Exclude Pages from Search

### Method 1: Using the `pre_get_posts` Hook

You can add custom code to your theme's `functions.php` file (or a custom plugin) to exclude specific pages or posts from search results using their IDs. Here's how:

function exclude_pages_from_search($query) {
    if ($query->is_search && !is_admin()) {
        // List of post/page IDs to exclude
        $exclude_ids = [123, 456, 789]; // Replace with your post/page IDs
        $query->set('post__not_in', $exclude_ids);
    }
    return $query;
}
add_action('pre_get_posts', 'exclude_pages_from_search');

### Explanation
– **`$query->is_search`** checks if the current query is a search query.
– **`!is_admin()`** ensures the exclusion only happens on the front end, not in the admin area.
– **`post__not_in`** parameter is used to exclude specific post/page IDs.

### Method 2: Exclude Posts by Category or Post Type
If you want to exclude entire categories or post types, you can modify the `pre_get_posts` function like this:

**Exclude Posts from a Specific Category:**

function exclude_category_from_search($query) {
    if ($query->is_search && !is_admin()) {
        $query->set('cat', '-5'); // Replace '5' with your category ID to exclude
    }
    return $query;
}
add_action('pre_get_posts', 'exclude_category_from_search');

**Exclude Posts of a Certain Post Type:**

function exclude_custom_post_type_from_search($query) {
    if ($query->is_search && !is_admin()) {
        $query->set('post_type', ['post', 'page']); // Only include certain post types
    }
    return $query;
}
add_action('pre_get_posts', 'exclude_custom_post_type_from_search');

### Method 3: Using a Plugin
If you're not comfortable editing code, you can use a plugin to exclude posts or pages from search results. Some popular options include:

– **Search Exclude**: This plugin adds a checkbox on the post edit screen to exclude posts from search results.
– **Relevanssi**: A powerful search plugin with options to include/exclude posts, pages, and custom post types.

### Method 4: Using `noindex` Meta Tag
If you only want to prevent certain pages or posts from appearing in search engines (but still allow them in WordPress search), you can use the `noindex` meta tag:

function add_noindex_meta() {
    if (is_page([123, 456]) || is_single([789])) { // Replace with your IDs
        echo '<meta name="robots" content="noindex, follow">';
    }
}
add_action('wp_head', 'add_noindex_meta');

### Summary
– Use the **`pre_get_posts`** method for flexible control over what appears in WordPress search results.
– Use plugins if you prefer a user-friendly interface.
– Use the **`noindex`** meta tag to control how pages are indexed by search engines.

Choose the method that best fits your needs!