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Posts, Post Types: Show modified date for pending/draft posts in the list table Date column#12246

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Posts, Post Types: Show modified date for pending/draft posts in the list table Date column#12246
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MicahelE:fix/40860-pending-scheduled-date-status

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Summary

Fixes #40860.

The Posts list table Date column labels non-published posts as "Last Modified" but displays the post_date instead of the modified date. For a pending or draft post with a future publication date, this results in a future date being shown under a "Last Modified" label — which is incorrect and confusing.

Reproduction

  1. Create a new post
  2. Schedule it for a date in the future
  3. Set its status to Pending Review
  4. Save, then return to the Posts list
  5. The Date column shows the future date labeled "Last Modified"

Verified on the local Docker environment:

post_date (future): 2026-06-27   post_modified (now): 2026-06-20
BEFORE: Last Modified 2026/06/27 at 11:00 pm   (wrong — future date)
AFTER:  Last Modified 2026/06/20 at 11:00 pm   (correct — actual modified date)

The fix

In WP_Posts_List_Table::column_date(), for statuses other than publish and future, display the modified date/time (via get_the_modified_time() and get_post_timestamp( $post, 'modified' )) so the date shown matches the "Last Modified" label. Published and scheduled posts continue to show the publication date as before.

Testing

Adds unit tests to Tests_Admin_wpPostsListTable:

  • test_column_date_shows_modified_date_for_pending_scheduled_post — asserts the modified date (not the future publication date) is shown for a pending+scheduled post. Fails without the fix, passes with it.
  • test_column_date_uses_publication_date_for_published_and_scheduled (data provider: published, scheduled) — asserts published/scheduled posts still show the publication date and correct label.
npm run test:php -- --filter test_column_date
✔ Column date shows modified date for pending scheduled post
✔ Column date uses publication date for published and scheduled with data set "published post"
✔ Column date uses publication date for published and scheduled with data set "scheduled post"
OK (3 tests, 7 assertions)
  • PHP lint: clean
  • PHPCS: no new errors/warnings on the changed lines

This builds on the approach proposed in the earlier patch on the ticket, adding unit test coverage (the ticket previously had has-test-info but no automated tests).

Trac ticket: https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/40860

…list table Date column.

The Posts list table Date column labeled non-published posts as "Last Modified" but displayed the post_date instead of the modified date. For a pending or draft post with a future publication date, this resulted in a future date being shown under a "Last Modified" label, which is misleading.

This displays the modified date and time (via get_the_modified_time() and get_post_timestamp( $post, 'modified' )) for statuses other than publish and future, so the date shown matches the "Last Modified" label. Published and scheduled posts continue to show the publication date.

Adds unit tests covering pending+scheduled, published, and scheduled posts.

Fixes #40860.
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Hi there! 👋

Thank you for your contribution to WordPress! 💖

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The following accounts have interacted with this PR and/or linked issues. I will continue to update these lists as activity occurs. You can also manually ask me to refresh this list by adding the props-bot label.

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Props micahele.

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