Add images to recent articles widget

Hi there,

unfortunately the Recent Posts widget that is built into WordPress doesn't have thumbnails.
This Plugin provides that:

https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/recent-posts-widget-with-thumbnails/

WP Show Posts is created by the same author as GeneratePress. And is still the best way to do what you require.

Hi David,

I'd like to do it without having to install a new plugin.

I've achieved a nice result with this code below, but I am unable to customise CSS.

function wpcat_postsbytag() {

// the query
$the_query = new WP_Query( array( 'tag' => 'bombando-na-web', 'posts_per_page' => 6 ) ); 

// The Loop
if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) {
    $string .= '<ul class="postsbytag widget_recent_entries">';
    while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) {
        $the_query->the_post();
            if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) {
            $string .= '<li>';
            $string .= '<a href="' . get_the_permalink() .'" rel="bookmark">' . get_the_post_thumbnail($post_id, array( 50, 50) ) . get_the_title() .'</a></li>';
            } else { 
            // if no featured image is found
            $string .= '<li><a href="' . get_the_permalink() .'" rel="bookmark">' . get_the_title() .'</a></li>';
            }
            }
    } else {
    // no posts found
}
$string .= '</ul>';

return $string;

/* Restore original Post Data */

wp_reset_postdata();
}

// Add a shortcode
add_shortcode('categorytags', 'wpcat_postsbytag');

// Enable shortcodes in text widgets
add_filter('widget_text', 'do_shortcode');

We can't really help with CSS for a custom solution as it's not GP related at all.

Do you see a big speed difference when using your code vs the plugin David suggested?

We've had pretty good experience with that plugin.