WordPress Recent Posts Custom Query

recent-posts-custom-query.php

<!-- Add to a plugin or in front-page.php for a custom theme -->
<aside class="bgcolor4">
  <div class="container">
    <h3 class="custom-title"><?php esc_html_e('Latest Articles ', 'tower') ?></h3>
    <div class="row">
      <?php 
      
      $query = new WP_Query( [
        'post__not_in' => get_option( 'sticky_posts'),
        'post_type'	=> 'post',
        // 'category_name' => 'code',
        'posts_per_page'	=> 3,
      ] );

      if ($query->have_posts()) {
        while ($query->have_posts()) {
          $query->the_post(); ?>

          <div class="recent-row"> 
            <?php the_post_thumbnail() ?>
            <a class="recent-posts-link" href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>" rel="bookmark"><h4><?php the_title(); ?></h4></a>
            
            <?php get_template_part( 'template-parts/content', 'author' ); ?>

            <!-- <span><?php the_excerpt(); ?></span> -->
            <div class="excerpt"><?php echo wp_trim_words(get_the_excerpt(), 28); ?></div>
            <div class="recent-post-widget">
              <a class="recent-posts-button" href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>">Read more...</a>
            </div>
          </div>

          <?php
        }
      }
      wp_reset_postdata();
      ?>
    </div>
  </div>
</aside>