) The post type key/slug. Must be lowercase alphanumeric with underscores or hyphens. Maximum 20 characters.

label (string) The singular label for the post type.

plural_label (string) The plural label for the post type.

Optional Properties

description (string) Description of the post type.

public (boolean) Whether the post type is publicly accessible. Default: true

hierarchical (boolean) Whether the post type supports parent/child relationships (like Pages). Default: false

supports (array) Features the post type supports. Can be an array of strings or an object with boolean values.

Available supports: – title: Post title – editor: Content editor – author: Author selection – thumbnail: Featured image – excerpt: Post excerpt – comments: Comments – trackbacks: Trackbacks – revisions: Revision history – page-attributes: Page attributes (menu order, parent) – custom-fields: Custom fields metabox – post-formats: Post formats

show_in_rest (boolean) Whether to expose in the REST API. Required for block editor and AI abilities. Default: true

rest_base (string) Custom REST API base path. Defaults to post type key.

has_archive (boolean) Whether the post type has an archive page. Default: false

has_archive_slug (string) Custom slug for the archive page.

menu_icon (string|object) Admin menu icon. Can be a dashicon class (e.g., dashicons-cart), image URL, or object with type and value.

menu_position (integer) Position in the admin menu. Values 5-100.

taxonomies (array) Array of taxonomy slugs to associate with this post type.

allow_ai_access (boolean) Whether to allow AI access to this post type. Default: true

ai_description (string) Description to help AI understand the purpose of this post type.

Output

{
  "success": true,
  "post_type": {
    "post_type": "product",
    "label": "Product",
    "plural_label": "Products",
    "public": true,
    "show_in_rest": true,
    "allow_ai_access": true
  },
  "message": "Custom post type 'product' created successfully."
}

Annotations

Annotation	Value
readonly	false
destructive	false
idempotent	false

Permissions

Requires the ACF capability (default: manage_options).

Example

Create a Team Member post type:

{
  "post_type": "team_member",
  "label": "Team Member",
  "plural_label": "Team Members",
  "description": "Staff and team member profiles",
  "public": true,
  "supports": ["title", "editor", "thumbnail"],
  "has_archive": true,
  "menu_icon": "dashicons-groups",
  "menu_position": 25,
  "allow_ai_access": true,
  "ai_description": "Team member profiles with bio, role, and contact information"
}

Response:

{
  "success": true,
  "post_type": {
    "post_type": "team_member",
    "label": "Team Member",
    "plural_label": "Team Members",
    "description": "Staff and team member profiles",
    "public": true,
    "hierarchical": false,
    "supports": ["title", "editor", "thumbnail"],
    "show_in_rest": true,
    "has_archive": true,
    "menu_icon": "dashicons-groups",
    "menu_position": 25,
    "allow_ai_access": true,
    "ai_description": "Team member profiles with bio, role, and contact information"
  },
  "message": "Custom post type 'team_member' created successfully."
}

Errors

Error	Cause
Invalid post type key	Key contains invalid characters or exceeds 20 characters
Post type already exists	A post type with this key is already registered
Missing required field	post_type, label, or plural_label not provided

Notes

• Post type keys must be unique across WordPress
• Reserved post type keys (post, page, attachment, etc.) cannot be used
• The post type is immediately registered and available in the admin
• Dynamic abilities (query, create, view, update, delete) are registered for post types with show_in_rest and allow_ai_access enabled

Related

• Integrations: Ability: acf/custom-post-types
• Integrations: Ability: acf/create-custom-taxonomy
• Integrations: Ability: acf/custom-taxonomies
• Integrations: Ability: acf/create-field-group
• Videos: Creating a Custom Taxonomy with ACF