Meaning
Featured Image (formerly Post Thumbnail) is the main image associated with a post, page, or custom post type, serving as visual identification.
Definition
Featured Images appear automatically in theme-designated locations: blog archive grids, social media previews, related posts sections, and often at the top of single post pages. They’re separate from images inserted within content, stored as post metadata, and controlled through theme template functions.
Themes define Featured Image dimensions, aspect ratios, and display locations. When uploaded, WordPress automatically generates multiple image sizes (thumbnail, medium, large, plus theme-specific sizes) to optimize performance across different display contexts.
Featured Images significantly impact visual appeal and social sharing. When posts are shared on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, these platforms pull the Featured Image as the preview image, making properly sized Featured Images crucial for social media marketing.
Example
A travel blog requires Featured Images for all destination posts. When creating a “10 Best Beaches in Bali” post, the author uploads a stunning beach photo as the Featured Image. This image appears as a 400x300px thumbnail on the blog homepage grid, a 1200x630px image when shared on Facebook, and a full-width hero image at the top of the single post page – all automatically generated from the single uploaded Featured Image.
